Feasibility of Mass Vaccination Campaign with Oral Cholera Vaccines in Response to an Outbreak in Guinea

The number of reported cholera cases worldwide, as well as the frequency and scale of cholera epidemics, are increasing [1]. Traditional prevention measures, which focus on provision of safe water and proper sanitation, are undoubtedly the long-term solution for cholera control. But for populations in many low-income countries these measures remain out of reach: in Africa, 40% of families cannot access safe water and 60% have no access to appropriate sanitation [2]. Furthermore, once a cholera outbreak has started, these solutions are unlikely to be implemented fast enough or on a large enough scale to help control the spread. Nationwide epidemics, such as the recent one in Haiti—with over 600,000 cases and 7,000 deaths reported within the first 2 years [3]—highlight the urgent need for new tools and strategies.