The Scientists Found the Origin of El Tor in the Bay of Bengal

Indian, British and Korean scientists stated on 25 August 2011 that they have together found the origin of El Tor. El Tor, the highly virulent and drug resistant form of cholera strain originated from a notorious form, which existed 40 years ago in the Bay of Bengal. 
 
 El Tor is a highly virulent and deadly form of cholera strain.  It was first discovered in Bangladesh in 2006 and subsequently found in parts of Africa. It is more dangerous than all its predecessors, with the power to kill more people and cause prolonged outbreaks. 


El Tor strain first became resistant to antibiotics in 1982, by acquiring the genetic region SXT. It entered the bacterium's genome, initiating global transmission from the original source. Cholera is a diarrhoeal infection linked to unhygienic conditions and poor sanitation systems. It affects 3 million to 5 million people annually and accounts for 100000-120000 deaths.


These findings will help understand why cholera pandemics begun in Asia and then spread throughout the world. The main reason behind its spread is globalization or excessive human travel. Using the ability to track single DNA changes in the genome of this strain, scientists mapped the bacteria's transmission routes.