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TitleCholera Epidemic Associated with Consumption of Unsafe Drinking Water and Street-Vended Water—Eastern Freetown, Sierra Leone, 2012
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2014
AuthorsNguyen, VD, Sreenivasan, N, Lam, E, Ayers, T, Kargbo, D, Dafae, F, Jambai, A
Volumevol. 90
Issueno. 3
Paginationp. 518-523
Date Published01/2014
PublisherThe American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Place Publisheds.l.
Publication LanguageEnglish
Keywordscholera, drinking water, sierra leone, water consumption
Abstract

During 2012, Sierra Leone experienced a cholera epidemic with 22,815 reported cases and 296 deaths. We conducted a matched case-control study to assess risk factors, enrolling 49 cases and 98 controls. Stool specimens were analyzed by culture, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Conditional logistic regression found that consuming unsafe water (matched odds ratio [mOR]: 3.4; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.1, 11.0), street-vended water (mOR: 9.4; 95% CI: 2.0, 43.7), and crab (mOR: 3.3; 95% CI: 1.03, 10.6) were significant risk factors for cholera infection. Of 30 stool specimens, 13 (43%) showed PCR evidence of toxigenicVibrio cholerae O1. Six specimens yielded isolates of V. cholerae O1, El Tor; PFGE identified a pattern previously observed in seven countries. We recommended ensuring the quality of improved water sources, promoting household chlorination, and educating street vendors on water handling practices. [authors abstract]

DOI10.4269/ajtmh.13-0567

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