Vibrio infections in Singapore

Ann Acad Med Singap. 1981 Jan;10(1):2-10.

Abstract

Both symptomatic and asymptomatic Vibrio infections, caused by V cholerae, V parahaemolyticus and NAG vibrios, occurred in Singapore. V cholerae are introduced into the country from time to time, but the risk of transmission of infection in the community is negligible in the presence of a high standard of environmental sanitation and a well-established system of epidemiological surveillance. As cholera is probably transmitted through contaminated food, shellfish imported from cholera-endemic countries are regularly monitored for the presence of V cholerae. Vigilance has also been stepped up in the laboratory in view of the possibility of introduction of multiple-antibiotic resistant V cholerae strains into the country. V parahaemolyticus is one of the commonest causes of bacterial food poisoning in Singapore because of the preference of the local population to consume raw or partially cooked seafood. 78% of a variety of imported seafood were found to be contaminated with V parahaemolyticus. Infections caused by NAG vibrios are infrequent, and the mode of transmission has not been established.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Disease Outbreaks*
  • Female
  • Food Microbiology*
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Shellfish Poisoning*
  • Singapore
  • Vibrio Infections / prevention & control
  • Vibrio Infections / transmission*
  • Vibrio cholerae / isolation & purification*
  • Vibrio parahaemolyticus / isolation & purification*