Vibrio cholerae non-O1 was found in water samples from the Nistru River and Vatra Lake.

Zinaida Covric, epidemiologist at the Municipal Public Health Center, told IPN that this bacterium doesn’t cause cholera proper, but can generate acute gastrointestinal infections if water gets in the nose or the mouth. Disease can also be caused by eating fish or shellfish from contaminated waters.

The incubation period is 3-5 days on average. The symptoms include fever, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

In order to avoid infection, the doctors recommend people to avoid swimming in contaminated waters. However, if people still do it, they should immediately shower after getting out of the water and strictly respect personal hygiene.