New research from the Neiditch lab at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School on the Vibrio cholerae CqsR receptor reveals how this pathogen monitors host-derived ethanolamine (and other related autoinducer...

Cholera outbreak in Balochistan kills 12, including six children; health teams respond as Pakistan works to contain the disease.

Researchers took a detailed image of the cholera bacteria’s flagella, which could explain how they move so quickly and offer new routes for treatment.

Review each clinical case carefully. Identify the bacterium responsible for the described condition and match it with its pathogenesis mechanism. Use the given clues such as age, symptoms, exposure history, and toxin effects to determine the correct answer. Then drag and drop each bacterium and its corresponding pathogenesis into the correct boxes. This exercise reinforces your understanding of bacterial toxins, virulence factors, and disease presentations — high-yield for USMLE Step 1 and Step 2.

Justicia Shipena The ministry of health and social services has declared a cholera outbreak in the Opuwo District of the Kunene Region following confirmation of locally transmitted cases. Health minister, Dr Esperance Luvindao, made the announcement on Thursday during a media briefing in Windhoek.  She said eight suspected cases had been reported as of 18 June 2025.  Six of these, including one death, are from the same household. Two other suspected cases were identified in Opuwo and Otjimuhaka village.  Preliminary tests for those two came back negative.  Confirmatory tests for the first two cases were conducted by the National Institute for Communicable Diseases in South Africa.  The results confirmed the presence of Vibrio cholerae 01, the bacteria that cause cholera. “Obtaining from these confirmed findings, I thus today officially declare a cholera outbreak in Opuwo District,” said Luvindao. She said that under World Health Organisation standards, even one locally transmitted confirmed case qualifies as an outbreak. The first four cases, three of them children, were admitted to Opuwo District Hospital with symptoms consistent with cholera.  One patient died from severe dehydration. The remaining five are being treated in an isolation ward and are in stable condition. Cholera is a waterborne disease that spreads through contaminated water or food.  It can cause severe diarrhoea and dehydration, and if not treated quickly, can lead to death. The ministry has activated an incident management system to coordinate a national response.  Rapid response teams have been deployed to affected areas.  Other measures include strengthening disease surveillance and laboratory testing, community engagement, and public health education. “We are gaining practical insight into what works in the region,” said Luvindao.  She stressed the importance of a “whole-of-government and whole-of-society” response to stop the outbreak. Efforts are underway to improve water quality through chlorination and other safe water supply measures.  The ministry has also established Oral Rehydration Points and Cholera Treatment Units to provide immediate care and manage the spread of the disease. Luvindao urged the public to drink only treated or boiled water, wash hands regularly with soap and clean water, and avoid eating food from unsafe sources.  She encouraged anyone experiencing watery diarrhoea or vomiting to seek immediate medical attention and start taking oral rehydration solutions. She called on all sectors, including government, civil society, and local leaders, to help ensure access to clean water and sanitation. “Together, through coordinated efforts and responsible actions, we can control and end this outbreak,” said Luvindao.

The Ministry of Health and Social Services has officially declared a cholera outbreak in the Opuwo district. This comes after confirmation of two cases of Vibrio cholerae 01, which is a strain known for causing outbreaks. Health minister Esperance Luvindao announced this during a press briefing on Thursday morning. “The preliminary tests have been made on the reported eight suspected cases, as well as the confirmatory tests for the six cases. We have now received the confirmatory test results for the first two cases,” she said. The announcement comes after the ministry last Friday reported a suspected outbreak to the World Health Organisation (WHO). Luvindao said the first four suspected cases, in three children and one adult, were all from the same household at Opuwo. One of the individuals tragically died due to severe dehydration. As of 18 June, the ministry has recorded eight suspected cholera cases. Six of these, including the death, originated from a single household at Opuwo, while the other two are from Opuwo and Otjimuhaka village. According to the WHO, one locally transmitted confirmed case qualifies as an outbreak. “Obtaining from these confirmed findings, I thus today officially declare a cholera outbreak in the Opuwo district of the Kunene region,” Luvindao announced. She said the five remaining patients from the affected household are currently in isolation and reportedly in a stable condition at Opuwo District Hospital. Luvindao said while the situation does not warrant panic, it calls for a “whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach” to prevent further spread. She said cholera is not only a public health concern, but “an indicator of inequity and a reflection of underlying social development challenges”, including poor access to safe water, sanitation, and healthcare services. The post Health ministry declares cholera outbreak at Opuwo appeared first on The Namibian.

Peptidoglycan released by neighbouring kin or non-kin cell lysis induces physiological changes that protect from a range of stresses, including phage predation.