Hispaniola the 2010 haitian cholera outbreak was the first modern largescale outbreak of cholera a disease once considered beaten back largely due to the invention of modern sanitation. Cholera ghana as the world focuses on the ebola crisis in west africa, another outbreak threatens nearby ghana. Large cholera outbreak in brong ahafo region, ghana article pdf available in bmc research notes 101 december 2017 with 798 reads how we measure reads. The ghana health service at the national level sent. On august 24, 2012, centers for disease control and prevention cdc received a request for assistance from the sierra leonean ministry of health. High and low incidence areas hia and lia were selected in comparative cost analysis and disease impact. Ghana experienced its worst cholera outbreak in three decades in 2014. However, upper west, northern, upper east and volta region are the least affected region s. Five regions ashanti, central, eastern, greater accra, and west. Despite the recurring cholera outbreaks in ghana, very little has been reported on assessments of outbreak response activities undertaken in affected areas.
Ranked among the worlds dirtiest countries, ghana has poor environmental sanitation and hygiene, and a lack of potable water, all of which combined have been largely blamed as the underscoring reasons for cholera outbreaks. Aug 25, 2014 cholera has killed at least 67 people in ghana since june and infected more than 5,000 others in an outbreak that highlights the health and sanitation challenges facing one of africas fastest. Cholera has killed at least 67 people in ghana since june and infected more than 5,000 others, the ghana health service said friday. Cholera has killed at least 67 people in ghana since june and infected more than 5,000 others in an outbreak that highlights the health and sanitation challenges facing one of africas fastest. Outbreaks in ghana usually spread towards neighbouring countries from the south of cameroon to guinea bissau through migrant fishermen and commercial trade. Situation report on cholera outbreak in ghana as of 15 march 2015 week 11 i. During the past decade, except for the current haitian outbreak, which is linked to the importation of a cholera strain from asia 1, 2, most cholera epidemics, cases, and deaths have been reported in subsaharan africa. September 2014 volume 48, number 3 ghana medical journal.
A cholera endemic area is an area where confirmed cholera cases were detected during the last 3 years with evidence of local transmission meaning the cases are not imported from elsewhere. As of 18 aug, 6,018 cases including 47 deaths case fatality rate of 0. A cholera outbreak epidemic can occur in both endemic countries and in countries where cholera does not regularly occur. Highrisk cholera areas are located on corridors where outbreaks spread from and to neighbouring countries, mainly niger, chad and cameroon, highlighting the importance of crossborder activities2. In june 2014, a cholera outbreak was reported in ghana. It moves quickly, infecting people who unknowingly pass it on to others. Nov 01, 2016 humanitarian situation reports, response plans, news, analyses, evaluations, assessments, maps, infographics and more on ghana. Ghana recorded its worst outbreak of cholera in 2014 with eight out of its 10 regions being affected. Cholera in travelers is extremely rare, and the vaccine is not routinely recommended for most travelers because most travelers do not visit areas of active transmission. The ashanti regional health directorate has warned that there are indications that, there might be an outbreak of cholera in the region. In 2012, an outbreak of cholera affected 53 districts in nine regions in ghana with 9548 cases and 100 deaths and the case fatality rate cfr was 1. Since its reintroduction to haiti in october 2010, cholera has spread across the country and has become.
The case fatality ratio is high in the sahelian area, equal or greater than 2%, especially in nigeria, chad, cameroon and niger. Ashitey 1 provides an account on the first cholera epidemic of 1970 in ghana. Instituting interventions for the control of cholera mainly result from knowing the risk factors and the link between the index cases and this can curtail and prevent future outbreaks. A community approach to preventing cholera in ghana volunteers comb the marketplaces of cape coast, ghana educating stall owners on how to prevent the spread of cholera. In 2015, a cumulative total of 434 cases with 4 deaths, a case fatality rate cfr of 0. In a followup to a report this weekend about the cholera outbreak in cape coast, ghana, local media report the outbreak in the fishing. Links with this icon indicate that you are leaving the cdc website the centers for disease control and prevention cdc cannot attest to the accuracy of a nonfederal website. The outbreak which started in the greater accra region in week 24 with six cases reported an upsurge in week 29 with 251 cases and started spreading to other regions. Field evaluation of crystal vc rapid dipstick test for cholera during a cholera outbreak in guineabissau external. The advisory committee on immunization practices voted to recommend cholera vaccine for adult 1864 years travelers to an area of toxigenic vibrio cholerae o1 transmission. This study aimed at determining economic costs on households affected by the cholera outbreak in a coastal region of ghana.
Over 700 cholera cases with no death were recorded in 2016, the ghana health service ghs and ministry of health moh have stated. Cholera outbreak in cape coast grows, deaths reported. Linking to a nonfederal website does not constitute an endorsement by cdc or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the website. From 2014 to early 2015, the country experienced another devastating outbreak of cholera, with about 28,922 cases reported, including 243 deaths. A community approach to preventing cholera in ghana global. Epidemiological link of a major cholera outbreak in. The cholera outbreak started in june 2014 and continued to 2015. Pdf large cholera outbreak in brong ahafo region, ghana. By kwasi kpodo accra reuters cholera has killed at least 67 people in ghana since june and infected more than 5,000 others in an outbreak that highlights the health and sanitation challenges facing one of africas fastestgrowing economies. Nov, 2016 201611 the central regional capital, cape coast is a fishing port and one of the most historical cities in ghana, founded by the people of oguaa and is situated on its south to the gulf of. On 16 august 2012, president koroma declared the cholera outbreak a public health emergency, paving the way for a more robust national and international response. Epidemic hazard cholera disease outbreak africa ghana greater accra region, james town, accra biohazard level. The country has concomitantly suffered seasonal cholera outbreaks that have impacted negatively on the populations health, as well as on the nations economy. Cholera outbreak in ghana kills at least 67 since june.
Aug 22, 2014 by kwasi kpodo accra reuters cholera has killed at least 67 people in ghana since june and infected more than 5,000 others in an outbreak that highlights the health and sanitation challenges facing one of africas fastestgrowing economies. A cholera outbreak in ghanas capital has reached staggering levels, an official said friday, blaming poor sanitation and overcrowded health facilities for. Ghana experienced its worst cholera outbreak in the last three decades in 2014. In view of this threat, the general public is therefore cautioned to take serious health precautionary measures to. Cholera is an acute diarrhoeal infection caused by ingestion of food or water contaminated with the bacterium, vibrio cholera. In 2017, outbreaks of cholera broke out in somalia and yemen. Increase of cholera cases in the horn of africa and the. Jun 12, 2015 epidemic hazard cholera disease outbreak africa ghana greater accra region, james town, accra biohazard level. However, upper west, northern, upper east and volta region are the least affected region s in ghana. The two most distinguishing epidemiologic features of the disease are its tendency to appear in explosive outbreaks and its predisposition to causing pandemics that.
Epidemiological link of a major cholera outbreak in greater. The agency said that the outbreak was centered in impoverished. Declared in june 2014, the west and central african cholera outbreak as of january 25, 2015 claimed 1,683 registered deaths and over 91,361 reported cases with a reported case fatality rate cfr of 2% in 11 countries, which is 3 times more than in 20. Country office ghana situation report on cholera outbreak. Highdensity communities around city centers are often the hardest hit by an outbreak, and efforts to contain the disease become a race against time. Economic evaluation of 2014 cholera outbreak in ghana. Outbreak of cholera, greater accra region, ghana, 2014. When these simple precautions are observed, contracting the disease is very unlikely. High and low incidence areas hia and lia were selected in. Following the 2015 and 2016 cholera outbreak which claimed about 600 lives, government increased the budget for sanitation by over 300%. Evidence of cholera economic costs on affected households has been limited. The acute diarrhoea infection which can kill within hours had the highest reported cases from the cape coast municipality in. There are lessons to be learnt from cholera outbreaks in ghana.
These efforts led to a dramatic drop in cholera incidence from 735 cases in 2016, to just 9 cases since january 2017. The first case of cholera in ghana was in a togolese national in transit at the kotoka international airport from guinea. In the wake of cholera cases increasing in ghana, atv visited korle bu to interact with the doctors and experience at first hand what the situation is like on the ground. A lion in our village the unconscionable tragedy of cholera in africa. In 20102011, the lake chad basin, a sahelian region between nigeria, niger, chad, and cameroon, was also severely affected 9. Cholera vaccine for travelers travelers health cdc. Cumulative incidence of cholera by commune in ghana, 1998202 figure 3. Country office ghana situation report on cholera outbreak in ghana as of 15 march 2015 week 11 i.
In june 2016, the us food and drug administration approved a singledose oral cholera vaccine cvd 103hgr, vaxchora paxvax corporation, redwood city, ca. Response measures during the 2014 cholera outbreak were taken at the international, national, and regional levels. The first major outbreak occurred in 1982, when about 15,032 cases were recorded. However, evidence of the economic costs of the disease on the health system and affected households has not been fully documented. An outbreak of cholera has gripped the countrys capital city of accra, since this past summer, with at least 7,000 recorded cases and 57 deaths reported thus far. In view of this threat, the general public is therefore cautioned to take serious health precautionary measures to forestall the eruption of any eventuality. Rapid risk assessment cholera cases in the horn of africa and gulf of aden 19 may 2017 3 between 19 september 2015 and 24 july 2016, 4 330 cases, including 68 deaths cfr.
In july 2014, the first cholera cases were reported in accra, ghana. Oct 11, 2017 instituting interventions for the control of cholera mainly result from knowing the risk factors and the link between the index cases and this can curtail and prevent future outbreaks. By august 2017, the yemen outbreak affected 500,000 people and killed 2,000 people. From 1998 to 2017, greater accra alone recorded 58.
Bmc res notes large cholera outbreak in brong ahafo region, ghana charles lwanga noora 0 1 kofi issah 0 ernest kenu 1 emmanuel george bachan 0 robert domo nuoh 1 kofi mensah nyarko 1 paulina appiah 0 timothy letsa 0 0 regional health directorate, brong ahafo region, ghana health service, box 145, sunyani, ghana 1 ghana field epidemiology. Background the dramatic consequences of cyclical cholera outbreaks in recent years in ghana are worrying. The outbreak was widespread, with out of 216 districts across ghana cholera outbreak 2014. Humanitarian situation reports, response plans, news, analyses, evaluations, assessments, maps, infographics and more on ghana. Cholera outbreak in west africa was first reported in guinea. Comparison of incidence from endemic areas in asia and africa cdc pdf pdf 5 pages external. These efforts led to a dramatic drop in cholera incidence from 735 cases in.
This study therefore sought to determine economic cost associated with recent outbreak the disease. Yet, most studies assessing the determinants of cholera. What a cholera outbreak would mean for government and the economy. Nov 01, 2016 in a followup to a report this weekend about the cholera outbreak in cape coast, ghana, local media report the outbreak in the fishing port city has topped 20 cases, including three fatalities. The cholera outbreak started in june 2014 and continued to. Nov 01, 20 for instance, in 20082009, zimbabwe experienced the largest cholera outbreak ever recorded in africa, with 100 000 cases and 4000 deaths. Cholera outbreak in ghana kills at least 67 since june health24.
Nigeria, ghana and democratic republic of the congo being the most affected countries with ghana reporting its worst outbreak since 1982. L opare et al outbreak of cholera in the east akim municipalities 116 outbreak of cholera in the east akim municipality of ghana following unhygienic practices by smallscale gold miners, november 2010 j. Assessment of the response to cholera outbreaks in two. Outbreak of cholera, greater accra region, ghana, 2014 emmanuel dzotsi 1, john kofi odoom 2, joseph k. The ghana health service ghs said the outbreak was centered on impoverished communities in urban are. Large cholera outbreak in brong ahafo region, ghana pdf. The greater accra region gar was the most affected, recording almost 98% of all cholera cases 14. Yearly number of cholera cases and case fatality rate cfr in ghana, 1199020 figure 2. Highlights the cholera outbreak that started in june 2014 has protracted and spilled over to 2015. Environmental determinants of cholera outbreaks in inland. Bmc res notes large cholera outbreak in brong ahafo region, ghana charles lwanga noora 0 1 kofi issah 0 ernest kenu 1 emmanuel george bachan 0 robert domo nuoh 1 kofi mensah nyarko 1 paulina appiah 0 timothy letsa 0 0 regional health directorate, brong ahafo region, ghana health service, box 145, sunyani, ghana 1 ghana field epidemiology and laboratory training program, school. Daviesteye 4 1department of disease surveillance, ghana health service, korlebu, accra, ghana. Although still rare, cholera appears to be more common in travelers who are visiting friends and relatives and those performing humanitarian aid work in outbreak settings.
A community approach to preventing cholera in ghana. Outbreak onset and crossborder spread are fre quently occurring in northern states zamfara, katsina, kano, kaduna, bauchi and adamawa. Cholera, epidemic, outbreak, sanitation, hygiene, ghana multilingual abstract please see additional file 1 for translations of the abstract into five official working languages of the united nations. In 2015, a cumulative total of 434 cases with 4 deaths, a case fatality. All people visitors or residents in areas where cholera is occurring or has occurred should be aware of the basic cholera facts and follow these five basic cholera prevention steps to protect themselves and their family 1, 2 the risk for cholera is very low for people visiting areas with epidemic cholera. Oct 20, 2014 in the wake of cholera cases increasing in ghana, atv visited korle bu to interact with the doctors and experience at first hand what the situation is like on the ground. Aug 15, 2014 a cholera outbreak in ghana s capital has reached staggering levels, an official said friday, blaming poor sanitation and overcrowded health facilities for the rapid spread of the disease. By the end of january 2015 when the outbreak was finally contained, over 28, 000 cases with 243 deaths had been recorded in all 10 regions of ghana 14. In 2009, for instance, 98% of the 221 226 notified cases worldwide were from africa.