Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Health has detected at least one confirmed case of cholera and three other suspected cases in an area bordering Yemen, where an ongoing cholera outbreak has killed thousands, The New Arab reported Monday (September 17th).
Citing a health ministry official, Saudi state TV on Sunday said the "non-Saudi" patients were receiving care at al-Mauwassem General Hospital in Jizan in southern Saudi Arabia.
Cholera is caused by consuming food or water contaminated with fecal matter. It causes violent vomiting and diarrhea within hours, and could be lethal without immediate treatment.
Since the outbreak of cholera in Yemen a year and half ago, there have been more than one million suspected cases of cholera in the country, and 2,275 recorded deaths.
However, it is unclear if the outbreak in Saudi Arabia's south was linked to Yemen or to last month's Hajj pilgrimage.
