Despite recurring outbreaks of cholera in ghana, very little has been. Dynamics of cholera epidemics from benin to mauritania. Ghana recorded over 9000 cholera cases in 1999 with about 250 deaths 6. Response measures, challenges, and lessons learnt from the most recent cholera outbreak are critically assessed to determine how best this public health issue could be resolved. Modeling cholera dynamics with a control strategy in ghana. To prevent cyclical cholera outbreaks in ghana, this commentary. The reemergence of cholera in kenya in the first months of 2015 suggests that cholera remains a public health threat.
The region with the highest cholera cases annually is greater accra with accra. This study, therefore, assesses health literacy on cholera and the association between health literacy competency and health outcome. Outbreak of cholera in veagunga, bongo district of the. Hence, we are enforced to assess risk factors associated with cholera. A total of 1,546 cases and 67 deaths have resulted from the outbreak of cholera and diarrhoeal diseases. Cholera is becoming a big problem in the world especially in african region including ethiopia. Pdf background a nationwide outbreak of vibrio cholerae occurred in ghana in 2014 with accra, the nations capital as the epicenter. Records available at the ghana health service18 have hit a record high in the regions, with most health centres in.
On august 24, 2012, centers for disease control and prevention cdc received a request for assistance from the sierra leonean ministry of health and sanitation mohs to investigate risk factors for cholera and to provide laboratory support. The region is broadly affected by many cholera cases and outbreaks that can spread across countries 1. However, there have been large outbreaks in 2011 and 2012. As of 21th september, 2014 the ongoing outbreak in the country has seen a further decline as compared to the previous week. Epidemiological link of a major cholera outbreak in greater accra. Ashitey 1 provides an account on the first cholera epidemic of 1970 in ghana. Research dynamics of cholera outbreaks in great lakes. The diseases affected the whole districts of the kirkossubcity, addis ababa. Cholera outbreak in west africa was first reported in guinea. In 2011 and 2012 ghana had cholera epidemics combined that totaled 16,000 cases and deaths. But as awful as this outbreak was, it is likely that many more would have died if not for the work of a local doctor living in the area, john snow. Health division, ghana health service received a report from the greater accra regional health directorate indicating cholera outbreak in the accra metropolis. Daviesteye 4 1department of disease surveillance, ghana health service, korlebu, accra, ghana. Prevention of cholera outbreak in chorkor, accraghana 82598.
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. As of 18 aug, 6,018 cases including 47 deaths case fatality rate of 0. Cholera distribution the four regions along the coast, greater accra, central, western and volta represent over 70% of cholera cases between 1998 and 20. Country office ghana situation report on cholera outbreak. Cholera, largely eliminated from industrialized countries by water and sewage treatment over a century ago, still remains a significant cause of illness and death in many african countries. Ghanas idsr ii was launched in 2010 and as part of idsr ii, suspected cholera cases in surveillance units are to be reported and investigated, including laboratory confirmation of etiologic agents. The outbreak has also been reported in border towns of eritrea and ethiopia. Ghana is affected by crossborder outbreaks mainly from nigeria and togo, especially along the guinea coast.
The tanzanian cholera outbreak was the largest since 19971998, which had over 40 000 reported cases. The greater accra region gar was the most affected, recording almost 98% of all cholera cases 14. The cholera outbreak that started in june 2014 has protracted, spilling over to. This study aimed to describe, identify the cause and socioeconomic factors associated with 2012 cholera outbreak in osuklottey district for policy recommendations. The country is cholera endemic with several communities within cholera hotspots. John snow and the 1854 cholera outbreak past medical history. However, during the week new outbreak was confirmed from wa in the upper west region. For more information see the full trip report from the cdc outbreak investigation. Large cholera outbreak in brong ahafo region, ghana. Main outbreaks were reported in the densely populated regions of greater accra and ashanti, and in bordering coastal regions. The outbreak spread to the brong ahafo region bar which is geographically located in the middle of the country. Outbreak of cholera, greater accra region, ghana, 2014. In contrast, other regions such as parts of south america have historically had only sporadic epidemics. Often thought of as an ancient disease, cholera is an acute intestinal infection caused by the vibrio cholerae bacterium.
Report of cholera outbreak investigation, greater accra region. Dissertation or thesis cholera prevention and control in. Evidence of cholera economic costs on affected households has been limited. Ghana has seen recurrent epidemics in recent years, posing health system challenge. In 2014, ghana was hit by a massive cholera outbreak which recorded the highest number of cases in the past 30 years claiming many lives.
In addition the wer provides annual summary tables of cholera cases and deaths as well as short notes on outbreaks of cholera. Cholera outbreak investigation in four districts of kirkos. This is driven by large outbreaks in greater accra region. Examining health literacy on cholera in an endemic. Ghanas cholera outbreak, officials say, is the worst in more than 30 years, with the country last suffering such a high number of casualties in 1982. Between 1999 and 2005, africa accounted for about 90% of the cholera cases and 96% of the cholerarelated deaths worldwide. Ghana recorded its worst outbreak of cholera in 2014 with eight out of its 10 regions being affected. Report of cholera outbreak investigation, greater accra. In january 2015 the greater accra region and volta region still reported cases of cholera while in the rest of ghana the outbreak was declared over. Cholera 25 november 1998 outbreak the disaster the ghana ministry of health moh reported an outbreak of cholera and diarrhoea in september, 1998 in the six regions of upper east,ashanti, eastern volta, western, central and greater accra. Cholera epidemiology and response factsheet ghana cholera epidemiology and response factsheet ghana cholera overview cholera was first reported in ghana in 1970. In october 2010 an outbreak of cholera began among a group of smallscale gold miners in the eastakim municipality eam, eastern region. Economic evaluation of 2014 cholera outbreak in ghana.
Nearly a million people are currently suffering from cholera in yemen, a worrying reminder that cholera remains a topical issue and a serious and fatal illness. Cholera cases and deaths reported to who during the week are published in the weekly epidemiological record wer. We investigated to verify the diagnosis, identify risk factors and recommend control measures. Reports of important outbreaks also appear on the who web pages under disease outbreak news as listed in the.
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. Large cholera outbreak in brong ahafo region, ghana ncbi. Cholera is a diarrhoeal disease caused by infection of the intestine with the bacterium vibrio cholerae, either type o1 or o9. We carried out a descriptive cross sectional study to investigate the epidemiological link of the.
Cholera outbreaks occur every year in ghana and needs greater attention. The cholera outbreak started in june 2014 and continued to 2015. Socioeconomic factors associated with cholera outbreak in. Humanitarian situation reports, response plans, news, analyses, evaluations, assessments, maps, infographics and more on ghana. Cholera, unlike other diarrheal diseases, is fatal even among healthy young adults, and poses a greater risk of death among immunocompromised individuals and malnourished children. In the twentyfirst century, subsaharan africa bears the brunt of global cholera.
Each of the 56 suspected cases in 20 tested negative for v. In 2014, a cholera outbreak occurred in greater accra region, affecting more than 1733 people, and 20 individuals died. Assessment of the response to cholera outbreaks in two districts in ghana sallyann ohene1, wisdom klenyuie2 and mark sarpeh3 abstract background. Despite recurring outbreaks of cholera in ghana, very little has been reported on assessments of outbreak response activities undertaken in affected areas. Despite the recurring cholera outbreaks in ghana, very little has been reported on assessments of outbreak response activities undertaken in affected areas. In 1970, the first cholera case was reported in ghana, after which cholera has been endemic in ghana. Outbreak of cholera, greater accra region, ghana, 2014 emmanuel dzotsi 1, john kofi odoom 2, joseph k. Failure to control local outbreaks and prevention of betweenregion transmission could result in spread of cholera outbreaks to neighbouring regions 25. Background a nationwide outbreak of vibrio cholerae occurred in ghana in 2014 with accra, the nations capital as the epicenter. This commentary aims to throw light on the menace of cholera in ghana and the need to curb the recurrence of outbreaks and bouts of this epidemic. During that outbreak a total of 28,975 cases including 247 deaths were reported from all the 10 regions of the country.
The region is broadly affected by many cholera cases and outbreaks that. Highlights the cholera outbreak that started in june 2014 has protracted and spilled over to 2015. Ghana experienced its worst cholera outbreak in three decades in 2014. Health directorate indicating cholera outbreak in the accra metropolis.
Cholera outbreaks occur every year in ghana and needs. They can also be adapted to suit other water and sanitationrelated. About 20% of those who are infected develop acute, watery diarrhoea 1020% of these individuals develop severe watery diarrhoea with vomiting. From 1998 to 2017, greater accra alone recorded 58. The first case of cholera in ghana was in a togolese national in transit at the kotoka international airport from guinea. Assessment of the response to cholera outbreaks in two. Cholera epidemiology, prevention and control intechopen. Cholera outbreak response cholera general cholera is a diarrhoeal disease caused by infection of the intestine with the bacterium vibrio cholerae, either type o1 or o9.
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 august 1854, soho in london was struck with a severe cholera outbreak. Cholera 21 october 1998 outbreak the disaster an outbreak of cholera in seven of ghanas ten regions has been confirmed by the ministry of health moh. As observed in ghana, ivory coast also experienced a complete lull in cholera in 20 and early 2014. The outbreak was first reported in the bawku east district of the upper east region on september 14. It did not gain much notice because of being overshadowed by ebola news in nearby countries. This study assessed the response activities undertaken in two districts, akatsi district in volta region and komendaedinaeguafoabirem keea municipal in central region during the 2012 cholera epidemic in ghana. There are lessons to be learnt from cholera outbreaks in ghana. Currently, ghana is faced with prevalent cases of cholera infections, especially in the capital accra and it surroundings, thereby it being declared a health emergency and an outbreak. Cholera is an infectious disease that causes severe watery diarrhea, which can lead to dehydration and even death if untreated.
This study employed a mixed methods approach to investigate the successes and challenges of cholera prevention and control in kenya through analysis of cholera surveillance data and key informant interviews. Since the early 19th century, there have been seven cholera pandemics around the globe, resulting in millions of. This study aimed at determining economic costs on households affected by the cholera outbreak in a coastal region of ghana. 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. Since 1990 and up to 2010, the overall yearly trend showed a decrease over time in size. Epidemiological link of a major cholera outbreak in. The 2014 cholera outbreak can be described as a propagated source outbreak. Research article open access epidemiological link of a major cholera outbreak in greater accra region of ghana, 2014 kennedy oheneadjei, ernest kenu, delia akosua bandoh, prince nii ossah addo, charles lwanga noora, priscillia nortey and edwin andrew afari. Nigeria, ghana and democratic republic of the congo being the most affected countries with ghana reporting its worst outbreak since 1982.
However, upper west, northern, upper east and volta region are the least affected region s in ghana. An ongoing cholera outbreak in ghana in 2014, hitting hard the capital accra, has claimed some 100 lives and over 11,000 cases by september. Prompt outbreak response, case management and education about causes and prevention of diarrhea played a significant role in controlling the outbreak. About 20% of those who are infected develop acute, watery diarrhoea 1020% of these individuals develop severe watery. Pdf outbreak of cholera in the east akim municipality of. Pdf large cholera outbreak in brong ahafo region, ghana. The disease is very common in areas where there is inequity and lack of social development. 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. The dramatic consequences of cyclical cholera outbreaks in recent years in ghana are worrying. A close second is tuberculosis which is responsible for 15% of the total deaths and can easily be attributed to overcrowding. Preparedness, prevention and control elizabeth lamond and jesee kinyanjui june 2012.
These cholera outbreaks are as a result of poor sanitation and unsafe drinking water. 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. A nationwide outbreak of vibrio cholerae occurred in ghana in 2014 with accra, the nations capital as the epicenter. In june 2014, a cholera outbreak was reported in ghana. The study adopted a health literacy framework that theorized the pathways. High and low incidence areas hia and lia were selected in comparative cost analysis and. We investigated to verify the diagnosis, identify risk factors and recommended control measures. Greater accra was the most affected region, with 5,558 cases and 45 deaths. The periodic and seasonal outbreaks of cholera in ghana make the disease a vital health concern. With the high number of campaigns and education on cholera, officials say it is baffling to see many people queueing for food sold at joints close to refuse dumps, filthy and open gutters.