Demographic and temporal characteristics of cholera outbreak in Bauchi

Demographic and temporal characteristics of cholera outbreak in Bauchi

Cholera outbreaks globally constitute a major public health challenge especially in Africa where about 90% of cases are being reported (WHO, 2008). It is even more worrisome that globally only about 5-10% of actual cholera cases are reported (Chowdhury, 2017). Cholera burden and its mortality were reported between 1.3 to 4.0 million cases and 21 000 to 143 000 deaths annually respectively (WHO, 2016). Objectives: A comprehensive research on the nature of outbreaks to determine risk or associated factors resulting in further spread or aggravation of outbreaks relevant to demographic, and temporal characteristics of cholera in Bauchi local government area of Bauchi State, Nigeria were studied. Consequently, the study objectives were to identify which ward (area of residence), age, sex, and ethnic group has the highest attack, incidence, and mortality rates. The study also determined the association of population density to the predilection of residents to cholera outbreaks and how temporal variability by wards can be associated with the 2010 and 2014 outbreaks in Bauchi local government area.