(MENAFN) A highly unusual case of cholera has been confirmed in Poland, involving an elderly woman from the town of Stargard, sparking alarm over potential domestic transmission, media reported Sunday.

Chief Sanitary Inspector Paweł Grzesiowski stated that the patient, who had not traveled abroad, tested positive for cholera following a bout of acute diarrhea. Laboratory confirmation came through two independent tests.

"This case appears to have been acquired locally," Grzesiowski noted, emphasizing that Poland’s cholera cases are almost always linked to international travel. Given the disease’s contagiousness and seriousness, the woman was quickly transferred to a specialized infectious diseases facility in Szczecin.

Authorities have quarantined over 20 individuals who had close contact with the patient, aiming to contain any possible transmission.

Cholera, an illness triggered by the Vibrio cholerae bacterium, spreads mainly through tainted water. Without treatment, it can lead to rapid dehydration and even death. Standard treatment includes antibiotics and aggressive rehydration.

In response, public health officials have launched an investigation to trace the source of the infection and assess the risk of additional cases in the region.

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