Cholera (Vibrio cholerae)

1996 Case Definition

CSTE Position Statement Number: 09-ID-03

Clinical description

An illness characterized by diarrhea and/or vomiting; severity is variable.

Laboratory criteria for diagnosis

Isolation of toxigenic (i.e., cholera toxin-producing) Vibrio cholerae O1 or O139 from stool or vomitus, or
Serologic evidence of recent infection

Case classification

Confirmed: a clinically compatible illness that is laboratory confirmed

For this disease/condition, Confirmed case statuses are included in the released case count.

Comment

Illnesses caused by strains of V. cholerae other than toxigenic V. cholerae O1 or O139 should not be reported as cases of cholera. The etiologic agent of a case of cholera should be reported as either V. cholerae O1 or V. cholerae O139. Only confirmed cases should be reported to NNDSS by state health departments.