THE ELTOR CHOLERA EPIDEMIC IN DHAKA IN 1974 AND 1975

  • 1 January 1983
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 61  (4) , 653-659
Abstract
Surveillance of hospitalized cholera cases from 1970 to 1977 in Dhaka, a matched control study in 1974 and a neighborhood control study in 1975 were carried out and show a change from classic cholera to the eltor biotype during this period. Of all the hospitalized cholera cases, 9.1% in 1972 and 99.9% in 1973 were due to the eltor biotype. In 1974 and 1975 the distribution of eltor cholera cases in the city was uniform, except for areas with modern sanitation whose residents were spared. The incidence rates of cholera/1000 infants (< 1 yr old) were 1.16 and 0.93 for 1974 and 1975, respectively. Children < 10 yr and females 15-44 yr old were the ones most affected with eltor cholera. Higher rates of diarrhea and hospitalization were noted among the contacts with cholera cases, compared with noncholera controls. Contracting cholera was significantly associated with eating in places away from home, especially at charitable feeding centers.