The cholera epidemic of 2004 in Douala, Cameroon: A lesson learned
Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Medicine
;
(12): 347-352, 2019.
Article
in Chinese
| WPRIM
| ID: wpr-951222
ABSTRACT
Objective:
To describe the outbreak of 2004 with a view of retrospectively identifying factors that might explain the low case fatality rate.Methods:
Outbreak data from 4 915 Cholera patients from registers of the Regional Health Delegation in Douala were analyzed using SPSS. Chi-square test, univariate and multivariate analysis were applied.Results:
The outbreak started January 2004, peaking at 187 cases per week in February. After a decrease in April, case numbers rose to 688 cases per week in June. The outbreak was over in September 2004 ( <10 cases per week). The case fatality rate was higher in treatment centers with fewer than one nurse per two patients, than in those with more nursing staff. A temporary staff reduction after the first wave of the epidemic was associated with the increase of the case fatality rate during the second wave. This increase was reversed after re-instating full staff capacity.Conclusions:
Providing sufficient nursing staff helps to lower the case fatality rate of cholera. Besides a lack of staff, age above 40 years is a risk factor for death in this disease.
Full text:
Available
Index:
WPRIM (Western Pacific)
Language:
Chinese
Journal:
Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Medicine
Year:
2019
Type:
Article
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