title: Diarrheal illness among US residents providing medical services in Haiti during the cholera epidemic, 2010 to 2011.
abstract: Although nosocomial transmission of cholera is rare, two US healthcare workers (HCW) became ill with cholera after providing medical services during the Haiti cholera epidemic. To assess the incidence of diarrheal illness and explore preventive health behaviors practiced by US residents who provided medical services in Haiti, we conducted a cross-sectional, anonymous, web-based survey. We e-mailed 896 participants from 50 US-based, health-focused non-governmental organizations (NGOs), of whom 381 (43%) completed the survey. Fifty-six percent of respondents (n = 215) reported providing some care for patients with cholera. Diarrhea was reported by 31 (8%) respondents. One person was diagnosed with cholera by serologic testing. NGOs responding to international emergencies should ensure ample access to basic hygiene supplies and should promote their use to reduce the incidence of diarrheal illness among HCW working overseas.
authors.affiliation: Division of Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental Diseases, Waterborne Disease Prevention Branch, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Katharine A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Schilling
authors.forename: Emily J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Cartwright
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stamper
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Locke
authors.forename: Douglas H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Esposito
authors.forename: Victor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Balaban
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mintz
mesh_terms: D002771:Cholera / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D003140:Communicable Disease Control / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D058872:Epidemics; D005260:Female; D006205:Haiti / Q000453:epidemiology; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000193:education / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D017758:Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008493:Medical Missions; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D041241:Vibrio cholerae O1 / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D000078329:Workforce