Studies on interventions to prevent eltor cholera transmission in urban slums

Transmission of eltor cholera infection in endemic communities continues without diminishing because of the absence of effective intervention measures. Two methods-chlorination of stored water and the use of a narrow-necked earthenware vessel (called a 'sorai') for storing the water-were found to be effective in reducing the transmission of infection among the family contacts of cholera patients. The cholera carrier rates in the chlorination and 'sorai' intervention groups were 7.3% and 4.4%, respectively, compared with 17.3% in the control group. The 'sorai' is cheap and was well accepted by the local communities; its narrow neck prevented the introduction of the hand and contamination of the stored water.