Hatch D L (International Health Program Office, Centers for Disease Control, CDC/EPO/DFE/International Branch, 1600 Clifton Road, NE MS C-08, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA), Waldman R J, Lungu G W and Piri C. Epidemic cholera during refugee resettlement in Malawi. International Journal of Epidemiology 1994; 23: 1292-1299. Background. In June 1988 a cholera epidemic occurred in a Mozambican refugee population resettling in southern Malawi. Methods. A case-control study was conducted to determine possible risk factors for disease. The characteristics of 48 refugee households with any member(s) hospitalized for suspected cholera were compared to 441 randomly sampled refugee households without hospitalizations. Results. Vibrio cholerae 01 was isolated from 50% (5/10) of case-patient stool cultures. Having any water containers with ≥10 I capacity was associated with a significantly lower odds of suspected cholera in households (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 0.02, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.003-0.12), as was having metal cooking pots (aOR = 0.3, 95% CI: 0.12-0.7), after adjusting for length of residence and socioeconomic status (logistic regression model). Households with two or more children <5 years old were at markedly Increased odds of suspected cholera (P < 0.0001). These results suggest that water containers and cooking pots served important preventive functions during this cholera outbreak. Young children may have contributed to cholera transmission, but the reason(s) remains undetermined. © 1994 International Epidemiological Association.

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Studies Infections biology vibrio cholerae household food processing hospitalization refugee Africa south of the Sahara population Migrants Random Allocation developing country Mozambican refugees risk Population Dynamics Population Surveillance Research Report Developing Countries human Refugees controlled study priority journal Aged cholera Settlement And Resettlement Epidemics social status feces culture Adolescent male Diseases female Socioeconomic Factors Infant risk factor Risk Factors Child, Preschool Africa Mozambique Disease Outbreaks Article epidemic adult refugee resettlement migration Eastern Africa cholera epidemic Laboratory Examinations And Diagnoses cholera transmission Demographic Factors English Speaking Africa Examinations And Diagnoses Bacterial And Fungal Diseases Case Control Studies Case-Control Studies Natural Resources medical geography Drinking Water water supply Middle Age Malawi Child