CONTRIBUTION IN PREVENTION OF CHOLERA IN DOUALARE HEALTH AREA (MAROUA, FAR NORTH CAMEROON): fACTORS AFFECTING PERSISTENCE OF EPIDEMICS

The present study aimed to assess the risk factors responsible for cholera endemism in the health area of Doualare (Far North, Cameroon) where a prevention program is implemented. The investigation of groundwater used for human consumption resulted in detection of bacterial concentrations ranging from 2.04x 10 4 to 3.15x 10 5 CFU/mL for Heterotrophic Aerobic and Mesophilic Bacteria (HAMB), 3.10±0.02x10 4 to 4.50±0.04x10 4 CFU/100 mL for Faecal Coliforms and from 9.50±0.42x 10 2 to 2.60±0.01x10 3 CFU/100 mL for Escherichia coli . Water contamination may be due to unhygienic sanitary practices frequently observed around water supply wells. A positive correlation was found between E. coli and HAMB levels (p<0.05), and faecal coliforms and pH (p<0.01). Disinfecting capabilities of chlorine during epidemics could be compromised by the presence of Mesocyclops sp , larvae of Nauphilus , Ostracodes, Mesocyclops ogunnus and copepodites in well waters . Although V. cholerae was not detected in well water samples, a probable relationship was established between the poor bacteriological quality of drinking water during the rainy season and the occurrence of cholera epidemics (p<0.01). Furthermore the survey showed that a fringe of the population accounting for 8.3% practices open air defecation versus 11% using shallow latrines and for 24.1% of households latrine sludge is discharged in nature. Low permeable soil (2.3x10 -6 m/scholerae on which suggestions for improving strategies to prevent cholera epidemics could be based.