1. An outbreak of El Tor cholera associated with a tribal funeral in Irian Jaya, Indonesia.
- Author
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Korthuis PT, Jones TR, Lesmana M, Clark SM, Okoseray M, Ingkokusumo G, and Wignall FS
- Subjects
- Cholera etiology, Cholera microbiology, Cholera mortality, Endemic Diseases, Epidemiologic Methods, Ethnicity, Female, Humans, Indonesia epidemiology, Risk Factors, Seasons, Serotyping, Surveys and Questionnaires, Vibrio cholerae classification, Cholera epidemiology, Disease Outbreaks, Funeral Rites, Vibrio cholerae isolation & purification
- Abstract
An outbreak of El Tor biotype cholera occurring in a rural village in Irian Jaya, Indonesia was evaluated for risk factors associated with death from cholera. Among those dying in the village during the epidemic, a significant association between membership in one of the five tribal groups in the village complex was associated with an elevated risk of suffering a cholera death (odds ratio = 5.9). Interviews with members of the decedents' families revealed a very strong association (odds ratio = 11.6) between risk of cholera death and having attended the two day funeral of a woman who died of a cholera-like illness a few days prior to an outbreak of cholera-like diarrheal disease in the village complex. Recent flooding may have contributed to the creation of an environment conducive to cholera transmission.
- Published
- 1998