search
for
 About Bioline  All Journals  Testimonials  Membership  News


Malawi Medical Journal
College of Medicine, University of Malawi and Medical Association of Malawi
ISSN: 1995-7262
Vol. 24, No. 2, 2012, pp. 29-33
Bioline Code: mm12009
Full paper language: English
Document type: Research Article
Document available free of charge

Malawi Medical Journal, Vol. 24, No. 2, 2012, pp. 29-33

 en Cholera check for this species in other resources outbreak in districts around Lake Chilwa, Malawi: Lessons learned
Khonje, Amin; Metcalf, Carol Ann; Diggle, Emma; Mlozowa, Dudley; Jere, Chandiwira; Akesson, Ann; Corbet, Tom & Chimanga, Zachariah

Abstract

Background
Cholera is endemic in Malawi with seasonal outbreaks during the wet season. People living around Lake Chilwa rely on the lake for their water supply. From May 2009 to May 2010, a cholera outbreak occurred in fishing communities around Lake Chilwa. This paper describes the outbreak response and lessons learned for prevention and management of future outbreaks.
Methods
Starting in January 2010, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) helped District Health Management Teams (DHMTs) to distribute educational materials, water disinfectant and hygiene supplies, and oral rehydration solution (ORS) in fishing communities. MSF also supported case management by mentoring health workers and providing equipment and supplies.
Results
A total of 1,171 cholera cases and 21 deaths were reported in the districts around the lake, with cases also being reported on the Mozambican side of the lake. The attack rate was highest among people living on or around the lake, particularly among fishermen. Samples of lake water had high turbidity conducive to the propagation of Vibrio cholerae check for this species in other resources .
Conclusion
A number of practical measures could be taken to prevent future outbreaks and to manage outbreaks more effectively. These measures should address surveillance, environmental management, outbreak preparedness, and case management.

 
© Copyright 2012 - Malawi Medical Journal
Alternative site location: http://revista.uft.edu.br/index.php/jbb/index

Home Faq Resources Email Bioline
© Bioline International, 1989 - 2024, Site last up-dated on 01-Sep-2022.
Site created and maintained by the Reference Center on Environmental Information, CRIA, Brazil
System hosted by the Google Cloud Platform, GCP, Brazil