Control of endemic cholera 'possible' with oral vaccines

Endemic cholera could be effectively controlled in the developing world by the use of inexpensive oral vaccines in mass immunisation programmes, according to a new report.

An international team, led by a member of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, recommended vaccinating half of the population every two years in areas where the potentially fatally condition is endemic.

They claimed that biannual vaccination of 50 per cent of people would reduce the number of cholera cases by 90 per cent, while vaccinating 30 per cent of people ever two years would lead to a 76 per cent fall in the incidence of the disease.

"This is the first scientific work that shows how we could control cholera on a global level," said Dr Ira M Longini Jr, head of the research.

"Once you get up to about 50 per cent of the population vaccinated, you can drive the epidemic into practically nothing," she added.

According to the World Health Organization, the number of cholera cases reported in 2006 rose dramatically, with more than 230,000 cases reported across 52 countries, resulting in 6,311 deaths.

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