Preventing Maritime Transfer of Toxigenic Vibrio cholerae

Abstract

Organisms, including Vibrio cholerae, can be transferred between harbors in the ballast water of ships. Zones in the Caribbean region where distance from shore and water depth meet International Maritime Organization guidelines for ballast water exchange are extremely limited. Use of ballast water treatment systems could mitigate the risk for organism transfer.

Keywords

• Vibrio cholerae
• cholera
• bacteria
• Haiti
• Caribbean
• ballast water