Conference Abstract | Volume 9 (ConfPro8): Abstract 14 | Published: 05 Oct 2026
Theodora Odarkor Lamptey1,2,&, Richael Mills1,3, Gifty Boateng4
1Ghana Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Programme, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana, 2Department of Epidemiology and Disease Control, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana, 3Department of Medical Laboratory Science, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana, 4National Public Health and Reference Laboratory, Korle-Bu, Accra, Ghana
&Corresponding author: Theodora Odarkor Lamptey, Ghana Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Programme, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana, Email: theodarks@yahoo.com
Received: 10 Mar 2026, Accepted: 29 Aug 2026, Published: 05 Ot 2026
Domain: Infectious Disease Epidemiology
Keywords: Cholera, surveillance, vibrio cholerae O1, laboratory confirmation; Accra Metropolitan Area
©Theodora Odarkor Lamptey et al. Journal of Interventional Epidemiology and Public Health (ISSN: 2664-2824). This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution International 4.0 License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Cite this article: Theodora Odarkor Lamptey et al., Laboratory-based surveillance of cholera cases in the Accra Metropolitan Area, Ghana, October 2024–January 2025. Journal of Interventional Epidemiology and Public Health. 2026;9(ConfPro8):14. https://doi.org/10.37432/JIEPH-CONFPRO8-0014
Cholera remains a recurring public health threat in Ghana, particularly in densely populated urban communities. Laboratory confirmation of suspected cases is essential for monitoring transmission and guiding outbreak response. We describe laboratory surveillance findings for suspected cholera cases in the Accra Metropolitan Area during the 2024–2025 cholera outbreak.
We conducted a descriptive analysis of laboratory surveillance data for stool specimens submitted by Disease Surveillance Officers in the Accra Metropolitan Area to the National Public Health and Reference Laboratory between October 2024 and January 2025. Stool specimens were cultured using standard microbiological methods for the isolation of Vibrio cholerae O1. Demographic and laboratory data were extracted and analysed using frequencies, proportions, and the median with range.
A total of 105 stool specimens from suspected cases were tested. The median age was 29 years (range: 3–76), and 54 (51.4%) were male. Fifty-two specimens (49.5%; 95% confidence interval: 40.2–58.9) were culture-positive for V. cholerae O1, and 53 (50.5%) were culture-negative. Most specimens (68.6%) were received in December 2024, the peak transmission period. Confirmed cases were detected from October 2024 through January 2025 and spanned a wide age range, with the highest burden among adults aged 20–39 years. Confirmed cases were reported from high-risk communities, including Korle Gonno, Agbogbloshie, James Town, Chorkor, Kaneshie, and Abossey Okai.
Nearly half of suspected cholera cases investigated through the surveillance system were laboratory-confirmed, indicating substantial V. cholerae O1 transmission in the Accra Metropolitan Area, concentrated in December 2024 and among young adults. Strengthening community surveillance, prompt specimen transportation, routine laboratory confirmation, and targeted interventions in high-risk communities may improve early outbreak detection and control.
Menu