Via The Times of India: Cholera incidence second highest in Kolkata: Study. Excerpt:
A recent collaborative study on prevalence of cholera in cities of seven developing countries has found Kolkata with the second highest incidence of the disease. Epidemiologists say most diarrhoea cases in the city are triggered by cholera.
The study mapping improvised regions of the world concluded that Beira in Mozambique ranks first in the Cholera chart ahead of Kolkata and Jakarta in Indonesia. National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases (NICED), Kolkata, was a partner in the study that was conducted with International Vaccine Institute, Seoul.
"A good number of diarrhoea cases in Kolkata are due to cholera. Children living in the city slums are the worst-affected. Contaminated water, poor sanitation and hygiene are responsible for this problem," said deputy director in NICED's division of epidemiology, Dipika Sur.
According to the findings, among all cholera-prone cities, the lowest overall incidence rate is in Jakarta with 0.5 cases per 1,000 population a year. In Kolkata the incidence is more than three times higher with a prevalence rate of 1.6 cases and eight times higher in Beira with 4 cases.
The study is expected to serve as an important data bank for intervention programme. The cholera map traces Topsia, parts of Manicktala, Beliaghata and Phoolbagan as the worst-affected areas with the prevalence rate being 25 to 30%. In Tiljala, it is 20 to 25% and in Tangra and Beniapukur, 15 to 20%.
The recurrence of O-139 strain (severe form) has been detected in Patuli area. This strain was first detected in Kolkata in early 1990s and, hence, it's also known as the Bengal strain. It has resurfaced after more than a decade.
NICED zeroed down on ward numbers 29, 30 and 31 for cholera vaccination trials. Phase II of the trial by NICED under the Indian Council Medical Research has been completed. The next phase is on to test the efficacy of the vaccine.
I keep thinking that cholera is a 19th-century disease, so these reports surprise me more than they should.
