Central China's Wuhan detects cholera bacteria in softshell turtle samples

(ECNS) -- Softshell turtle samples taken at a food market in central China’s Wuhan were found to contain a pathogen capable of causing cholera, the local center for disease control and prevention (CDC) confirmed Thursday evening.

No human cholera case was found among those who had encountered the softshell turtles, local authorities said.

The food market has been disinfected and the store selling the softshell turtles ordered to shut down for three days.

Wuhan Universitydiscovered a cholera case on July 9, the CDC confirmed on July 11, specifying that after treatment the patient had greatly improved and symptoms disappeared.

Authorities said that the vibrio cholerae O139 strain responsible for the student’s infection, and the contaminated samples are unrelated.