Investigation Report of an Outbreak of Cholera in a Rural Area of Southern India

On 25^th October, 2013 forty one cases of acute diarrhoea was reported from Holalu village, Mandya district about 95 kms from Bangalore. Subsequently on 27^th October, 2013 an outbreak investigation was done by rapid response team of the state.

To identify the source of infection and institute control and prevention measures.

The cases were line listed and detailed history was taken. An assessment of environmental sanitation and laboratory investigation of stool samples was done. The outbreak was confirmed after comparison with previous year data from local primary health centre. Immediate remedial measures were instituted which resulted in the control of the outbreak.

Holalu village has a total population of 5210 and 1210 households. Two seventy one cases were reported from 18th October, 2013 to 7^th November, 2013 in the village. Average age of patients was 27.6 years. The outbreak had an attack rate of 5.4%, 20.6% cases required hospitalisation and there was one death. All the cases were treated with parenteral and/or oral fluids, tetracycline & cephalexin. Thirteen cases (21.6%) were positive for Vibrio Cholerae ogawa strain out of 60 stool samples. Laboratory analysis of water samples taken from the source showed that it was contaminated with human faeces and hence not potable. An assessment of the environmental sanitation revealed that, it was a waterborne outbreak due to mixing of sewage with bore well water following leakage in pipeline.

Poor surveillance of drinking water and failure to repair leakages in the water pipeline led to the outbreak.

Village health and sanitation committee should monitor water sources and ensure sanitary disposal of sewage to prevent such outbreaks in future.