Abstract
Cholera epidemic is a recurrent disease in developing countries with poor environmental sanitation and inadequate supply of potable water. In endemic areas of West Africa, opinions and myths surrounding the real causes of cholera diseases have given rise to varying methods of control. This review gives an insight into these various opinions and myths. Some of these are that magico-religious factors, witchcraft, eating soil, god’s will and evil air in the community are responsible for cholera outbreaks. Wrong perception and myth of cholera hinders acceptance and accessibility to launch effective operational response to affected communities during an outbreak. This also lead to delay in providing intervention and treatment during an outbreak. Key words: Myths, aetiology, Vibrio cholerae, epidemic, perception
Highlights
Cholera is a natural disease of epidemic proportion
It is caused by a comma-shaped, rod like, motile, Gram negative bacterium called Vibrio cholerae, with the characteristic acute watery diarrhoea, vomiting, muscle cramps and severe dehydration (Kaper et al, 1995, Sack et al, 2004)
The first six were caused by toxigenic strains of classical (CL) biotype, serogroup 01, which was reported to have originated from India, while the current 7th is caused by V. cholerae 01 of the El Tor (ET) biotype (Zhang et al, 2014)
Summary
A review of perception and myth on causes of cholera infection in endemic areas of Nigeria. In endemic areas of West Africa, opinions and myths surrounding the real causes of cholera diseases have given rise to varying methods of control. This review gives an insight into these various opinions and myths Some of these are that magico-religious factors, witchcraft, eating soil, god’s will and evil air in the community are responsible for cholera outbreaks. Wrong perception and myth of cholera hinders acceptance and accessibility to launch effective operational response to affected communities during an outbreak. This lead to delay in providing intervention and treatment during an outbreak
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