Victorian disease rocks UK as dad’s death feared to be first in 125 years – symptoms list
The pensioner had sickness and diarrhoea at home before being taken into hospital when his condition worsened.
Health experts feared the UK could have had its first cholera death in 125 years after a father-of-two passed away. The man, who was in his 80s, died on Wednesday after falling ill last week.
The pensioner, who has not been named, had sickness and diarrhoea at home before being taken into George Eliot Hospital in Nuneaton, Warwickshire, when his condition worsened. He was reportedly immediately quarantined amid concerns he had contracted cholera. The disease killed thousands of Britons during the Victorian Era and continues to cause deaths in other parts of the world today.
Cholera is caused by consuming food or water contaminated with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae (Image: Getty)
People can contract cholera from contaminated water (Image: Getty)
However, The Sun reports the UK Health Security Agency later confirmed the man had in fact contracted a type of bacteria called Non-toxigenic Vibrio cholerae.
A source close to the family of the man said they have “no idea” how he caught it after initially suspecting he had norovirus.
They told The Sun: “His eldest was allowed to be in the room with him in full PPE as his life ebbed away.
“It was incredibly traumatic. Doctors called them on Sunday and said he could have just hours to live. He clung on until Wednesday but withered away before their eyes.”
They added doctors had asked whether the man had been abroad, which he hadn’t.
Cholera is a disease caused by consuming food or water contaminated with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae.
The NHS says it is not found in the UK and is mostly detected in parts of Africa and Asia, in places without a clean water supply.
Symptoms of cholera include:
- Severe watery diarrhoea
- Feeling sick or being sick
- Tummy pain
- Dehydration
According to the NHS, the risk of getting cholera while travelling is “very small” and that it can be contracted from drinking unclean water, eating food (particularly shellfish) that’s been in unclean water and eating food that’s been handled by an infected person.
It adds there is a vaccine for cholera but most people do not need it.
The NHS says there are steps people can take to help avoid failing ill while travelling in areas where cholera is found.
This includes ensuring good hand hygiene, drinking bottled water or tap water that has been boiled and not having ice in your drinks.
The UK has not had a cholera death since 1901.
