UK Health Security Team coming; Toxic Strain of Cholera confirmed in TCI

By Dana Malcolm 

Staff Writer 

#TurksandCaicos, June 18, 2023 – Following confirmation that the strain of cholera which can cause outbreaks is in the Turks and Caicos Islands, a team from the United Kingdom will be coming into the country to help the TCI Ministry of Health shore up local defenses.

The report came from the Ministry on Thursday (June 15th) morning. They had sent the suspected cholera sample to Trinidad to be tested by the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) and promised residents would be updated when results were available.

Test results were received on June 11; on Thursday June 15 the Ministry, in a press release conveyed: “CARPHA confirmed that the sample contained Vibrio Cholera 01, Biotype “El Tor,” and Serotype “Ogawa.” This is of concern as it is a toxigenic strain and can cause outbreaks.”

This week a team from the United Kingdom Health Security Agency UKHSA will arrive in the Turks and Caicos Islands, which is a British Overseas Territory with the aim of working alongside local medical professionals to provide the technical support the islands need to strengthen both preparedness and response.

Despite no evidence of further infection, other than the case which occurred in a traveller who recently visited cholera-stricken Haiti, the Ministry says it remains vigilant ‘in light of the ongoing outbreak in Hispaniola, with which the TCI has close trade and travel links.’

The Ministry also reiterated that following the confirmation, the National Public Health Laboratory (NPHL) is actively developing additional capacity to provide in-country confirmation of cholera cases.

In the meantime residents are urged to protect themselves thoroughly against the disease in ways including:

• Taking proper precautions when traveling to areas with confirmed cases of cholera
•  Drinking water from a safe source
•  Washing hands often with soap and clean water, especially before you eat or prepare food and after using the bathroom. If no water and soap are available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol
• Using clean water to wash dishes, brush teeth, wash and prepare food, and make ice
•  Eating foods that are packaged or freshly cooked and served hot
•  Not eating raw or undercooked meats, seafood, or raw or undercooked fruits and vegetables unless peeled
• Disposing of feces in a sanitary manner to prevent contamination of water and food sources

Cholera occurs when a human ingests the bacteria that causes the disease, this can be caused when infected persons’ feces contaminate a water source, and that water is ingested or used to cook food or make ice.

Cholera is treatable with correct medical care.

If left untreated, it has a 25-50% mortality rate; the UK National Institute of Health says treatment reduces this to less than 1%.