ABSTRACT
As the seventh pandemic of cholera is caused by V. cholerae biotype El Tor, the former criteria for endemicity of cholera need to be reconsidered as regards their applicability in areas that are infected with cholera. As the mortality rate of cholera nowadays can be reduced to a very low level due to modern methods of treatment, it is suggested that the infection rates of cholera should be taken into consideration as criteria of cholera endemicity, i.e. 1. Five years persistence of cholera cases in a given area. 2. Five percent infection rate among family contacts of cholera cases. 3. Minimum infection rate of 1% in a vicinity where cholera cases occur. It was also found that in such an endemic area it is very difficult to eliminate V. cholerae infection from a locality, even when all family contacts are treated with the full dose of tetracycline.
Subject(s)
Cholera/epidemiology , Adolescent , Age Factors , Carrier State/epidemiology , Child , Child, Preschool , Cholera/transmission , Humans , Indonesia , InfantABSTRACT
A controlled field trial comparing the effectiveness of a plain cholera vaccine with that of a vaccine adsorbed to aluminium hydroxide was carried out in a cholera-endemic area of Indonesia during 1973-75. Tetanus toxoid adsorbed to aluminium phosphate was used as the control. In vaccinees aged 1-4 years, the adsorbed cholera vaccine provided about 88% protection for 6 months following vaccination and still provided about 50% protection between 11 and 14 months after vaccination. In the same age group, the plain vaccine provided only 53% protection during the first 6 months and no appreciable protection beyond that period. In those aged 5 years and over, both vaccines provided 50-60% protection throughout the period of observation (14 months). Neither vaccine caused any serious side effects.
