Abstract
Background: Acute gastroenteritis, a very common disease in humans affecting both children and adults, remains a major public health concern worldwide. Several groups of viruses have been reported as the causative agents of acute gastroenteritis. An outbreak of acute gastroenteritis with a high fatality rate was reported in Ondo State, Southwest, Nigeria, in September 2020. Methods: To provide a descriptive epidemiology of the outbreak, a field investigation was carried out in affected communities in September 2020. Results: Four Local Government Areas (LGA) were affected, with Odigbo LGA having the highest attack rate of 14.9 per 100,000 population. The epidemic curve was propagated in nature. 50 cases were reported with 21 deaths (42%). The outbreak primarily affected 15-year-olds (94%, n=47) and more males (58%, n=29). Conclusion: Poor sanitation, food, and water hygiene conditions in communities of the LGA visited were observed. The spread of the outbreak was probably facilitated by water sellers.
Highlights
Gastroenteritis is the irritation of the digestive track caused by a viral, bacterial, or parasitic infection and it may cause diarrhoea, vomiting, and abdominal pain [1]
It is a common condition in Nigeria, mainly because the microbes that can cause gastroenteritis are spread via contaminated food or water, and through person-to-person contact, contaminated food or water, unwashed hands after cleaning or changing a diaper [5]
Population growth combined with inadequate sanitary conditions, inadequate water supply and poor sewage disposal, many cities in Nigeria are at risk of gastroenteritis outbreaks [9]
Summary
Gastroenteritis is the irritation of the digestive track caused by a viral, bacterial, or parasitic infection and it may cause diarrhoea, vomiting, and abdominal pain [1]. Gastroenteritis is known as the tummy bug, stomach flu, intestinal flu, food poisoning, and travellers’ diarrhoea It is a common condition in Nigeria, mainly because the microbes that can cause gastroenteritis are spread via contaminated food or water, and through person-to-person contact, contaminated food or water, unwashed hands after cleaning or changing a diaper [5]. In Nigeria, risk factors that have been recognized to be associated with gastroenteritis include contaminated water mostly distributed on the streets and non-washing of hands prior to eating food [8]. Human feces is a primary source of contamination and gastroenteritis outbreaks are classically associated with conditions in which two factors exist: unsafe or contaminated water supply and habits of defecation and excreta-disposal are such that they facilitate, rather than the control of the spread of contamination [13]. An outbreak of acute gastroenteritis with a high fatality rate was reported in Ondo State, Southwest, Nigeria, in September 2020
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