BACKGROUND: In October 2010 an outbreak of cholera began among a group of small-scale gold miners in the East-Akim Municipality (EAM), Eastern Region. We investigated to verify the diagnosis, identify risk factors and recommend control measures. METHODS: We conducted a descriptive investigation, active case-search and an unmatched case-control study. A cholera case-patient was a person with acute watery diarrhoea, with or without vomiting in EAM from 1st October to 20(th) November, 2010. Stool from case-patients and water samples were taken for laboratory diagnosis. We performed univariate and bivariate analysis using epi-info version 3.3. RESULTS: Of 136 case-patients, 77 (56.6%) were males, of which 40% were miners or from miners households. Index case, a 20 yr-old male miner from Apapam village reported on October 13(th), and case-patients peaked (18.4%) 20 days later. Attack rate was 2/1000 population with no fatality. Ages ranged from 1-84 years; mean of 34±18 yrs. Age-group 20-29 yrs was mostly affected (30.1%) with Apapam village having most case-patients (19.9%). Vibrio cholera serotype ogawa was isolated from stool samples. The main water source, Birim river was polluted by small-scale miners through defecation, post-defecation baths and sand-washings. Compared to controls, case-patients were more likely to have drunk from Birim-River [OR= 6.99, 95% CI: 2.75-18]. CONCLUSION: Vibrio cholera serotype ogawa caused the EAM cholera-outbreak affecting many young adult-males. Drinking water from contaminated community-wide -River was the major risk factors. Boiling or chlorination of water was initiated based on our recommendations and this controlled the outbreak.
BACKGROUND: In October 2010 an outbreak of cholera began among a group of small-scale gold miners in the East-Akim Municipality (EAM), Eastern Region. We investigated to verify the diagnosis, identify risk factors and recommend control measures. METHODS: We conducted a descriptive investigation, active case-search and an unmatched case-control study. A cholera case-patient was a person with acute watery diarrhoea, with or without vomiting in EAM from 1st October to 20(th) November, 2010. Stool from case-patients and water samples were taken for laboratory diagnosis. We performed univariate and bivariate analysis using epi-info version 3.3. RESULTS: Of 136 case-patients, 77 (56.6%) were males, of which 40% were miners or from miners households. Index case, a 20 yr-old male miner from Apapam village reported on October 13(th), and case-patients peaked (18.4%) 20 days later. Attack rate was 2/1000 population with no fatality. Ages ranged from 1-84 years; mean of 34±18 yrs. Age-group 20-29 yrs was mostly affected (30.1%) with Apapam village having most case-patients (19.9%). Vibrio cholera serotype ogawa was isolated from stool samples. The main water source, Birim river was polluted by small-scale miners through defecation, post-defecation baths and sand-washings. Compared to controls, case-patients were more likely to have drunk from Birim-River [OR= 6.99, 95% CI: 2.75-18]. CONCLUSION:Vibrio cholera serotype ogawa caused the EAM cholera-outbreak affecting many young adult-males. Drinking water from contaminated community-wide -River was the major risk factors. Boiling or chlorination of water was initiated based on our recommendations and this controlled the outbreak.
Authors: D Sur; J L Deen; B Manna; S K Niyogi; A K Deb; S Kanungo; B L Sarkar; D R Kim; M C Danovaro-Holliday; K Holliday; V K Gupta; M Ali; L von Seidlein; J D Clemens; S K Bhattacharya Journal: Arch Dis Child Date: 2005-06-17 Impact factor: 3.791
Authors: Dipika Sur; B L Sarkar; B Manna; J Deen; S Datta; S K Niyogi; A N Ghosh; A Deb; S Kanungo; A Palit; S K Bhattacharya Journal: Indian J Med Res Date: 2006-01 Impact factor: 2.375
Authors: M Alam; Y N Akhtar; S S Ali; M Ahmed; M Atiq; A Ansari; F A Chaudhry; H Bashir; M A Bangash; A Awais; A Safdar; S F Hasnain; A Zafar Journal: J Pak Med Assoc Date: 2003-03 Impact factor: 0.781
Authors: Dipika Sur; Shanta Dutta; B L Sarkar; B Manna; M K Bhattacharya; K K Datta; A Saha; B Dutta; G P Pazhani; A Ray Choudhuri; S K Bhattacharya Journal: Indian J Med Res Date: 2007-06 Impact factor: 2.375
Authors: E K Dzotsi; A Z Dongdem; G Boateng; L Antwi; G Owusu-Okyere; D B Nartey; M Olu-Taiwo; M J Adjabeng; J Amankwa; B Sarkodie; J Addo; E Antwi; E Aryee; J A Opintan Journal: Ghana Med J Date: 2015-06
Authors: Kennedy Ohene-Adjei; Ernest Kenu; Delia Akosua Bandoh; Prince Nii Ossah Addo; Charles Lwanga Noora; Priscillia Nortey; Edwin Andrew Afari Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2017-10-11 Impact factor: 3.295