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To contain the outbreak, WASH response interventions targeted case households, nearby neighbors and public areas in case clusters using a grid approach. B Background: b Rapid control of cholera outbreaks is a significant challenge in overpopulated urban settings, and documented results on field interventions are scarce. [Extracted from the article]

During the 2017–2018 cholera outbreak in Kinshasa, many patients initially reported to primary healthcare centers (HCs) before being transferred to the nearest cholera treatment centers. This study aims to assess the level of preparedness of HCs in responding to cholera outbreaks. Descriptive cross-sectional survey. We conducted a descriptive cross-sectional survey in 180 of 374 primary HCs in Kinshasa. We collected data on 14 cholera preparedness criteria and described their prevalence among HCs. We used logistic regression to assess the association between each preparedness criteria and previous reporting of cholera cases by HCs. The median number of preparedness criteria met by HCs was 5 [range: 0–11]. Five percent (n = 9) of HCs [95% confidence interval (CI): 2.3%–9.3%] met at least 10 criteria. HCs that previously reported ≥3 cholera cases were less likely to meet the criteria for 'presence of an isolation unit' (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 0.12; 95% CI [0.03–0.61]) and 'availability of sufficient quantity of chlorine' (aOR: 0.13; 95% CI [0.02–0.64]). Despite past experience of cholera cases, health facilities in Kinshasa exhibit a low level of cholera preparedness. There is a need to prioritize the reinforcement of the preparedness of primary HCs to prevent future cholera outbreaks. • Kinshasa experienced a large outbreak of cholera between November 2017 and April 2018. • This study assessed the level of preparedness of frontline healthcare centers (HCs) to a cholera outbreak in Kinshasa. • None of the 180 HCs assessed met all of the 14 minimum criteria for cholera preparedness. • The overall cholera preparedness level of frontline HCs is alarmingly poor in the city of Kinshasa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cholera is the most severe of acute diarrhea epidemic caused by V. cholerae. It is classified intotwobiotypes: classic and El Tor, and three serotypes: Inaba, Ogawa and Hikojima. The first six cholera pandemics were caused by the classical biotype. In 1961, El Tor replaced the classical biotype upon occurrence of the seventh pandemic. Since the last decade, a new variant of El Tor has been documented. The project objective was to investigate the V. cholerae strains circulating in sanctuaries sites in DRC. Methods & Materials: Phenotypic and genotypic characterization of ten strains of V. cholerae O1from Kalemie and Uvira isolated in 2014 and 2015 were investigated by classical bacteriological techniques, PCR and PFGE. Results: These strains belong to the El Tor biotype and serotype Ogawa. The presence of ctxB1 virulence gene suggests the existence of a variant of El Tor. Strains from Kalémie presented four antibiotic resistance (colistin, nitrofurans, nalidixic acid and Norfloxacin) whereas Uvira resistance was observed for seven antibiotics (colistin, nitrofurans, nalidixic acid, Norfloxacin, Sulfonamides, Streptomycin Sulfonamides and trimethoprim Quinolone resistance and mutations on gyrA and parC genes were observed. The molecular genotyping method in this study; the pulsed field coupled to two enzymes Not I and Sfi I allowed to differentiate two different strains circulating in Uvira and Kalemie. Conclusion: Two different strains circulating in Uvira and Kalemie have been highlighted both by their PFGE profiles and antibiotic resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This observation is promising for the development of phage cocktails to be used as additional tool in cholera preventive measures and outbreak management. We aimed to isolate and select bacteriophages that are virulent against Vibrio cholerae to develop a phage cocktail to control outbreaks and help (prophylactic) patient treatment. B Conclusion: b Sixteen virulent phages, 5 from Haiti and 11 from Georgia, two regions that are at great distances from the DRC (10500km and 5600km respectively), were isolated at different time points and could be considered as potential therapeutic and control agents against cholera. [Extracted from the article]

B Background: b Between 2010 and 2017, the DRC reported 25% of all cholera cases in Africa. B Methods and materials: b This is a descriptive study of cholera epidemics in the DRC from week 1, 2000 to week 41, 2019 based on cholera surveillance databases of the Ministry of Health coordinating data from the different cholera treatment facilities. Despite the multisectoral plan for cholera implemented since 2008, the country faced a major epidemic in 2017, being the second most extended one after the Goma-epidemic following Rwandan genocide. [Extracted from the article]