scholarly journals A prolonged cholera outbreak caused by drinking contaminated stream water, Kyangwali Refugee Settlement, Hoima District, Western Uganda: 2018

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fred Monje ◽  
Alex Riolexus Ario ◽  
Angella Musewa ◽  
Kenneth Bainomugisha ◽  
Bernadette Basuta Mirembe ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: On 23 February 2018, the Uganda Ministry of Health (MOH) declared a cholera outbreak affecting more than 60 persons in Kyangwali Refugee Settlement, Hoima District, bordering the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). We investigated to determine the outbreak scope and risk factors for transmission, and recommend evidence-based control measures.Methods: We defined a suspected case as sudden onset of watery diarrhoea in any person aged ≥ 2 years in Hoima District, 1 February–9 May 2018. A confirmed case was a suspected case with Vibrio cholerae cultured from a stool sample. We found cases by active community search and record reviews at Cholera Treatment Centres. We calculated case-fatality rates (CFR) and attack rates (AR) by sub-county and nationality. In a case-control study, we compared exposure factors among case- and control-households. We estimated the association between the exposures and outcome using Mantel-Haenszel method. We conducted an environmental assessment in the refugee settlement, including testing samples of stream water, tank water, and spring water for presence of fecal coliforms. We tested suspected cholera cases using cholera Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) kits followed by culture for confirmation. Results: We identified 2122 case-patients and 44 deaths (CFR = 2.1%). Case-patients originating from DRC were the most affected (AR = 15/1000). The overall attack rate in Hoima District was 3.2/1000, with Kyangwali sub-county being the most affected (AR = 13/1000). The outbreak lasted four months, which was a multiple point-source. Environmental assessment showed that a stream separating two villages in Kyangwali Refugee Settlement was a site of open defecation for refugees. Among three water sources tested, only stream water was feacally-contaminated, yielding >100 CFU/100 ml. Of 130 stool samples tested, 124 (95%) yielded V. cholerae by culture. Stream water was most strongly associated with illness (OR = 14.2; 95%CI=1.5-133), although tank water also appeared to be independently associated with illness (OR = 11.6; 95%CI = 1.4–94). Persons who drank tank and stream water had a 17-fold higher odds of illness compared with persons who drank from other sources (OR = 17.3, 95%CI = 2.2–137). Conclusions: Our investigation demonstrated that this was a prolonged cholera outbreak that affected four sub-counties and two divisions in Hoima District, and was associated with drinking of contaminated stream water. In addition, tank water also appears to be unsafe. We recommended boiling drinking water, increasing latrine coverage, and provision of safe water by the District and entire High Commission for refugees.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fred Monje ◽  
Alex Riolexus Ario ◽  
Angella Musewa ◽  
Kenneth Bainomugisha ◽  
Bernadette Basuta Mirembe ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: On 23 February 2018, the Uganda Ministry of Health (MOH) declared a cholera outbreak affecting more than 60 persons in Kyangwali Refugee Settlement, Hoima District, bordering the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). We investigated to determine the outbreak scope and risk factors for transmission, and recommend evidence-based control measures.Methods: We defined a suspected case as sudden onset of watery diarrhoea in a person aged ≥2 years in Hoima District, 1 February-9 May 2018. A confirmed case was a suspected case with V. cholerae cultured from a stool sample. We found cases by active community search and record reviews at Cholera Treatment Centres. We calculated case-fatality rates (CFR) and attack rates (AR) by sub-county and nationality. In a case-control study, we compared exposure factors among case- and control-households. We conducted an environmental assessment in the refugee settlement, including testing samples of stream water, tank water, and spring water for presence of fecal coliforms. We tested suspected cholera cases using cholera Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) kits followed by culture for confirmation. Results: We identified 2,122 case-patients and 44 deaths (CFR=2.1%). Case-patients originating from DRC were the most affected (AR=15/1000). The overall attack rate in Hoima District was 3.2/1,000, with Kyangwali sub-county being the most affected (AR=13/1,000). The outbreak lasted 4 months, which was a multiple point-source. Environmental assessment showed that a stream separating two villages in Kyangwali Refugee Settlement was a site of open defecation for refugees. Among three water sources tested, only stream water was feacally-contaminated, yielding >100 CFU/100ml. Of 130 stool samples tested, 124 (95%) yielded V. cholerae by culture. Stream water was most strongly associated with illness (OR=14.2; CI=1.5-133), although tank water also appeared to be independently associated with illness (OR=11.6; CI=1.4-94). Persons who drank tank and stream water had a 17-fold higher odds of illness compared with persons who drank from other sources (OR=17.3, CI=2.2-137). Conclusions: Our investigation demonstrated that this was a prolonged cholera outbreak that affected 4 sub-counties and 2 divisions in Hoima District and was associated with drinking of contaminated stream water. In addition, tank water also appears to be unsafe. We recommended boiling drinking water, increasing latrine coverage, and provision of safe water by the District and entire High Commission for refugees.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fred Monje ◽  
Alex Riolexus Ario ◽  
Angella Musewa ◽  
Kenneth Bainomugisha ◽  
Bernadette Basuta Mirembe ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: On 23 February 2018, the Uganda Ministry of Health (MOH) declared a cholera outbreak affecting more than 60 persons in Kyangwali Refugee Settlement, Hoima District, bordering the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). We investigated to determine the outbreak scope and risk factors for transmission, and recommend evidence-based control measures.Methods: We defined a suspected case as sudden onset of watery diarrhoea in a person aged ≥2 years in Hoima District, 1 February-9 May 2018. A confirmed case was a suspected case with V. cholerae cultured from a stool sample. We found cases by active community search and record reviews at Cholera Treatment Centres. We calculated case-fatality rates (CFR) and attack rates (AR) by sub-county and nationality. In a case-control study, we compared exposure factors among case- and control-households. We conducted an environmental assessment in the refugee settlement, including testing of water samples from stream water, tank water, and spring water for presence of fecal coliforms. We tested suspected cholera cases using cholera Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) kits followed by culture for confirmation. Results: We identified 2,122 case-patients and 44 deaths (CFR=2.1%). Case-patients originating from DRC were the most affected (AR=15/1000). The overall attack rate in Hoima District was 3.2/1,000, with Kyangwali sub-county being the most affected (AR=13/1,000). The outbreak lasted 4 months, which was a multiple point-source. Environmental assessment showed that a stream separating two villages in Kyangwali Refugee Settlement was a site of open defecation for refugees. Among three water sources tested, only stream water was fecally-contaminated, yielding >100 CFU/100ml. Of 130 stool samples tested, 124 (95%) yielded V. cholerae by culture. Stream water was most strongly associated with illness (OR=14.2; CI=1.5-133), although tank water also appeared to be independently associated with illness (OR=11.6; CI=1.4-94). Persons who drank tank and stream water had a 17-fold higher odds of illness compared with persons who drank from other sources (OR=17.3, CI=2.2-137). Conclusions: Drinking contaminated stream water was associated with cholera outbreak. We recommended boiling drinking water, increasing latrine coverage, and provision of safe water by the District and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.


2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fred Monje ◽  
Alex Riolexus Ario ◽  
Angella Musewa ◽  
Kenneth Bainomugisha ◽  
Bernadette Basuta Mirembe ◽  
...  

Abstract Background On 23 February 2018, the Uganda Ministry of Health (MOH) declared a cholera outbreak affecting more than 60 persons in Kyangwali Refugee Settlement, Hoima District, bordering the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). We investigated to determine the outbreak scope and risk factors for transmission, and recommend evidence-based control measures. Methods We defined a suspected case as sudden onset of watery diarrhoea in any person aged ≥ 2 years in Hoima District, 1 February–9 May 2018. A confirmed case was a suspected case with Vibrio cholerae cultured from a stool sample. We found cases by active community search and record reviews at Cholera Treatment Centres. We calculated case-fatality rates (CFR) and attack rates (AR) by sub-county and nationality. In a case-control study, we compared exposure factors among case- and control-households. We estimated the association between the exposures and outcome using Mantel-Haenszel method. We conducted an environmental assessment in the refugee settlement, including testing samples of stream water, tank water, and spring water for presence of fecal coliforms. We tested suspected cholera cases using cholera rapid diagnostic test (RDT) kits followed by culture for confirmation. Results We identified 2122 case-patients and 44 deaths (CFR = 2.1%). Case-patients originating from Demographic Republic of Congo were the most affected (AR = 15/1000). The overall attack rate in Hoima District was 3.2/1000, with Kyangwali sub-county being the most affected (AR = 13/1000). The outbreak lasted 4 months, which was a multiple point-source. Environmental assessment showed that a stream separating two villages in Kyangwali Refugee Settlement was a site of open defecation for refugees. Among three water sources tested, only stream water was feacally-contaminated, yielding > 100 CFU/100 ml. Of 130 stool samples tested, 124 (95%) yielded V. cholerae by culture. Stream water was most strongly associated with illness (odds ratio [OR] = 14.2, 95% CI: 1.5–133), although tank water also appeared to be independently associated with illness (OR = 11.6, 95% CI: 1.4–94). Persons who drank tank and stream water had a 17-fold higher odds of illness compared with persons who drank from other sources (OR = 17.3, 95% CI: 2.2–137). Conclusions Our investigation demonstrated that this was a prolonged cholera outbreak that affected four sub-counties and two divisions in Hoima District, and was associated with drinking of contaminated stream water. In addition, tank water also appears to be unsafe. We recommended boiling drinking water, increasing latrine coverage, and provision of safe water by the District and entire High Commission for refugees.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Eurien ◽  
Bernadette Basuta Mirembe ◽  
Angella Musewa ◽  
Esther Kisaakye ◽  
Benon Kwesiga ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Kampala city slums, with one million dwellers living in poor sanitary conditions, frequently experience cholera outbreaks. On 6 January 2019, Lubaga Division notified the Uganda Ministry of Health of a suspected cholera outbreak in Sembule village. We investigated to identify the source and mode of transmission, and recommend evidence-based interventions.Methods: We defined a suspected case as onset of profuse, painless, acute watery diarrhoea in a Kampala City resident (≥2 years) from 28 December 2018 to 11 February 2019. A confirmed case was a suspected case with Vibrio cholerae identified from the patient’s stool specimen by culture or Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). We found cases by record review and active community case-finding. We conducted a case-control study in Sembule village, the epi-center of this outbreak, to compare exposures between confirmed case-persons and asymptomatic controls, individually matched by age group. We overlaid rainfall data with the epidemic curve to identify temporal patterns between rain and illnesses. We conducted an environmental assessment, interviewed village local council members, and tested water samples from randomly-selected households and water sources using culture and PCR to identify V. cholerae.Results: We identified 50 suspected case-patients, with three deaths (case-fatality rate: 6.0%). Of 45 case-patients with stool samples tested, 22 were confirmed positive for V. cholerae O1, serotype Ogawa. All age groups were affected; persons aged 5-14 years had the highest attack rate (AR) (8.2/100,000). The epidemic curve showed several point-source outbreaks; cases repeatedly spiked immediately following rainfall. Sembule village had a token-operated water tap, which had broken down one month before the outbreak, forcing residents to obtain water from one of three wells (Wells A, B, C) or a public tap. Environmental assessment showed that residents emptied their feces into a drainage channel connected to Well C. Drinking water from Well C was associated with illness (ORM-H=21, 95% CI: 4.6–93). Drinking water from a public tap (ORM-H=0.33, 95% CI: 0.13–0.86) and drinking boiled water (ORM-H=0.15, 95% CI: 0.036-0.59) were protective. Water from a container in one of eight households sampled tested positive for V. cholerae; water from Well C had coliform counts ˃900/100ml.Conclusions: Drinking contaminated water from an unprotected well was associated with this cholera outbreak. We recommended emergency chlorination of drinking water, fixing the broken token tap, and closure of Well C.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Eurien ◽  
Bernadette Basuta Mirembe ◽  
Angella Musewa ◽  
Esther Kisaakye ◽  
Benon Kwesiga ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Kampala city slums, with one million dwellers living in poor sanitary conditions, frequently experience cholera outbreaks. On 6 January 2019, Rubaga Division notified the Uganda Ministry of Health of a suspected cholera outbreak in Sembule village. We investigated to identify the source and mode of transmission, and recommended evidence-based interventions. Methods We defined a suspected case as onset of profuse, painless, acute watery diarrhoea in a Kampala City resident (≥ 2 years) from 28 December 2018 to 11 February 2019. A confirmed case was a suspected case with Vibrio cholerae identified from the patient’s stool specimen by culture. We found cases by record review and active community case-finding. We conducted a case–control study in Sembule village, the epi-center of this outbreak, to compare exposures between confirmed case-persons and asymptomatic controls, individually matched by age group. We overlaid rainfall data with the epidemic curve to identify temporal patterns between rain and illnesses. We conducted an environmental assessment, interviewed village local council members, and tested water samples from randomly-selected households and water sources using culture and PCR to identify V. cholerae. Results We identified 50 suspected case-patients, with three deaths (case-fatality rate: 6.0%). Of 45 case-patients with stool samples tested, 22 were confirmed positive for V. cholerae O1, serotype Ogawa. All age groups were affected; persons aged 5–14 years had the highest attack rate (AR) (8.2/100,000). The epidemic curve showed several point-source outbreaks; cases repeatedly spiked immediately following rainfall. Sembule village had a token-operated water tap, which had broken down 1 month before the outbreak, forcing residents to obtain water from one of three wells (Wells A, B, C) or a public tap. Environmental assessment showed that residents emptied their feces into a drainage channel connected to Well C. Drinking water from Well C was associated with illness (ORM–H = 21, 95% CI 4.6–93). Drinking water from a public tap (ORM–H = 0.07, 95% CI 0.014–0.304) was protective. Water from a container in one of eight households sampled tested positive for V. cholerae; water from Well C had coliform counts ˃ 900/100 ml. Conclusions Drinking contaminated water from an unprotected well was associated with this cholera outbreak. We recommended emergency chlorination of drinking water, fixing the broken token tap, and closure of Well C.


2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kelly Osezele Elimian ◽  
Anwar Musah ◽  
Somto Mezue ◽  
Oyeronke Oyebanji ◽  
Sebastian Yennan ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The cholera outbreak in 2018 in Nigeria reaffirms its public health threat to the country. Evidence on the current epidemiology of cholera required for the design and implementation of appropriate interventions towards attaining the global roadmap strategic goals for cholera elimination however seems lacking. Thus, this study aimed at addressing this gap by describing the epidemiology of the 2018 cholera outbreak in Nigeria. Methods This was a retrospective analysis of surveillance data collected between January 1st and November 19th, 2018. A cholera case was defined as an individual aged 2 years or older presenting with acute watery diarrhoea and severe dehydration or dying from acute watery diarrhoea. Descriptive analyses were performed and presented with respect to person, time and place using appropriate statistics. Results There were 43,996 cholera cases and 836 cholera deaths across 20 states in Nigeria during the outbreak period, with an attack rate (AR) of 127.43/100,000 population and a case fatality rate (CFR) of 1.90%. Individuals aged 15 years or older (47.76%) were the most affected age group, but the proportion of affected males and females was about the same (49.00 and 51.00% respectively). The outbreak was characterised by four distinct epidemic waves, with higher number of deaths recorded in the third and fourth waves. States from the north-west and north-east regions of the country recorded the highest ARs while those from the north-central recorded the highest CFRs. Conclusion The severity and wide-geographical distribution of cholera cases and deaths during the 2018 outbreak are indicative of an elevated burden, which was more notable in the northern region of the country. Overall, the findings reaffirm the strategic role of a multi-sectoral approach in the design and implementation of public health interventions aimed at preventing and controlling cholera in Nigeria.


2014 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 36-39 ◽  
Author(s):  
DK Yadav ◽  
D Tamrakar ◽  
R Baral ◽  
P Jha ◽  
S Gautam ◽  
...  

Background On 2011, Cluster of cholera cases was reported in the Tilathi VDC of Saptari, Nepal. Objective The outbreak was investigated to identify the etiological agent and possible source of infection and guiding the prevention and control measures. Methods Demographic and clinical details were collected from the suspected case-patients, and the outbreak was described by time, place, and person. Focus group discussion and Key informant interview were conducted to assess the practice of sanitation, source of drinking water and probable cause of diarrheal disease. Five stool samples and 10 water samples of tube well and ponds were collected and microbiological study was done in BPKIHS Dharan. Results A total of 111 persons suffered with diarrhea and 02 died of it (attack rate 3.05%, case fatality rate 1.8%). All age groups were affected with disease (median age 26 yrs) and males were affected more than females. Descriptive epidemiology suggested the clustering of cases were around the pond where they clean utensils, take bath and wash clothes. The Vibrio cholerae 01 El Tor, Ogawa serotype was isolated in 03 out of 05 suspected stool samples and in all three of the pond water samples. They reported that most of the houses do not have the toilet and people do not wash their hands regularly with soap and water after defecation. Conclusion Vibrio cholerae was the causative agent behind the outbreak and probable source of infection was the problematic pond water which they used for different purpose. Immediate chlorination of the pond was recommended to halt further spread of the epidemics. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/kumj.v10i4.10992 Kathmandu Univ Med J 2012;10(4):36-39


Author(s):  
Cleo Anastassopoulou ◽  
Lucia Russo ◽  
Athanasios Tsakris ◽  
Constantinos Siettos

AbstractSince the first suspected case of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) on December 1st, 2019, in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, a total of 40,235 confirmed cases and 909 deaths have been reported in China up to February 10, 2020, evoking fear locally and internationally. Here, based on the publicly available epidemiological data for Hubei, China from January 11 to February 10, 2020, we provide estimates of the main epidemiological parameters. In particular, we provide an estimation of the case fatality and case recovery ratios, along with their 90% confidence intervals as the outbreak evolves. On the basis of a Susceptible-Infected-Recovered-Dead (SIDR) model, we provide estimations of the basic reproduction number (R0), and the per day infection mortality and recovery rates. By calibrating the parameters of the SIRD model to the reported data, we also attempt to forecast the evolution of the of the outbreak at the epicenter three weeks ahead, i.e. until February 29. As the number of infected individuals, especially of those with asymptomatic or mild courses, is suspected to be much higher than the official numbers, which can be considered only as a subset of the actual numbers of infected and recovered cases in the total population, we have repeated the calculations under a second scenario that considers twenty times the number of confirmed infected cases and forty times the number of recovered, leaving the number of deaths unchanged. Based on the reported data, the expected value of R0 as computed considering the period from the 11th of January until the 18th of January, using the official counts of confirmed cases was found to be ∼4.6, while the one computed under the second scenario was found to be ∼3.2. Thus, based on the SIRD simulations, the estimated average value of R0 was found to be ∼ 2.6 based on confirmed cases and2 based on the second scenario. Our forecasting flashes a note of caution for the presently unfolding outbreak in China. Based on the official counts for confirmed cases, the simulations suggest that the cumulative number of infected could reach 180,000 (with lower bound of 45,000) by February 29. Regarding the number of deaths, simulations forecast that on the basis of the up to the 10th of February reported data, the death toll might exceed 2,700 (as a lower bound) by February 29. Our analysis further reveals a significant decline of the case fatality ratio from January 26 to which various factors may have contributed, such as the severe control measures taken in Hubei, China (e.g. quarantine and hospitalization of infected individuals), but mainly because of the fact that the actual cumulative numbers of infected and recovered cases in the population most likely are much higher than the reported ones. Thus, in a scenario where we have taken twenty times the confirmed number of infected and forty times the confirmed number of recovered cases, the case fatality ratio is around ∼ 0.15% in the total population. Importantly, based on this scenario, simulations suggest a slow down of the outbreak in Hubei at the end of February.


2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 115-125
Author(s):  
Adaora Rosemary Ejikeme ◽  
Lois Olajide ◽  
Sola Sunday Thomas ◽  
Chimezie Anueyiagu ◽  
Gbetsere Aghogho ◽  
...  

Background: Lassa fever (LF) is an acute viral haemorrhagic illness of a 2–21-day incubation period that occurs in West Africa. It is endemic in Nigeria and peaks during the first 12 weeks of the year. On January 22, 2019, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) declared an outbreak of LF following an upsurge of LF cases in the country. A total of 213 confirmed cases including 41 deaths were reported from sixteen states including Ondo State. A multi-sectoral national rapid-response-team (RRT) was deployed to Ondo State to characterise the outbreak, assess its determinants, and institute control measures. Methods: An Emergency Operations Center (EOC) was activated to coordinate activities. We defined a suspected case as anyone with one or more of the following symptoms: malaise, fever, headache, sore throat, cough, vomiting and either history of contact with rodents, or a probable or confirmed LF case in the past 21 days, or any person with inexplicable bleeding between January 1, 2019, to February 26, 2019, in Ondo State. A confirmed case was any suspected case with laboratory confirmation. We conducted active case search, collected data using the LF case investigation form and reviewed the existing line list. We conducted contact tracing in hospitals and affected Local Government Areas (LGA). Data was analysed using and Epi info 7.0. Results: We identified 287 LF suspected cases in 6 LGAs; 118 were confirmed with 21 deaths (case fatality rate: 17.8%). The mean age was 39.2 ±20 years with a male-to-female ratio of 1.3:1. Of the 1,269 contacts line-listed, 20 became symptomatic, while 14 (70.0%) were confirmed positive. The secondary attack rate was 1.1%. Conclusion: The confirmed cases were more of primary cases, hence the need to focus more on reducing rodent-to-human transmission of LF. We recommend continuous education on community and health facility infection prevention control, contact tracing and enforcement of environmental sanitation measures across the state to mitigate future outbreaks


Author(s):  
Dickens Onyango ◽  
Shirley Karambu ◽  
Ahmed Abade ◽  
Samuel Amwayi ◽  
Jared Omolo

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document