BACKGROUND: Cholera is endemic in Malawi with seasonal outbreaks during the wet season. People living around Lake Chilwa rely on the lake for their water supply. From May 2009 to May 2010, a cholera outbreak occurred in fishing communities around Lake Chilwa. This paper describes the outbreak response and lessons learned for prevention and management of future outbreaks. METHODS: Starting in January 2010, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) helped District Health Management Teams (DHMTs) to distribute educational materials, water disinfectant and hygiene supplies, and oral rehydration solution (ORS) in fishing communities. MSF also supported case management by mentoring health workers and providing equipment and supplies. RESULTS: A total of 1,171 cholera cases and 21 deaths were reported in the districts around the lake, with cases also being reported on the Mozambican side of the lake. The attack rate was highest among people living on or around the lake, particularly among fishermen. Samples of lake water had high turbidity conducive to the propagation of Vibrio cholerae. CONCLUSION: A number of practical measures could be taken to prevent future outbreaks and to manage outbreaks more effectively. These measures should address surveillance, environmental management, outbreak preparedness, and case management.
BACKGROUND: Cholera is endemic in Malawi with seasonal outbreaks during the wet season. People living around Lake Chilwa rely on the lake for their water supply. From May 2009 to May 2010, a cholera outbreak occurred in fishing communities around Lake Chilwa. This paper describes the outbreak response and lessons learned for prevention and management of future outbreaks. METHODS: Starting in January 2010, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) helped District Health Management Teams (DHMTs) to distribute educational materials, water disinfectant and hygiene supplies, and oral rehydration solution (ORS) in fishing communities. MSF also supported case management by mentoring health workers and providing equipment and supplies. RESULTS: A total of 1,171 cholera cases and 21 deaths were reported in the districts around the lake, with cases also being reported on the Mozambican side of the lake. The attack rate was highest among people living on or around the lake, particularly among fishermen. Samples of lake water had high turbidity conducive to the propagation of Vibrio cholerae. CONCLUSION: A number of practical measures could be taken to prevent future outbreaks and to manage outbreaks more effectively. These measures should address surveillance, environmental management, outbreak preparedness, and case management.
Authors: R Zachariah; A D Harries; V Arendt; D Nchingula; F Chimtulo; O Courteille; P Kirpach Journal: Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg Date: 2002 Jan-Feb Impact factor: 2.184
Authors: Philippe Cavailler; Marcelino Lucas; Valerie Perroud; Margaret McChesney; Sonia Ampuero; Philippe J Guérin; Dominique Legros; Thomas Nierle; Claude Mahoudeau; Bruno Lab; Pierre Kahozi; Jacqueline L Deen; Lorenz von Seidlein; Xuan-Yi Wang; Mahesh Puri; Mohammad Ali; John D Clemens; Francisco Songane; Alberto Baptista; Fauzia Ismael; Avertino Barreto; Claire-Lise Chaignat Journal: Vaccine Date: 2005-10-21 Impact factor: 3.641
Authors: D L Swerdlow; G Malenga; G Begkoyian; D Nyangulu; M Toole; R J Waldman; D N Puhr; R V Tauxe Journal: Epidemiol Infect Date: 1997-06 Impact factor: 2.451
Authors: Marcelino E S Lucas; Jacqueline L Deen; Lorenz von Seidlein; Xuan-Yi Wang; Julia Ampuero; Mahesh Puri; Mohammad Ali; M Ansaruzzaman; Juvenaldo Amos; Arminda Macuamule; Philippe Cavailler; Philippe J Guerin; Claude Mahoudeau; Pierre Kahozi-Sangwa; Claire-Lise Chaignat; Avertino Barreto; Francisco F Songane; John D Clemens Journal: N Engl J Med Date: 2005-02-24 Impact factor: 91.245
Authors: John A Crump; Peter O Otieno; Laurence Slutsker; Bruce H Keswick; Daniel H Rosen; R Michael Hoekstra; John M Vulule; Stephen P Luby Journal: BMJ Date: 2005-07-26
Authors: Tom M Chiller; Carlos E Mendoza; M Beatriz Lopez; Maricruz Alvarez; Robert M Hoekstra; Bruce H Keswick; Stephen P Luby Journal: Bull World Health Organ Date: 2006-02-23 Impact factor: 9.408
Authors: R L Shapiro; M R Otieno; P M Adcock; P A Phillips-Howard; W A Hawley; L Kumar; P Waiyaki; B L Nahlen; L Slutsker Journal: Am J Trop Med Hyg Date: 1999-02 Impact factor: 2.345
Authors: Patrick G Ilboudo; Xiao Xian Huang; Bagrey Ngwira; Abel Mwanyungwe; Vittal Mogasale; Martin A Mengel; Philippe Cavailler; Bradford D Gessner; Jean-Bernard Le Gargasson Journal: PLoS One Date: 2017-09-21 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Amanda K Debes; Allison M Shaffer; Thaddee Ndikumana; Iteka Liesse; Eric Ribaira; Clement Djumo; Mohammad Ali; David A Sack Journal: Trop Med Infect Dis Date: 2021-05-11
Authors: Dickson Shey Nsagha; Julius Atashili; Peter Nde Fon; Elvis Asangbeng Tanue; Charlotte Wenze Ayima; Odette Dzemo Kibu Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2015-11-14 Impact factor: 3.295
Authors: Godfrey Bwire; Aline Munier; Issaka Ouedraogo; Leonard Heyerdahl; Henry Komakech; Atek Kagirita; Richard Wood; Raymond Mhlanga; Berthe Njanpop-Lafourcade; Mugagga Malimbo; Issa Makumbi; Jennifer Wandawa; Bradford D Gessner; Christopher Garimoi Orach; Martin A Mengel Journal: PLoS Negl Trop Dis Date: 2017-03-13
Authors: Francesco Grandesso; Florentina Rafael; Sikhona Chipeta; Ian Alley; Christel Saussier; Francisco Nogareda; Monica Burns; Pauline Lechevalier; Anne-Laure Page; Leon Salumu; Lorenzo Pezzoli; Maurice Mwesawina; Philippe Cavailler; Martin Mengel; Francisco Javier Luquero; Sandra Cohuet Journal: Bull World Health Organ Date: 2018-09-27 Impact factor: 9.408