Cholera bacteria can be found in standing water

Cholera, a bacterial intestine infection, has become topic of a lot of discussion lately, especially after 37 visitors to the Dominican Republic became infected. Now, six new cases have been found in Massachusetts, and health officials are analyzing the relation. Due to these outbreaks, South American health officials are working to prevent future outbreaks of this potentially deadly infection.

The 37 individuals attending a wedding in the Dominican Republic were infected with cholera. Some of them reside in the United States, so health officials are cautious as to how many people may be infected.

Cholera is caused by consuming food or water containing Vibrio cholera bacteria. The World Health Organization (WHO) explains that cholera symptoms may onset rapidly. The symptoms include diarrhea, vomiting, and potentially deadly dehydration.

In Haiti alone, health organizations explain nearly 200,000 different cases of the infection, and more than 3,800 people have died.

While Massachusetts residents have been tested positively for cholera, health officials do not believe there is any immediate danger of the bacteria spreading.