Cholera in selected countries in Asia.

Area of Science:

• Public Health and Epidemiology
• Infectious Disease Surveillance
• Global Health Security

Background:

• Cholera, a waterborne disease, poses a significant public health threat globally.
• Despite its Asian origin, comprehensive cholera surveillance data from South and Southeast Asia are limited.
• Understanding regional disease burden is crucial for effective public health interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To collate and assess available cholera surveillance data from nine South and Southeast Asian countries.
• To provide a sub-regional overview of cholera incidence and reporting patterns.
• To identify data gaps and emphasize the need for improved surveillance.

Main Methods:

• Data compilation from national surveillance systems for diarrhea, acute watery diarrhea, and cholera (suspected/confirmed).
• Inclusion of data from Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Malaysia, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam (2011-2016).
• Supplementation of data through review of WHO reports and searches of PubMed and ProMED.

Main Results:

• Confirmed cholera cases were reported in all included countries during the study period.
• India reported the highest annual mean of confirmed cholera cases (5964), followed by the Philippines (760) and Pakistan (592).
• Data availability and reporting consistency varied significantly across countries, with Cambodia and Vietnam reporting minimal cases.

Conclusions:

• Cholera remains endemic in South and Southeast Asia, even in areas with improved sanitation.
• There is a notable paucity of readily accessible and consistently reported cholera data in the region.
• Enhanced surveillance and continued vigilance are essential for controlling cholera transmission in these countries.