A pensioner in his 80s has died from a suspected case of cholera in what is believed to be the first such death recorded in Britain for more than a century.
The father-of-two reportedly fell ill at his home last week, suffering from sickness and diarrhoea. As his condition deteriorated, he was admitted to George Eliot Hospital in Nuneaton, Warwickshire, where he was immediately placed in isolation.
According to a source close to the family, doctors later confirmed that he had contracted cholera, a waterborne bacterial infection historically associated with major outbreaks during the Victorian era. His eldest son was permitted to remain at his bedside in full personal protective equipment during his final hours.
He died on Wednesday morning. If confirmed, it would mark the first cholera-related death in the UK since 1901. A family source said relatives were unsure how he could have contracted the disease, adding that he had not travelled abroad recently and lived at home with his youngest son. Initially, the family suspected norovirus when symptoms first appeared. However, after his condition worsened, they contacted NHS 111 and paramedics transported him to hospital.
Doctors reportedly conducted several tests before informing the family that the infection was cholera. The illness is said to have severely affected his kidneys and liver. Over the weekend, medical staff informed the family that there was little more they could do.
Cholera is caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae and is typically spread through contaminated food or water. Globally, it accounts for up to 143,000 deaths annually, with the majority of cases occurring in parts of Africa and Asia. The World Health Organization estimates between 1.3 million and 4 million cases worldwide each year. Most cases can be treated successfully with prompt rehydration therapy.
The disease first reached Britain in 1831, spreading through poor sanitation systems in industrial cities. Major outbreaks in the 19th century killed tens of thousands. In 1854, physician John Snow traced a London outbreak to a contaminated public water pump on Broad Street in Soho, a breakthrough that transformed public health and sanitation systems.
Public health officials have not yet issued further details regarding the recent case
