Epidemiological Description of a Protracted Cholera Outbreak in Hagadera Refugee Camp and the Surrounding Host Community within Fafi Sub County and Garissa County in Kenya during March-September 2019

Kadra N. Abdullahi*, Dorcus Mutindin, Willy Kabugi and Shafe Mowlid

Epidemiological Description of a Protracted Cholera Outbreak in Hagadera Refugee Camp and the Surrounding Host Community within Fafi Sub County and Garissa County in Kenya during March-September 2019.

Cholera is an intestinal infection caused by a bacteria Vibrio cholerae. It remains a global health problem with several hundreds of thousands of reported cases each year. Despite all the major
advances in research, the condition still remains a challenge to the modern medical world. Cholera is a high-risk in sub-Saharan Africa where clean water and sanitation are often lacking. The disease crops up in other parts of the world when conflict or natural disasters damage water systems and displace families. Some of the risk factors that contribute to these outbreaks include; water contamination, heavy rainfall and flooding and population displacement. 

This study reveals the challenges and gaps experienced in countries with insecurity regarding, prevention, early detection and effective response to public health threats. However, it also has
limitations. Also, due to nomadic nature of the pastoralist community surrounding the Hagadera Refugee Camp, there were population movements from one area to another affecting the insurgency to mobile areas within the Refugee Camp.

Poor sanitation and inadequate water supply, congestion and overcrowding, inadequate availability of pit latrines and limited knowledge by camp residents on hygiene, whereas for the surrounding host community, inadequate water supply, inadequate surveillance system and insecurity that hampered the movement of the response team in controlling the outbreak topped the list of contributing factors. The incapacity of the team to efficaciously single out the source of the outbreak prolonged the exposure beyond one incubation period. Several studies have demonstrated that cholera outbreaks can persist in the community if not adequately investigated

Epidemiol Open J. 2019; 4(1): 31-35. doi: 10.17140/EPOJ-4-116

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