[Cholera in Guinea: the 1994-1995 epidemic]

Since the first outbreak in 1970, cholera epidemics have occurred regularly in Guinea. Until 1994, epidemics recurred every 8 years and were confined to the capital and coastal areas. The first cases in every epidemic were observed in coastal lagoons near the Sierra Leone border. In 1994, the disease demonstrated its migratory ability as the first cases were reported in towns located in far eastern inland areas. Spread of the disease from war-torn Sierra Leone and Liberia where epidemics have also been reported cannot be ruled out. Control measures have gradually been implemented to deal with these outbreaks and a treatment facility was built at the University of Conakry in 1994. Bacteriological studies including antibiotic susceptibility tests carried out at this center showed that the offending bacteria was Vibrio cholerae El Tor of the Ogawa group. Although this strain is relatively sensitive to all antibiotics, analysis of epidemiological data revealed high mortality rates at the beginning of every outbreak probably due to delays in organizing appropriate care. A major effort is now being made to improve the response time particularly in remote inland areas.