TITLE:
Cholera in Guinea: The Implication for Safe Water Sources and Sanitations
AUTHORS:
Keita Mamady, Sylla Mafoule
KEYWORDS:
Guinea, Cholera, Water, Sanitations, Public Health
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Preventive Medicine,
Vol.4 No.7,
July
29,
2014
ABSTRACT: Objectives: To lay
stress upon the importance of adequate water and sanitation in the prevention
of cholera in Guinea. Methods: The data on deaths and cases of cholera in
Guinea from 2000 to 2011 were downloaded from the WHO Official website. The
data on deaths and cases of cholera outbreak which occurred in Guinea from 02
February to 15 October 2012 were collected from the Guinean Ministry of Public
Health. The cholera index
case is confirmed by a laboratory test. Cholera cases were defined as individuals
over one year old who had had watery stools with or without vomiting. Cholera incidence
and case fatality rates between different areas of cholera occurrence in the
country over time were computed. Results: Over the overall 12-year period
(2000-2012), the case fatality rate showed a somewhat sign of slight rising trend when the incidence
rates increased rapidly. During the seven consecutive years of cholera
outbreaks in Guinea, between 2003 and 2009, the most affected areas were
Conakry, Dubreka, Coyah, Boffa, Forécariah, Guékédou, Dalaba and Télimélé. In 2012, Cholera outbreak resulted in an
incidence rate of 23.23 per 10,000 population and a case fatality ratio (CFR)
of approximately 1.8%. Cases and deaths were reported in 12 prefectures out of 34: Conakry, Coyah, Forecariah, Fria, Boffa,
Dubréka, Boké, Mamou, Kindia, Kankan, Kerouané and Dabola. Conclusion: Cholera
is an important health problem in Guinea. Any earnest attempts to improve water
and sanitation alongside with promotion of good hygienic practices will likely
ward off the threat of cholera in the country.