Microbial Physical and Chemical Risk Assessment of Drinking Water in Cholera Hotspots in Sierra Leone
Résumé
Cholera continues to pose a significant public health threat in Sierra Leone, exacerbated by poor water infrastructure and inadequate sanitation. This study assessed the quality of drinking water in five cholera-prone districts. These are Kambia, Port Loko, Pujehun, Tonkolili, and Western Area Urban. A total of 84 water samples were collected and analyzed for physical, chemical, and microbiological parameters. Results revealed that 76% of samples exceeded WHO limits for microbial contamination, with Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp. most prevalent. Elevated iron and nitrate concentrations were found in over 60% of samples, indicating industrial and agricultural pollution. Antibiotic susceptibility tests revealed 100% resistance of E. coli strains to ampicillin, erythromycin, and tetracycline. The findings call for urgent water treatment interventions, sanitation improvements, and continuous water quality monitoring to mitigate cholera outbreaks.
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