Cholera Outbreaks Evaluation in Sistan and Baluchestan Province of Iran

Abstract

Background: Several hundred thousand people are infected with Vibrio cholera every year worldwide, with a case fatality rate over 2%. Periodic cholera outbreaks are of important health issues in Iran, especially in Sistan and Baluchistan province. Objectives: In this study, we evaluated cholera out breaks and related factors, during 2010-2013, to improve controlling the disease in this province. Materials and Methods: In this study, all epidemiologic data about patients with Cholera, during 2010-2013, were evaluated. Afterwards the environmental determinants and management indices were assessed. Results: The largest outbreak occurred in 2013. The incidence rate was significantly higher in men than women (RR = 2.8), in foreign immigrants than the Iranians (RR = 44.1) and in rural population than the urban population (RR = 26.2). The major part of patients, especially the first cases, lived in areas with poor sanitation like immigrant camps or remote villages and did not have access to sanitary water. Conclusions: Problems like poor sanitation and sanitary water access limitation, in rural and remote areas and also in immigrant camps necessitate allocating more resources, better inter-institutional cooperation and more intense border travelling control in this province.