Contemporary Nigerian public health problem: prevention and surveillance are key to combating cholera

Ayenigbara, Israel Oluwasegun; Ayenigbara, G.O.; Adeleke, Rowland Olasunkanmi

doi:10.3205/dgkh000331

Cited by 3 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…The lack of provision of essential amenities by the Government, such as safe and clean water supply, especially to rural communities, inadequate primary healthcare services, as well the lack of good road networks to rural communities are notable challenges to the control of cholera in Africa, as remote areas with difficult terrains find it difficult to access needed interventions such as vaccines, safe water, as well as provision of health education and awareness campaign programs for less privileged and underserved communities [8,19] . Unsafe drinking water, poor sanitation and inadequate hygiene, such as open defecation and dumping of human wastes into water bodies have been identified as the major risk factors for cholera in Africa.…”

Section: Challenges To Prevention and Controlmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The recurrent outbreaks of cholera over the years, across various African countries raise the question on the effectiveness of the current prevention and control strategies for cholera in Africa. The challenges in the eradication of cholera in Africa cuts across problems associated with its prevention, control as well as treatment 19 . A lack of strong political will to create and sustain effective strategies and policies for the prevention and control of cholera on the part of Government agencies has contributed to the continual recurrence of this disease condition across several African countries, as many Governments fail to recognise the disease condition as a burden until there is a major outbreak 16 .…”

Section: Challenges To Prevention and Controlmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A lack of strong political will to create and sustain effective strategies and policies for the prevention and control of cholera on the part of Government agencies has contributed to the continual recurrence of this disease condition across several African countries, as many Governments fail to recognise the disease condition as a burden until there is a major outbreak 16 . The lack of provision of essential amenities by the Government, such as safe and clean water supply, especially to rural communities, inadequate primary healthcare services, as well the lack of good road networks to rural communities are notable challenges to the control of cholera in Africa, as remote areas with difficult terrains find it difficult to access needed interventions such as vaccines, safe water, as well as provision of health education and awareness campaign programs for less privileged and underserved communities 8,19 .…”

Section: Challenges To Prevention and Controlmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It has also been noted that large population migrations into urban centres which cause a strain on existing water and sanitation frameworks have been increasing the risk of the disease. Displaced population has also been a major concern in several African countries, as they are prone to water and food contamination [8,19] . The availability and effectiveness of cholera vaccines are limited, with a severe shortage predicted to last until 2025 by GAVI [20,21] .…”

Section: Challenges To Prevention and Controlmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The surging cholera epidemic in Africa: a review of the current epidemiology, challenges and strategies for control

Lawal,

Amosu,

Lawal

et al. 2024

International Journal of Surgery: Global Health

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Africa, a known region with abundant warm coastal waters and a natural reservoir for Vibrio cholera, is known to bear the highest burden of cholera morbidity and mortality globally. Malawi is currently experiencing the deadliest cholera outbreak in two decades, and neighbouring countries, Mozambique and Zambia, have also reported significant numbers of cases. If the current trend of cholera transmission is sustained, the number of fatalities recorded in 2021, Africa’s deadliest year for cholera over the past decade, might be exceeded. This article aims to review the current epidemiology, prevention and control strategies, and treatment of cholera in Africa to highlight context-specific challenges and recommend possible solutions. The authors found out that cholera outbreaks in Africa are taking place in the midst of epidemics (measles, mumps, etc.) and natural disasters like cyclones and flooding (Mozambique, Malawi), drought (Kenya, and Ethiopia), and conflict (Cameroon, the DR Congo, Nigeria, and Ethiopia). The shortages of medical supplies like cholera kits and oral cholera vaccines in many countries due to constrained and limited resources and antibiotic resistance further make management and control difficult. The outbreak is spreading throughout the region because of poor sanitation, unsafe water supplies, and increased cross-border travel. Cholera in Africa follows a seasonal pattern, suggesting specific periods for heightened outbreak preparedness and response. The authors suggest a targeted multisectorial approach and a coordinated mechanism to respond to the epidemic through sustained political will, formidable partnerships, resource mobilisation, and the provision of technical support and advocacy at sub-national, national, and international levels.

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Section: Challenges To Prevention and Controlmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Challenges To Prevention and Controlmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Challenges To Prevention and Controlmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Challenges To Prevention and Controlmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

The surging cholera epidemic in Africa: a review of the current epidemiology, challenges and strategies for control

Lawal,

Amosu,

Lawal

et al. 2024

International Journal of Surgery: Global Health

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Food Safety in Sub-Sahara Africa, An insight into Ghana and Nigeria

Cudjoe

Balali

Titus

et al. 2022

Environ�Health�Insights

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Food safety is a global concern in today’s world, and harnessing food safety in Sub-Saharan Africa, especially Nigeria and Ghana are momentous. This review presents an insight into the situation of food safety in Nigeria and Ghana. Using a desktop review technique, research papers were evaluated to find major sources of food safety concerns. It was revealed that many studies reported on food contamination at the consumption level whereas few reported on the healthiness of the production chain. Improper handling of food at the local markets, vending sites hygiene practices of food vendors, and bad transportation and packing systems have all been implicated. Inadequate education is a major cause of food contamination, especially at the consumption level. Again, etiologic agents responsible for food-borne illness in Ghana and Nigeria range from viruses, fungi, parasites, and protozoans to bacteria. They include rotavirus, hepatitis A virus, Lassa fever (LHF), human noroviruses (HNoV), Aspergillus parasiticus, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, Taenia solium, Ascaris spp., Toxoplasma gondii, Cryptosporidium spp. Enterobacter spp., Pseudomonas spp., Campylobacter spp., Escherichia coli. Staphylococcus spp., Salmonella spp., Vibrio cholerae and Listeria monocytogenes. Their toxins are responsible for numerous food contaminants. Some foods are contaminated with chemicals including pesticide residues, lead, mercury, etc. Laws of food safety are not well enforced leading to complications in the food production chain. Rigorous monitoring and evaluation coupled with surveillance and education to harness the situation and detect issues that compromise the right process is a necessity. Finally, intentional enforcement of regulations by regulatory agencies will go a long way to curb food contamination and food-borne illnesses within the region.

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Cholera outbreak in some communities in North-East Nigeria, 2019: an unmatched case–control study

Fagbamila

Abdulkarim²,

Aworh³

et al. 2023

BMC Public Health

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Background Cholera, a diarrheal disease caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae, transmitted through fecal contamination of water or food remains an ever-present risk in many countries, especially where water supply, sanitation, food safety, and hygiene are inadequate. A cholera outbreak was reported in Bauchi State, North-eastern Nigeria. We investigated the outbreak to determine the extent and assess risk factors associated with the outbreak. Methods We conducted a descriptive analysis of suspected cholera cases to determine the fatality rate (CFR), attack rate (AR), and trends/patterns of the outbreak. We also conducted a 1:2 unmatched case–control study to assess risk factors amongst 110 confirmed cases and 220 uninfected individuals (controls). We defined a suspected case as any person > 5 years with acute watery diarrhea with/without vomiting; a confirmed case as any suspected case in which there was laboratory isolation of Vibrio cholerae O1 or O139 from the stool while control was any uninfected individual with close contact (same household) with a confirmed case. Children under 5 were not included in the case definition however, samples from this age group were collected where such symptoms had occurred and line-listed separately. Data were collected with an interviewer-administered questionnaire and analyzed using Epi-info and Microsoft excel for frequencies, proportions, bivariate and multivariate analysis at a 95% confidence interval. Results A total of 9725 cases were line-listed with a CFR of 0.3% in the state. Dass LGA had the highest CFR (14.3%) while Bauchi LGA recorded the highest AR of 1,830 cases per 100,000 persons. Factors significantly associated with cholera infection were attending social gatherings (aOR = 2.04, 95% CI = 1.16–3.59) and drinking unsafe water (aOR = 1.74, 95% CI = 1.07–2.83). Conclusion Attending social gatherings and drinking unsafe water were risk factors for cholera infection. Public health actions included chlorination of wells and distribution of water guard (1% chlorine solution) bottles to households and public education on cholera prevention. We recommend the provision of safe drinking water by the government as well as improved sanitary and hygienic conditions for citizens of the state.

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Contemporary Nigerian public health problem: prevention and surveillance are key to combating cholera

Cited by 3 publications

References 14 publications

The surging cholera epidemic in Africa: a review of the current epidemiology, challenges and strategies for control

The surging cholera epidemic in Africa: a review of the current epidemiology, challenges and strategies for control

Food Safety in Sub-Sahara Africa, An insight into Ghana and Nigeria

Cholera outbreak in some communities in North-East Nigeria, 2019: an unmatched case–control study

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