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Background: Global estimates for cholera annually approximate 4 million cases worldwide with 95,000 deaths. Recent outbreaks, including Haiti and Yemen, are reminders that cholera is still a global health concern. Cholera outbreaks can rapidly induce high death tolls by overwhelming the capacity of health facilities, especially in remote areas or areas of civil unrest. Recent studies demonstrated that stool specimens preserved on filter paper facilitate molecular analysis of Vibrio cholerae in resource limited settings. Specimens preserved in a rapid, low-cost, safe and sustainable manner for sequencing provides previously unavailable data about circulating cholera strains. This may ultimately provide new information to shape public policy response on cholera control and elimination. Methodology/Principal findings: Whole genome sequencing (WGS) recovered close to a complete sequence of the V. cholerae O1 genome with satisfactory genome coverage from stool specimens enriched in alkaline peptone water (APW) and V. cholerae culture isolates, both spotted on filter paper. The minimum concentration of V. cholerae DNA sufficient to produce quality genomic information was 0.02 ng/μL. The genomic data confirmed the presence or absence of genes of epidemiological interest, including cholera toxin and pilus loci. WGS identified a variety of diarrheal pathogens from APW-enriched specimen spotted filter paper, highlighting the potential for this technique to explore the gut microbiome, potentially identifying co-infections, which may impact the severity of disease. WGS demonstrated that these specimens fit within the current global cholera phylogenetic tree, identifying the strains as the 7th pandemic El Tor. Conclusions: WGS results allowed for mapping of short reads from APW-enriched specimen and culture isolate spotted filter papers this provided valuable molecular epidemiological sequence information on V. cholerae strains from remote, low-resource settings. These results identified the presence of co-infecting pathogens while providing rare insight into the specific V. cholerae strains causing outbreaks in cholera-endemic areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cholera is now considered to be endemic in Haiti, often with increased incidence during rainy seasons. The challenge of cholera surveillance is exacerbated by the cost of sample collection and laboratory analysis. A diagnostic tool is needed that is low cost, easy-to-use, and able to detect and quantify Vibrio cholerae accurately in water samples within 18–24 h, and perform reliably in remote settings lacking laboratory infrastructure and skilled staff. The two main objectives of this study were to develop and evaluate a new culture medium embedded in a new diagnostic tool (PAD for paper based analytical device) for detecting Vibrio cholerae from water samples collected in Haiti. The intent is to provide guidance for corrective action, such as chlorination, for water positive for V. cholerae epidemic strains. For detecting Vibrio cholerae , a new chromogenic medium was designed and evaluated as an alternative to thiosulfate citrate bile salts sucrose (TCBS) agar for testing raw water samples. Sensitivity and specificity of the medium were assessed using both raw and spiked water samples. The Vibrio cholerae chromogenic medium was proved to be highly selective against most of the cultivable bacteria in the water samples, without loss of sensitivity in detection of V. cholerae. Thus, reliability of this new culture medium for detection of V. cholerae in the presence of other Vibrio species in water samples offers a significant advantage. A new paper based device containing the new chromogenic medium previously evaluated was compared with reference methods for detecting V. cholerae from spiked water sample. The microbiological PAD specifications were evaluated in Haiti. More precisely, a total of 185 water samples were collected at five sites in Haiti, June 2014 and again in June 2015. With this new tool, three V. cholerae O1 and 17 V. cholerae non-O1/O139 strains were isolated. The presence of virulence-associated and regulatory genes, including ctx A, zot , ace , and toxR , was confirmed using multiplex PCR. The three V. cholerae O1 isolates were positive for three of the four virulence-associated and regulatory genes. Twelve of the V. cholerae non-O1/O139 isolates were found to carry toxR , but none were ctxA +, zot +, or ace +. However, six of the V. cholerae non-O1/O139 isolates were resistant to penicillin, ampicillin, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, nalidixic acid, and ciprofloxacin. The paper based analytical device (PAD) provides advantages in that standard culture methods employing agar plates are not required. Also, intermediary isolation steps were not required, including transfer to selective growth media, hence these steps being omitted reduced time to results. Furthermore, experienced technical skills also were not required. Thus, PAD is well suited for resource-limited settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommendations on the use of cholera vaccines excerpted from the Cholera vaccines: WHO position paper, August 2017 , published in the Weekly Epidemiological Record (Cholera vaccine, 2017) [1] . This position paper replaces the 2010 WHO position paper on cholera vaccines (Cholera vaccine, 2010) [2] . It incorporates the most recent evidence on cholera vaccination and provides revised recommendations on the target populations for cholera immunization. Footnotes to this paper provide a number of core references including references to grading tables that assess the quality of the scientific evidence, and to the evidence-to-recommendation table. In accordance with its mandate to provide guidance to Member States on health policy matters, WHO issues a series of regularly updated position papers on vaccines and combinations of vaccines against diseases that have an international public health impact. These papers are concerned primarily with the use of vaccines in large-scale immunization programmes; they summarize essential background information on diseases and vaccines, and conclude with WHO's current position on the use of vaccines in the global context. Recommendations on the use of cholera vaccines were discussed by the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) in April 2017; evidence presented at these meetings can be accessed at: www.who.int/immunization/sage/meetings/2017/April/presentations_background_docs/en/ . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Purpose: Waterborne pathogens pose a significant threat to public health, emphasizing the continuous necessity for advancing robust detection techniques, particularly in preventing outbreaks associated with these pathogens. This study focuses on cholera, an infectious disease caused by Vibrio cholerae, serogroups O1 and O139, often transmitted through contaminated water and food, raising significant public health concerns in areas with poor sanitation and limited access to clean water. Methods: We developed a colorimetric biosensor using aptamer-functionalized gold nanoparticles to identify Vibrio cholerae O139 and address this issue. The detection mechanism relies on the color change of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) from red to blue-purple induced by NaCl after the pathogen incubation and aptamer-target binding. Initial steps involved synthesizing and characterizing AuNPs, then exploring the impact of aptamer and NaCl concentrations on AuNP agglomeration. Optimization procedures for aptamer concentration and salt addition identified the optimal conditions for detection as 120 pM aptamers and 1 M NaCl. Results: The aptasensor demonstrated a robust linear relationship, detecting V. cholerae concentrations from 103 to 108 CFU/mL, with a limit of detection (LOD) of 587 CFU/mL. Specificity tests and accurate sample analyses confirmed the efficiency of the AuNPs aptasensor, showcasing its reliability and speed compared to traditional culture examination methods. Moreover, we extended the aptasensor to a paper-based sensing platform with similar detection principles. Conclusion: The change in color upon target binding was captured with a smartphone and analyzed using image processing software. The paper-based device detected the target in less than 2 min, demonstrating its convenience for on-field applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on the remarkable contributions and achievements of Dr. Azar Andami (1926-1984), a renowned physician and specialist at the Pasteur Institute of Iran. Dr. Andami conducted extensive research on infectious diseases, particularly cholera, utilizing her knowledge in medicine, bacteriology, and laboratory sciences. She played a crucial role in the mass production of the cholera vaccine at the Pasteur Institute of Iran and in controlling the spread of communicable diseases both locally and globally. This paper aims to highlight her remarkable works and accomplishments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The outbreak of cholera in Istanbul in the autumn of 1871 has long been considered something of a historical non-event. Although responsible for several thousand deaths, in the historiography of the city it remains almost entirely obscured. Yet the 1871 outbreak briefly highlighted the social tensions in the burgeoning Istanbulite public sphere, and threatened to fracture the formerly "unified" Istanbulite medical establishment along spatial, colonial, and racialized lines. This article examines the reportage of four newspapers which circulated in Istanbul during the outbreak, each of which claimed to speak for a generalized public, albeit through very different methods. Three of these newspapers—the English-language The Levant Herald , the French-language La Turquie , and the Ottoman Turkish Basiret —were dailies with circulations in the thousands. The fourth paper, the French-language Gazette Médicale d'Orient , was instead the press organ of the city's emergent sanitary establishment. The responses of these papers to this sudden crisis revealed the underlying assumptions which animated Istanbulite social and medical discourse in the late Ottoman Empire, and the tensions inherent in claims to speak for public opinion or to act on behalf of global public health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cholera continues to inflict high rates of morbidity and mortality. Prompt identification of cholera cases facilitates rapid outbreak responses in the short term while providing reliable surveillance data to guide long-term policies and interventions. Microbiological stool culture, the current recognized gold standard for diagnosing cholera, has significant limitations. Rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) represent promising alternatives for diagnosing cholera in areas with limited laboratory infrastructure. However, studies conducted with the current cholera RDTs demonstrated wide variations in sensitivity and specificity. To address this gap in the diagnosis of cholera, we developed a simple, rapid, and sensitive diagnostic assay, "Rapid LAMP based Diagnostic Test (RLDT)." With a novel, simple sample preparation method directly from the fecal samples along with lyophilized reaction strips and using established Loop-mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) platform, cholera toxin gene (ctxA) and O1 (O1rfb) gene could be detected in less than an hour. Cholera RLDT assay is cold chain and electricity-free. To avoid any end-user bias, a battery-operated, handheld reader was used to read the RLDT results. The performance specifications of the cholera RLDT assay, including analytical sensitivity and specificity, were evaluated using direct fecal samples, dried fecal samples on filter paper, and environmental water samples spiked with cholera strain. The limit of detection (LOD) was ~104 CFU/gm of stool for both ctxA and O1 genes, corresponding to about 1 CFU of Vibrio cholerae per reaction within 40 minutes. The LOD was 10 bacteria per ml of environmental water when tested with RLDT directly, without enrichment. Being simple, RLDT has the potential to be applied in resource-poor endemic settings for rapid, sensitive, and reliable diagnosis of cholera. Author summary: Cholera is an acute diarrheal infection caused by Vibrio cholerae. Cholera continues to severely threaten the health of the impoverished and vulnerable populations in the endemic regions. The present laboratory-based cholera detection methods take time and require well-equipped facilities and well-trained staff that are often not available in the resource-poor settings. The available rapid diagnostic tests have a wide range of sensitivity and specificity. A rapid, simple, sensitive, and reliable diagnostic for cholera is required, which would identify cholera cases early on in outbreaks to facilitate a rapid response and provide reliable surveillance data. We developed a simple, rapid, and sensitive diagnostic assay, "Rapid LAMP based Diagnostic Test (RLDT)," to detect cholera in low-resource settings. Using RLDT, cholera could be detected directly from stool, dried stool on filter paper, and environmental water in less than one hour with minimum hands-on time. The RLDT assay does not require maintaining a cold chain and is electricity-free, facilitating point-of-care testing. The RLDT assay is sensitive, simple to use, and can be scaled up for rapid detection of cholera and surveillance in low-resource endemic settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cholera is an acute diarrheal disease caused by Vibrio cholera, its prevalence occurs in almost all the continents of the world, annually there are about 1.3 to 4.0 million cases of cholera and 21, 000 to 143, 000 deaths worldwide. In this paper, we propose a deterministic model for the transmission dynamics of cholera to assess the impact of vaccines in decreasing the spread of cholera infection in Nigeria. Moreover, we develop an optimal control strategy, in which we consider personal hygiene a control strategy on infection class, with u(t) as the control function. The best values of the fitting parameters have been obtained using least square minimization to validate the model with the help of experimental data obtained from Nigeria. We perform sensitivity analysis to determine the key parameters that have impacts on the control of the spread of cholera infections in the population. In addition, the numerical simulation of the model reveals that the use of vaccines and personal hygiene will effectively control the spread of cholera infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a metapopulation model has been developed and analysed to describe the transmission dynamics of cholera between two communities linked by migration, in the presence of an imperfect vaccine and a varying media awareness impact. Stability analysis shows that the disease-free equilibrium is both locally and globally asymptotically stable when the vaccine reproduction number is less than unity. The endemic equilibria have also been shown to be locally asymptotically stable when the vaccine reproduction number is greater than unity. The simulation results show that with an imperfect vaccine and efficient media awareness, cholera transmission is reduced. The transmission rates have also been shown to be nonidentical in the two communities. It is therefore advisable, that health practitioners embrace the use of both vaccination and media awareness when designing and implementing community-specific cholera intervention strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines (i) the state of environmental conditions in two low-income urban communities in Accra, Ghana, using a Participatory Rapid Assessment (PRA) method, and (ii) changes in the environmental conditions in the two low-income communities over the years using the PRA method. The PRA was augmented with qualitative interviews with selected heads of household and other stakeholders from the study communities. The results showed that environmental conditions in the two study communities were poor as indicated by the computed average scores for the environmental problem areas. However, conditions were poorer in Chorkor compared to La. The paper recommends that local governments units in Ghana must prioritise sustained, improved, and reliable funding for Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) to ensure undisruptive implementation of environmental health programs and policies. This must be accompanied with improved community education and sensitization on proper sanitary practices, which have the potential to mitigate the effects of disease epidemics such as cholera in the two communities. The study also provides important perspectives on differentials in environmental conditions in low-income communities in urban Ghana. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The estimated 50 million nomadic pastoralists in Africa are among the most "hard-to-reach" populations for health-service delivery. While data are limited, some studies have identified these communities as potential disease reservoirs relevant to neglected tropical disease programs, particularly those slated for elimination and eradication. Although previous literature has emphasized the role of these populations' mobility, the full range of factors influencing health service utilization has not been examined systematically. We systematically reviewed empirical literature on health services uptake among African nomadic pastoralists from seven online journal databases. Papers meeting inclusion criteria were reviewed using STROBE- and PRISMA-derived guidelines. Study characteristics were summarized quantitatively, and 10 key themes were identified through inductive qualitative coding. One-hundred two papers published between 1974–2019 presenting data from 16 African countries met our inclusion criteria. Among the indicators of study-reporting quality, limitations (37%) and data analysis were most frequently omitted (18%) We identified supply- and demand-side influences on health services uptake that related to geographic access (79%); service quality (90%); disease-specific knowledge and awareness of health services (59%); patient costs (35%); contextual tailoring of interventions (75%); social structure and gender (50%); subjects' beliefs, behaviors, and attitudes (43%); political will (14%); and social, political, and armed conflict (30%) and community agency (10%). A range of context-specific factors beyond distance to facilities or population mobility affects health service uptake. Approaches tailored to the nomadic pastoralist lifeway, e.g., that integrated human and veterinary health service delivery (a.k.a., "One Health") and initiatives that engaged communities in program design to address social structures were especially promising. Better causal theorization, transdisciplinary and participatory research methods, clearer operational definitions and improved measurement of nomadic pastoralism, and key factors influencing uptake, will improve our understanding of how to increase accessibility, acceptability, quality and equity of health services to nomadic pastoralist populations. Author summary: There are approximately 50 million nomadic pastoralists in Africa for whom there is little data on healthcare access and utilization. This data scarcity presents a challenge to prevent, treat and control neglected tropical diseases and design the health service delivery mechanisms through which these objectives can be met. Examining a range of studies conducted over a 45-year period, we identified supply- and demand-side influences on health services uptake in ten thematic areas. These included physical proximity to, and quality of, health services; monetary and opportunity costs of accessing care; and societal and gender norms governing power dynamics within nomadic pastoralist groups as well as those between them and health care providers. The knowledge, attitudes and practices of health care providers and health seekers also played a role in utilization, as did hegemonic factors including "political will" and varying degrees of social conflict. NTD research topics included guinea worm, lymphatic filariasis, rabies, soil-transmitted helminths, tuberculosis (bovine and human), cholera, and rift valley fever. Studies pertaining to community-directed initiatives and "One Health" approaches offered promising solutions to increase service uptake. We recommend ways to strengthen future research on this subject to improve health service delivery to, and uptake among, nomadic pastoralist populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

American colonization of the Philippines restyled local civilization's character. One notable transition prompted by American colonial rule was the adoption of new public health conventions. In spite of these practices being introduced to elevate the well-being and life expectancy of the Filipinos their implementation was met with resistance. Accordingly, this paper focuses upon the creation of the Philippines' first crematory facility, namely the San Lazaro Crematorium (opened in 1903, in Manila). The work, thus, grants an overview of how Filipinos responded to a societal modernization project initiated by the American colonial regime. The paper discusses three matters: first, what American colonial policymakers sought, with reference to public health, to accomplish; second, how the American colonial framework directly challenged Filipino culture with regard to disease prevention and death management; and, third, why the construction of the San Lazaro Crematorium offers a unique entry point to grasp the nature of America's initial governance of the Philippines. Such clarification has twofold value: it helps to deepen comprehension of the administration's operation and, in association, native opposition to it; plus, given that the crematorium is presently derelict this paper can underscore its value as a dark heritage object worthy of preservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Historical Searches / Historijska Traganja is the property of Institute for History, University of Sarajevo and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Mirai. Estudios Japoneses is the property of Universidad Complutense de Madrid and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background and Aim: Afghanistan is grappling with a severe health crisis marked by a high prevalence of infectious diseases, particularly tuberculosis, malaria, HIV, and the added strain of the COVID‐19 pandemic. The nation's healthcare system, already fragile, faces formidable challenges. Socioeconomic constraints, including limited resources and financial barriers, hinder healthcare accessibility, leading to delayed or inadequate care. Environmental factors, such as poor sanitation and crowded living conditions, exacerbate the transmission of diseases, especially waterborne illnesses. Governance issues, encompassing transparency, corruption, and political instability, disrupt healthcare efficiency and resource allocation. Addressing these multifaceted issues is vital to enhance Afghanistan's healthcare system and overall well‐being. The withdrawal of international support has exacerbated these challenges. The primary research goal is to deeply understand Afghanistan's health system, focusing on the major disease burdens: Tuberculosis, Malaria, AIDS, COVID‐19, Measles, Hepatitis, and Cholera. The study aims to assess the feasibility and effectiveness of current approaches, presenting a comprehensive view of challenges and opportunities within the Afghan healthcare system. The research concludes by highlighting policy implications, practical implementation, and offering recommendations for future endeavors. Methodology: This paper provides a thorough analysis of the literature concerning infectious diseases in Afghanistan and the enhancement of the healthcare system in the nation. A systematic exploration of the literature was conducted through PubMed and Google Scholar databases. The search terms used encompassed "Tuberculosis" OR "TB," "Malaria," "acquired immunodeficiency syndrome" OR "AIDS," "Human immunodeficiency virus" OR "HIV," "COVID‐19," "Measles," "Hepatitis virus," "Cholera," "Health system improvement," and "Afghanistan." Additionally, external sources like UNICEF, CDC, and WHO were referenced. Results: In conclusion, while improving access to vital medicines and vaccines is crucial for enhancing health outcomes in Afghanistan, significant challenges must be addressed to ensure the effectiveness and sustainability of such strategies. The Afghan health system's fragile governance, corruption, logistical complexities, and failure to address broader social and economic factors pose significant risks and obstacles to the implementation of proposed health strategies. Therefore, the strategies discussed in this analysis align with key Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 3, and their successful implementation will have implications not only for the health and well‐being of Afghanistan but also for global health. Conclusion: Hence, by adopting a comprehensive approach with complementary interventions as discussed, we can address issues in the Afghan health system and reduce transmissible diseases' burden, thereby building a better world for all. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transmission of cholera, a highly infectious disease, is closely linked to inadequate access to clean water and sanitation facilities, with resource-poor communities, including refugees, rural communities and temporary displacement camps particularly vulnerable to outbreaks. Any disruption in water and sanitation systems or a sudden surge in community size owing to displacement can spark a humanitarian and health crisis, elevating the risk of cholera transmission and possibly triggering a regional epidemic. Recently, Hammanskraal in Gauteng, South Africa, experienced such an epidemic. A multifaceted approach is essential to minimise fatalities and effectively manage healthcare services in such health emergencies. This approach includes early detection, rapid response to contain outbreaks, and the effective deployment of technical support, advocacy, resource mobilisation and partnerships at local, national, and international levels. This paper explores the responsibilities of individuals, healthcare workers, communities and governments in addressing epidemics. It also delves into the concept of collective responsibility with regard to climate change and cholera, as part of the multifaceted approach for cholera prevention and control. While economic development, equal access to safe drinking water, and adequate sanitation are necessary for cholera control, major challenges persist in achieving the fundamental right to a healthy environment in the long term. We also discuss these obstacles and conclude with practical suggestions and recommendations for future cholera prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper is devoted to the analysis of the course of cholera from 1831 in two free royal cities of Spiš (Kežmarok, Levoča) and five small towns of Spiš (Hranovnica, Ľubica, Podolínec, Spišské Vlachy, Svedlár). It provides data on the occurrence of the first, last, oldest and youngest case of death in a given locality, notes the period of culmination of the disease, brings information about the burial places of the victims, lists the names of the authors of the register records and provides a statistical overview of the progress of the epidemic in the territory of selected towns and cities in Spiš. The source base of the research was the Roman Catholic registers of buried (deceased) and historical schematisms of the Bishoprics of Spiš and Rožňava from 1830 and 1831. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper extends the cholera human-to-human direct transmission model from a deterministic to a stochastic framework. This is expressed as mixed system of stochastic and deterministic differential equations. A Lyapunov function is created to investigate the global stability of the stochastic cholera epidemic, which shows the existence of global positivity of the solution using the theory of stopping time. We then find the threshold quantity of the extended stochastic cholera epidemic model. We derive a parametric condition eR0, and for additive white noise, we establish sufficient conditions for the extinction and the persistence of the cholera infection. Finally, for a suitable choice of the parameter of the system for eR0, we perform numerical simulations for both scenarios of extinction and persistence of the dynamic of the cholera infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cholera is a waterborne disease caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. Laboratory findings suggested that passage through the human host transiently increased the infection potential of the bacteria by creating a hyperinfectious bacterial state, which may contribute to the epidemic spread of cholera. In this paper, we are concerned with the global asymptotic behavior of an infection age-space structured cholera model with multiple transmission pathways, hyperinfectious and hypoinfectious vibrios, imperfect vaccination, and distinct dispersal rates for humans in a general continuous bounded domain under Neumann boundary condition. The mathematical challenges stem from the following facts: (i) the model is partially degenerate, and the solution is not compact; (ii) the imperfect vaccination is incorporated into an infection age-space structured model with multiple transmission pathways. By analyzing the corresponding characteristic equations and constructing suitable Lyapunov functionals, the basic reproduction number is determined as a threshold to predict whether the infection will persist. Numerical simulations support our theoretical results and suggest that compared with increasing the vaccination rate of susceptible humans, enhancing vaccine efficacy is more conducive to reducing the basic reproduction number and controlling cholera spread. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extent health humanities readings of Gabriel García Márquez's Love in the Time of Cholera have focused on the doctor-patient relationship, the physician-scientist as a model for aspiring practitioners, and how individuals relate to the novel's health themes of death, disease, and disability. However, such medicine-focused readings neglect the population-level public health concerns of the novel as they relate to contagion, community, and quarantine. This paper contributes to the growing field of public health humanities by using a close reading method to explore how the competing endemic and epidemic public health issues shape the plot and metaphors of the novel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper provides an introduction covering the absence of measures against the plague and other contagious diseases in the Ottoman Empire, the measures practiced in the Austrian Empire, the terminology used for measures against the spreading of the disease in the Serbian language, etc. This is followed by a section that covers the plague during the First Serbian Uprising and the remembrance of its disastrous consequences. The central part of the paper focuses on the measures against cholera and the plague taken by the Principality of Serbia, starting the 1830s. Regulations modeled after the Austrian counterparts passed in 1839 and 1841, establishing a cordon sanitaire toward the Ottoman Empire. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emergence of disease is one factor inhibiting the development of local chicken particularly in rural area. This paper aimed to identify the types of disease occurred in superior local chicken KUB (Kampung Unggul Balitbangtan: improved local chicken) during the Poverty Alleviation Program in Indramayu District, West Java Province. About 157.750 heads of chickens owned by 3155 households in Anjatan Subdistrict, Indramayu District were monitored weekly regarding the types of diseases occurred during the program from March to October 2019. Data gathered were analysed descriptively. The result showed that diseases diagnosed in the area mostly were chronic respiratory diseases (2.7%), while there were other diseases found in local chicken during the program such as Cholera, Choriza, Pullorum, Coccidiosis and Newcastle Disease which reached no more than one percent of total chicken population. These types of diseases mainly occurred in May, a transition month from rainy to dry season in which many chickens experienced a weakening of the immune system; and the disease decreased slowly until September. Moreover, the disease was higher for chicken at five-week age. In conclusion, it is suggested that raising local chicken should follow good farming practices particularly in the transition season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cholera also known as blue death is highly contagious bacterial disease whereas malaria is not contagious and is caused by malaria parasites. Cholera and malaria both are communicable disease. In this paper we formulate a fractional order model of malaria-cholera co-infection using definition of Caputo fractional derivative with as the order of derivative in the interval (0.1]. The coinfection is said to have four equilibrium points. Fractional order model is also constructed for two of its sub models malaria only and cholera only. Fractional order model is proved to give better results according to literature survey. Basic reproduction number for the malaria only and cholera only model is computed. Local and global stability analysis is also studied for both the sub models. Numerical simulation is carried out to show stability of the model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper is devoted to the analysis of a contemporary record made in 1831, in connection with the cholera epidemic, by the local parish priest Matej Puček in the registry of the deceased of the Roman Catholic parish of Liptovská Osada. From the record we can read a number of interesting and very valuable information for the analysis of the course of cholera in Liptovská Osada. In addition, the researched record also provides (indirectly) information about the application of nationwide anti-cholera measures in a particular locality. The paper also provides knowledge about the village and the parish of Liptovská Osada itself from the time of the creation of the examined document and brings closer the canonical legal norms of the Western rite, related to the conferral of the sacrament of anointing of the sick and funeral rites. Primary and secondary sources and specialized literature related to the topic and the period under study were used in its conception. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we propose and analyse a mathematical model of the transmission dynamics of cholera incorporating awareness programs to study the impact of socio-media and education on cholera outbreaks. These programs induce behavioural changes in the population, which divide the susceptible class into two subclasses, aware individuals and unaware individuals. We first provide a basic study of the model. We compute the Disease-Free Equilibrium (DFE) and derive the basic reproduction number R 0 0 that determines the extinction and the persistence of the disease. We show that there exists a threshold parameter ξ such that when R 0 0 ≤ ξ < 1 , the DFE is globally asymptotically stable, but when ξ ≤ R 0 0 < 1 , the model exhibits the phenomenon of backward bifurcation on a feasible region. The model exhibits one endemic equilibrium locally stable when R 0 0 > 1 and in that condition the DFE is unstable. Various cases for awareness proportions are performed using the critical awareness rate in order to measure the effect of awareness programs on the infected individuals over time. The results we obtained show that the higher implementation of strategies combining awareness programs and therapeutic treatments increase the efficacy of control measures. The numerical simulations of the model are used to illustrate analytical results and give more precision on critical values on the controls actions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper resists the virality of contemporary paranoia by turning to "French epistemology", a philosophical ethos that embraces uncertainty and complexity by registering the transformative impact of scientific knowledge on thought. Despite its popular uses describing phenomena of communication today, the idea of virality comes from biomedicine. This paper, therefore, investigates the extent to which an epidemiological concept of viral transmission—the disease vector—can comprehend and encourage new possibilities of thought beyond paranoia. Briefly, I attempt to analyze thought as a vector. I pursue this by examining Delaporte's important, but neglected, study of the 1832 Parisian cholera epidemic. First elucidating his reconstruction of the ways tentative epistemological progress intertwined with and supported projects of working-class and colonial control. My vectorial analysis then considers how his argument infects contemporary readers with doubts that undo the bases of paranoia. I pursue this analysis further via a methodological examination of Delaporte's study as both carrier of predecessors' methods and host in which they alter, becoming newly infectious. I conclude by reflecting on this formulation of thought as disease vector and what Delaporte's singular treatment of the problem of error reveals about an ethos committed to registering the impact of knowledge on thought. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper deals with the analysis of a document from July 1831, which the Bishop of Prešov, Gregor Tarkovič, sent to the residences of all 17 deaneries of his diocese, as well as the rebuilt monasteries in Krásny Brod and Bukova hôrka. The instruction contained practical advice on prevention and treatment, as well as the celebration of divine liturgies, the administration of the sacraments, and the way in which cholera victims were buried during the epidemic. The significance of the document lies in the fact that its author reflects on the situation and, with the help of acquired knowledge, guides the priests, consecrated persons and believers of his diocese on how to defend themselves against the new disease, both physically and spiritually. The document can be considered timeless in the case of guidelines on religious life and priestly service at the time of the epidemic, as its provisions can be applied to any infectious disease, including the current COVID-19 disease caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. The paper was compiled with the help of primary and secondary sources and professional literature, related to the researched topic and period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we propose a stochastic cholera model that incorporates media coverage and two time delays driven by Lévy noise in order to deeply understand the propagation process of cholera in the real world, generalized nonlinear incidence rates β1(M) and β2(M) are also introduced. First, we discuss the existence and uniqueness of the global positive solution of the stochastic model by using the Lyapunov method. Moreover, the dynamic properties of stochastic solution around the disease-free and endemic equilibria are demonstrated. At last, we present numerical simulation results to reveal how Lévy jumps, time delays and media coverage affect the asymptotic properties of the stochastic model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the availability of advanced computational techniques has led to a growing emphasis on fractional-order derivatives. This development has enabled researchers to explore the intricate dynamics of various biological models by employing fractional-order derivatives instead of traditional integer-order derivatives. This paper proposes a Caputo-Fabrizio fractional-order cholera epidemic model. Fixed-point theorems are utilized to investigate the existence and uniqueness of solutions. A recent and effective numerical scheme is employed to demonstrate the model's complex behaviors and highlight the advantages of fractional-order derivatives. Additionally, a sensitivity analysis is conducted to identify the most influential parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides an analysis on global dynamics of a diffusive cholera model. We formulate the model by a reaction–diffusion system with space-dependent parameters and bacterial hyperinfectivity, where susceptible and infectious humans disperse with distinct dispersal rates and the hyper-infectious and lower-infectious vibrios in contaminated water are assumed to be immobile in the domain. We first establish the well-posedness of the model. To cope with the lack of compactness of solution semiflow, we verify the asymptotic smoothness of semiflow implied with κ -contraction condition. The basic reproduction number, R 0 , is identified as a threshold, predicting whether or not the disease extinction and persistence will occur. R 0 is also equivalently characterized by some principle spectral conditions of an associated elliptic eigenvalue problem. The asymptotic profiles of the positive steady state are investigated for the cases when the dispersal rate of the susceptible humans is small and large. Our theoretical results indicate that: (1) cholera epidemics will be extinct through restricting the flow of susceptible humans within some extend; (2) the risk of infection will be underestimated if hyperinfectivity is not considered. In a homogeneous case, we also confirm the global attractivity of a unique positive equilibrium by utilizing the technique of Lyapunov function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Over 700,000 Myanmar nationals known as the 'Rohingyas' fled into Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh, in late 2017. Due to this huge displacement into unhygienic areas, these people became vulnerable to communicable diseases including cholera. Assessing the risk, the Government of Bangladesh (GoB), with the help of the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (ICDDR,B) and other international partners, decided to take preventive measures, one of which is the execution of oral cholera vaccination (OCV) campaigns. This paper describes the implementation and delivery of OCV campaigns during humanitarian crises in Bangladesh. Methods: Seven rounds of OCV campaigns were conducted between October 2017 and December 2021. The OCV campaigns were conducted by applying different strategies. Results: Approximately 900,000 Rohingya Myanmar nationals (RMNs) and the host population (amounting to 528,297) received OCV across seven campaigns. In total, 4,661,187 doses of OCVs were administered, which included 765,499 doses for RMNs, and 895,688 doses for the host community. The vaccine was well accepted, and as a result, a high level of coverage was achieved, ranging from 87% to 108% in different campaigns. Conclusions: After successful pre-emptive campaigns in Cox's Bazar humanitarian camps, no cholera outbreaks were detected either in the RMN or host communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change and health challenges such as the HIV and AIDS have motivated religious leaders to rethink their beliefs and practices, considering how to apply these to health crises. Christian theologians and biblical scholars have risen to the occasion and developed new ways of interpreting the bible that offer a response to current situations. The new ways of interpreting the bible include approaching the text with a degree of wariness and traditional readings of the bible are often transgressed. The experience of the marginalised or the dismembered is used as a starting point for bible interpretation and theological reflection. This paper contributes to the shifts in bible interpretation and theological reflection by offering an eco-theological interpretation of Deuteronomy 23:14–15 in the context of cholera. The paper shows that, in the context of cholera in Zambia, an eco-theological interpretation of the biblical text can foster hygiene and proper management of human waste which would be an important contribution to the prevention of cholera outbreaks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a recent paper, Che et al. [5] used a continuous-time Ordinary Differential Equation (ODE) model with risk structure to study cholera infections in Cameroon. However, the population and the reported cholera cases in Cameroon are censored at discrete-time annual intervals. In this paper, unlike in [5], we introduce a discrete-time risk-structured cholera model with no spatial structure. We use our discrete-time demographic equation to 'fit' the annual population of Cameroon. Furthermore, we use our fitted discrete-time model to capture the annually reported cholera cases from 1987 to 2004 and to study the impact of vaccination, treatment and improved sanitation on the number of cholera infections from 2004 to 2019. Our discrete-time cholera model confirms the results of the ODE model in [5]. However, our discrete-time model predicts a decrease in the number of cholera cases in a shorter period of cholera intervention (2004–2019) as compared to the ODE model's period of intervention (2004–2022). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This brief historical paper presents the case of the cholera outbreak in the Philippines during the early 20th century. The health situation and response during this period provide valuable insights into the implications of propaganda and folk beliefs to the people's decision-making and information use and dissemination regarding their health conditions. Having a deeper understanding of the indigenous and local contexts and integrating these information into governance and policymaking are crucial in establishing health literacy campaigns, particularly at the grassroots level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cholera is one of the major public health problems in the state of Odisha, India since centuries. The current paper is a comprehensive report on epidemiology of cholera in Odisha, which was documented from 1993. PubMed and Web of Knowledge were searched for publications reporting cholera in Odisha during the period 1993-2015. The search was performed using the keywords 'Odisha' and/or 'Orissa' and 'Cholera'. In addition, manual search was undertaken to find out relevant papers. During the study period, a total of 37 cholera outbreaks were reported with an average of >1.5 cholera outbreaks per year and case fatality ratio was 0.3%. Vibrio cholerae O1 Ogawa serotype was the major causative agent in most of the cholera cases. The recent studies demonstrated the prevalence of V. cholerae O1, El Tor variants carrying ctxB1, ctxB7 and Haitian variant tcpA allele associated with polymyxin B sensitivity and these variants are replacing the proto type El Tor. The first report of variant ctxB7 in Odisha during super-cyclone 1999 predicted its emergence and subsequent spread causing cholera outbreaks. The prevalence of multidrug-resistant V. cholerae at different time periods created alarming situation. The efficacy trial of oral cholera vaccine (OCV, Shanchol) in a public health set-up in Odisha has shown encouraging results which should be deployed for community level vaccination among the vulnerable population. This paper has taken an effort to disseminate the valuable information of epidemiology of cholera that will influence the policy-makers and epidemiologists for constant surveillance in other parts of Odisha, India and around the globe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cholera rapid diagnostic tests (RDT) could play a central role in outbreak detection and surveillance in low-resource settings, but their modest performance has hindered their broad adoption. The addition of an enrichment step may improve test specificity. We describe the results of a prospective diagnostic evaluation of the Crystal VC RDT (Span Diagnostics, India) with enrichment step and of culture, each compared to polymerase chain reaction (PCR), during a cholera outbreak in South Sudan. RDTs were performed on alkaline peptone water inoculated with stool and incubated for 4–6 hours at ambient temperature. Cholera culture was performed from wet filter paper inoculated with stool. Molecular detection of Vibrio cholerae O1 by PCR was done from dry Whatman 903 filter papers inoculated with stool, and from wet filter paper supernatant. In August and September 2015, 101 consecutive suspected cholera cases were enrolled, of which 36 were confirmed by PCR. The enriched RDT had 86.1% (95% CI: 70.5–95.3) sensitivity and 100% (95% CI: 94.4–100) specificity compared to PCR as the reference standard. The sensitivity of culture versus PCR was 83.3% (95% CI: 67.2–93.6) for culture performed on site and 72.2% (95% CI: 54.8–85.8) at the international reference laboratory, where samples were tested after an average delay of two months after sample collection, and specificity was 98.5% (95% CI: 91.7–100) and 100% (95% CI: 94.5–100), respectively. The RDT with enrichment showed performance comparable to that of culture and could be a sustainable alternative to culture confirmation where laboratory capacity is limited. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Singapore Medical Journal (SMJ) has in the past 55 years reflected the phenomenal socioeconomic progress of Singapore. Publications in the pre-independent years were mainly on diseases like cholera, diphtheria, leprosy, tetanus and worm infestation. In the new millennium, the research papers included molecular genetics, health economics, obesity, Internet medicine, cancer, cosmetic surgery and palliative medicine. The annual SMA Lecture published in the SMJ provides an ethical compass for doctors to remind them of primum non nocere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper argues that historic events in the western Irish town of Sligo were more substantial in shaping Bram Stoker's novel Dracula (1897) than previously thought. Biographers of Stoker have credited his mother, Charlotte Thornley Stoker, for influencing her son's gothic imagination during his childhood by sharing tales of the Sligo cholera epidemic she had witnessed in 1832. While Charlotte Stoker's written account of Sligo's epidemic Experiences of the Cholera in Ireland (1873) influenced Bram Stoker, it is argued that as a voracious library researcher he is likely to have cross-referenced it with other historical accounts. Furthermore, by viewing the text of Dracula through the lens of Charlotte Stoker's account and the historical reportage of the epidemic, clear parallels emerge. Ultimately, the striking similarities between Sligo's cholera are marshaled to argue that Count Dracula may be read as the personification of Sligo's cholera. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The famous Moroccan traveller Muḥammad b. Baṭṭūṭa, who left Tangier in 1325, claims to have made a journey that took him across most of the then Islamicate world. The country in which he recounts having stayed the longest was India, where he says he remained from 1333 to 1341/1342, mostly in the Islamic Sultanate of Delhi. A long section of his Riḥla is dedicated to the sub-continent and modern historians of this region ascribe to it an important documentary value, although it has been argued that Ibn Baṭṭūṭa may have borrowed – not to imply copied – information from other sources in other parts of the work. As concerns India, Ibn Baṭṭūṭa speaks of two epidemics and one deadly disease that occurred in 1334–5 and 1344. Some scholars have referred to them as cholera, while others have suggested it was the plague – thus supporting the hypothesis that the medieval plague pandemic had struck India before reaching the Middle East. How did this confusion arise? What exactly does Ibn Baṭṭūṭa's Riḥla relate? Do Indo-Persian sources confirm these epidemics? Do they and/or Ibn Baṭṭūṭa's Riḥla allow us to discount the presence of the Medieval Plague in India, or rather do they assert it? In order to answer these questions, this paper analyses the information on the Indian epidemics in Ibn Baṭṭūṭa's Riḥla and compares the text with its translations in the principal European languages and with Indo-Persian chronicles. These analyses reveal something of a lexical muddle which, in my opinion, has contributed to some errors and misunderstandings regarding the diseases in question. But another question arises: is it possible to read the information provided by Ibn Baṭṭūṭa and the Indian chronicles in a consilient way, that is, taking into account not only the analysis of written documents, but also the recent and current findings in genetics of plague, and in particular on the Black Death? Finally, an attempt is made to answer a question that has to be asked, particularly in light of the criticism often levelled at Ibn Baṭṭūṭa. Considering that in one of these events he claims to have witnessed the epidemic, is there any reason to suppose that he did not? Regarding the other two events that he did not claim to witness firsthand, is there any cause to doubt his claims? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides an analysis of Andrija Štampar’s activities after World War II on the establishment of effective international health. Analyzed archival materials have confirmed with numerous evidence that Štampar as the president of the Interim Commission of the World Health Organization (WHO) played a crucial role in the establishment of the ideological starting points and organization of the WHO system, which remain relevant to date. Apart from the strategic foundations, it has been shown that his principles regarding the need for practical action based on the best professional knowledge and experience have no alternatives. The above is presented in the paper with the details of Štampar’s activities during the cholera epidemic in Egypt and associated with the experiences of the recent global crisis caused by the COVID pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emergence and reoccurrence of infectious diseases constitute a significant threat to human health. Data for this paper were mainly obtained from official websites, such as the WHO and national CDC websites. The report summarizes and analyzes information on infectious diseases for early outbreak monitoring from 24 November to 23 December 2022. Monkeypox cases declined in December 2022 with few deaths, while cholera infections have increased in African regions and war-torn countries. Most sub-Saharan countries are affected by insect-borne diseases, such as dengue, Lassa, and chikungunya fever. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cholera kills between 21,000 and 143,000 people globally each year. It is often fatal, killing up to 50% of the severely symptomatic patients; but death by cholera is preventable with timely treatment, so that the fatality rate can drop to less than 1%. Due to cholera's multi-pathway transmission, a multifaceted and multi-sectoral approach to combat this disease is needed. Such complexity gives rise to uncertainty about where it is best to intervene, as stakeholders have to balance prevention and treatment under highly constrained resources. Using Al-Hudaydah, Yemen as a case study, this paper demonstrates how a system dynamics model can be built using a classic infection structure with empirically grounded operational structures: health treatment, water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), vaccination, and a data surveillance system. The model explores the implications of the joint interventions with different start times. The model analysis revealed that the historical interventions likely prevented 55% more deaths in 2017 as compared to a counterfactual business-as-usual scenario with no interventions in the past. At the same time, some 40% of deaths could potentially have been prevented if interventions (with the same resources as historical data) had been initiated earlier in April 2017. Further research will explore each intervention impact for more detailed policy analysis and simulations into the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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In this paper, we propose and analyze a coupled disease‐economic model to study the impact of poverty on cholera outbreaks. We consider the stock of capital per effective units of labor, reflecting the effect of the stock of capital on cholera outbreak and transmission. The system has positive bounded solutions. We show that the disease‐free equilibrium is globally asymptotically stable whenever R01≤1$$ {\mathcal{R}}_{01}\le 1 $$, while when R01>1$$ {\mathcal{R}}_{01}>1 $$, the disease‐free equilibrium is unstable. The sensitivity analysis of the model has been performed in order to determine the impact of related parameters on outbreak severity. We further study various cases for the investment rate upon critical value of the investment in order to describe the effect of poverty on the infected individuals over time. The results we obtained show that increasing of the stock of capital per effective units of labor and the implementation of strategies combining awareness programs and therapeutic treatments will reduce the proportion of the infected population. To verify our analytical results, the numerical simulations on the model are performed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cholera, caused by Vibrio cholerae , is a severe diarrheal disease that necessitates prompt diagnosis and effective treatment. This review comprehensively examines various diagnostic methods, from traditional microscopy and culture to advanced nucleic acid testing like polymerase spiral reaction and rapid diagnostic tests, highlighting their advantages and limitations. Additionally, we explore evolving treatment strategies, with a focus on the challenges posed by antibiotic resistance due to the activation of the SOS response pathway in V. cholerae. We discuss promising alternative treatments, including low-pressure plasma sterilization, bacteriophages, and selenium nanoparticles. The paper emphasizes the importance of multidisciplinary approaches combining novel diagnostics and treatments in managing and preventing cholera, a persistent global health challenge. The current re-emergent 7th pandemic of cholera commenced in 1961 and shows no signs of abeyance. This is probably due to the changing genetic profile of V. cholerae concerning bacterial pathogenic toxins. Given this factor, we argue that the disease is effectively re-emergent, particularly in Eastern Mediterranean countries such as Lebanon, Syria, etc. This review considers the history of the current pandemic, the genetics of the causal agent, and current treatment regimes. In conclusion, cholera remains a significant global health challenge that requires prompt diagnosis and effective treatment. Understanding the history, genetics, and current treatments is crucial in effectively addressing this persistent and re-emergent disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we consider a reaction-diffusion cholera model with hyperinfectious vibrios and spatio-temporal delay. In the model, it is assumed that cholera has a fixed latent period and the latent individuals can diffuse, and a non-local term is incorporated to describe the mobility of individuals during the latent period. It is shown that the existence and nonexistence of traveling wave solutions are fully determined by the basic reproduction number R 0 and the critical wave speed c*. Firstly, when R 0 > 1 and the wave speed c > c*, the existence of strong traveling waves is obtained by using Schauder's fixed point theorem and Lyapunov functional approach. By employing a limiting argument, the existence of strong traveling waves is established when R 0 > 1 and c = c*. Next, when R 0 ≤ 1 , the nonexistence of traveling wave solutions is established by contradiction. Besides, when R 0 > 1 and c < c*, the nonexistence of traveling wave solutions is obtained by means of two-sided Laplace transform. This indicates that c* is indeed the minimal wave speed. Numerical simulations are carried out to illustrate the theoretical results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cholera is a global epidemic infectious disease that seriously endangers human life. It is disturbed by random factors in the process of transmission. Therefore, in this paper, a class of stochastic SIRB cholera model with Ornstein–Uhlenbeck process is established. On the basis of verifying that the model exists a unique global solution to any initial value, a sufficient criterion for the existence of a stationary distribution of the positive solution of the random model is established by constructing an appropriate random Lyapunov function. Furthermore, under the same condition that there is a stationary distribution, the specific expression of the probability density function of the random model around the positive equilibrium point is calculated. Finally, the theoretical results are verified by numerical model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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