CHOLERA IN METROPOLITAN MANILA - FOODBORNE TRANSMISSION VIA STREET VENDORS

Reported are the results of an unmatched case-control study to determi ne the risk factors associated with acquisition of cholera in Manila. Cases were patients admitted to the San Lazaro Hospital between July a nd September 1989 and whose stools yielded Vibrio cholerae 01 on cultu re. Controls were patients admitted to the same hospital and who had n o history of diarrhoea or of having taken antibiotics during the 3 day s prior to admission. Of the 158 cases and 158 controls who had bought food from street vendors, cases were more likely to have bought the f ollowing items: pansit (rice noodles with shrimp, meat, and vegetables ), mussel soup, spaghetti, fish balls, pig blood coagulated with vineg ar, and salty brine shrimp with vegetables. Cases were also more likel y to lack piped water at home. An unconditional logistic regression an alysis indicated that only pansit (OR = 2.15, 95% Cl = 1.32 - 3.51), m ussel soup (OR = 2.29, 95% Cl = 1.06 - 4.95), and the absence of piped wafer at home (OR = 2.70, 95% Cl = 1.63-4.46) remained as risk factor s. As control measures we recommend stricter implementation of the foo d sanitation code and the licensing of street food vendors.