Cholera epidemics, war and disasters around Goma and Lake Kivu: an eight-year survey.

ABSTRACT:

Background

During the last eight years, North and South Kivu, located in a lake area in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, have been the site of a major volcano eruption and of numerous complex emergencies with population displacements. These conditions have been suspected to favour emergence and spread of cholera epidemics.

Methodology/principal findings

In order to assess the influence of these conditions on outbreaks, reports of cholera cases were collected weekly from each health district of North Kivu (4,667,699 inhabitants) and South Kivu (4,670,121 inhabitants) from 2000 through 2007. A geographic information system was established, and in each health district, the relationships between environmental variables and the number of cholera cases were assessed using reg

SUBMITTER: Bompangue D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2677153 | biostudies-literature | 2009

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature