The cholera epidemic of 2004 in Douala, Cameroon: A lesson learned

Christoph HEMMER; Stefan FINKBEINER; Emil REISINGER; Jürgen NÖSKE; Günter KUNDT

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The cholera epidemic of 2004 in Douala, Cameroon: A lesson learned

Author: Christoph HEMMER ¹ ; Stefan FINKBEINER ¹ ; Emil REISINGER ¹ ; Jürgen NÖSKE ² ; Günter KUNDT ³
Author Information

1. University of Rostock, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Tropical Medicine and Infectious Diseases
2. Gesellschaftfür Internationale Zusammenarbeit
3. University of Rostock, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Biostatistics and Informatics in Medicine and Ageing Research
Publication Type:Journal Article
Keywords: Cameroon; Case fatality rate; Cholera; Douala; Staff-to-patients ratio
From: Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Medicine 2019;12(8):347-352
CountryChina
Language:Chinese
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.