Spatial distribution of suspected and confirmed cholera cases in Mwanza City, Northern Tanzania

Bibliographic Data

ID19591380
AuthorsMonica T Madullu (0009-0006-9714-3009, Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences, corresponding author), Deborah S K Thomas (0000-0002-9594-9790, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, corresponding author), Elias C Nyanza (0000-0002-8358-7358, Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences, corresponding author), Jeremiah Seni (0000-0003-2420-5329, Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences, corresponding author), Sospatro E Ngallaba (0000-0001-9680-4713, Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences, corresponding author), Sophia Kiluvia (corresponding author), Moses Asori (0000-0002-1438-4020, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, corresponding author), Joseph Kangmennaang (0000-0002-1760-3524, Queen's University, corresponding author)
EditorsDavid Musoke (0000-0003-3262-3918)
Year2023
Volume3
Issue1
Pagese0001261
Publication date2023-01-06
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenuePLOS Global Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2767-3375 • E-ISSN: 2767-3375
PublisherPublic Library of Science (PLoS) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1371/journal.pgph.0001261
PMID36962896
OpenAlexW4313639821
LanguageEN
References cited22

Cholera, which is caused by Vibrio cholerae , persists as a devastating acute diarrheal disease. Despite availability of information on socio-cultural, agent and hosts risk factors, the disease continues to claim lives of people in Tanzania. The present study explores spatial patterns of cholera cases during a 2015–16 outbreak in Mwanza, Tanzania using a geographical information system (GIS) to identify concentrations of cholera cases. This cross-sectional study was conducted in Ilemela and Nyamagana Districts, Mwanza City. The two-phase data collection included: 1) retrospectively reviewing and capturing 852 suspected cholera cases from clinical files during the outbreak between August, 2015, and April, 2016, and 2) mapping of residence of suspected and confirmed cholera cases using global positioning systems (GPS). A majority of cholera patients were from Ilemela District (546, 64.1%), were males (506, 59.4%) and their median age was 27 (19–36) years. Of the 452 (55.1%) laboratory tests, 352 (77.9%) were confirmed to have Vibrio cholerae infection. Seven patients (0.80%) died. Cholera cases clustered in certain areas of Mwanza City. Sangabuye, Bugogwa and Igoma Wards had the largest number of confirmed cholera cases, while Luchelele Ward had no reported cholera cases. Concentrations may reflect health-seeking behavior as much as disease distribution. Topographical terrain, untreated water, physical and built environment, and health-seeking behaviors play a role in cholera epidemic in Mwanza City. The spatial analysis suggests patterns of health-seeking behavior more than patterns of disease. Maps similar to those generated in this study would be an important future resource for identifying an impending cholera outbreak in real-time to coordinate community members, community leaders and health personnel for guiding targeted education, outreach, and interventions

Biology · Cholera · Cholera vaccine · Environmental health · Environmental planning · Geography · Outbreak · Residence · Socioeconomics · Tanzania · Veterinary medicine · Vibrio cholerae · Child Nutrition and Water Access · COVID-19 epidemiological studies · Demography · Medicine · Vibrio bacteria research studies · Virology

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