ARTICLE - CONTAMINATION RISK FACTORS

FOODS FROM MARKETS AND IN SCHOOL, CONTAMINATION RISK FACTORS
(Haiti Libre) -

Eating meals outside the home in the markets and at school constitutes the highest risk factors for contamination by cholera, reports a study conducted by Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) and the Ministry of Public Health and Population (MSPP). The report, released last month, aims to highlight the main factors involved in the transmission of Vibrio cholerae in the city of Gonaïves at a time where the epidemic was not in a peak. The city of Gonaïves, where there are 230,000 inhabitants was chosen because of its vulnerability to flooding and the lack of access to safe water and sanitation services by the poorest households.

The study indicated that "the majority of people who contracted cholera have eaten at the markets or in school. This leads to several hypotheses. The bacterium was already present in food and has not been eliminated due to inadequate cooking, or the food was contaminated during preparation or after cooking and then was poorly preserved."

Unexpectedly, the study also found that "pigs are a risk factor. Although the presence of vibrio cholerae in the feces of animals, including pigs, has already been demonstrated, it has never been directly associated with the risk of contracting cholera. This association is still not understood and requires further research," says the study, which also suggests the search for the presence of Vibrio cholerae in foods ready to eat and to investigate the procedures for preparation and storage of food sold in markets and schools.