Following up on last week's story, Mexico health officials are now reporting a significant increase in the country's number of cholera cases over the past several days, according to the Pan American Health Organization.

"Cholera cases have increased to 145 in Hidalgo," says Health Subsecretary Ana María Tavares, "with 2 cases being reported from the Federal District, one from San Luis Potosi, 2 from Veracruz, and nine from the state of Mexico. This brings the total number of confirmed cases in Mexico to 159, including one death."

This up from the 46 cases reported October 1st on the PAHO's Epidemiological Alert.

Mexican health officials report that "after detailed analysis" it has been determined that the source of the disease in Hidalgo is a river which provides the water supply to the local population for daily activities such as personal hygiene and washing food and clothing.

The Secretariat of Health is maintaining mobile units in Huejutla, Hidalgo to sustain sanitary efforts and epidemiological zones, since that is where the most cases have been recorded.

Tavares reported that "despite the increased number of cases, the 'spread' of the outbreak remains under control and contained, since fewer new cases are appearing."

PAHO reports this is the first local transmission of cholera recorded since the 1991-2001 cholera epidemic in Mexico - although the genetic profile of this strain is very different than the one more than a decade ago. There is, however, a similarity with the strain that is currently circulating in Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and Cuba.

About Cholera

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cholera is an acute, diarrheal illness caused by infection of the intestine with the Vibrio cholerae bacterium.

An estimated 3-5 million cases and over 100,000 deaths occur each year around the world. The infection is often mild or without symptoms, but can sometimes be severe.

Approximately one in 20 (5 percent) of infected persons will have a severe infection, characterized by profuse watery diarrhea, vomiting, and leg cramps. In these people, rapid loss of body fluids leads to dehydration and shock. Without treatment, death can occur within hours.

Almost all cases of diarrhoea caused by cholera can be treated by oral rehydration alone, but patients who become severely dehydrated must be given intravenous fluids.