open access
An outbreak of gastroenteritis on board an oil drilling rig in Ghana
Affiliations- 37 Military Hospital, Postgraduate College 37 Military Hospital P.O. Box PMB 110 Accra Central-Ghana, Accra, Ghana
- University of Ghana School of Public Health, University of Ghana School of Public Health, P.O. Box LG 13, Legon-Accra, Accra, Ghana
open access
Abstract
The article describes an outbreak of gastroenteritis which occurred on an oil drilling rig which operated in the Jubilee fields of Ghana (offshore Takoradi) between May 2011 and December 2013. An outbreak occurred on board approximately 10 h following a Christmas day buffet. Various Ghanaian and continental dishes were served during the occasion. Over a 3 day period, a total of 33 cases were recorded at the rig’s sick bay. In order to describe the outbreak and determine its possible association with the meals served at the buffet, this case control study was conducted. A short questionnaire was used for data collection and a line list prepared for summarising data of cases. Samples of food could not be taken but water samples from multiple points of the rig’s pipe water system were collected and cultured for coliforms. Data was analysed using Epi info version 7. Six foods appeared to be associated with the outbreak with odds ratios ranging from 1.2 to 2.7. The epidemic curve showed a propagated fashion of transmission and the outbreak was brought under control with public education on hand washing and disinfection of surfaces and door handles. The conclusion was that food items served at the buffet were not associated with the outbreak. Instead, a possible contamination of surfaces and door handles probably caused it. To prevent future occurrences, routine and regular hand washing and disinfection of surfaces and door handles is recommended.
Abstract
The article describes an outbreak of gastroenteritis which occurred on an oil drilling rig which operated in the Jubilee fields of Ghana (offshore Takoradi) between May 2011 and December 2013. An outbreak occurred on board approximately 10 h following a Christmas day buffet. Various Ghanaian and continental dishes were served during the occasion. Over a 3 day period, a total of 33 cases were recorded at the rig’s sick bay. In order to describe the outbreak and determine its possible association with the meals served at the buffet, this case control study was conducted. A short questionnaire was used for data collection and a line list prepared for summarising data of cases. Samples of food could not be taken but water samples from multiple points of the rig’s pipe water system were collected and cultured for coliforms. Data was analysed using Epi info version 7. Six foods appeared to be associated with the outbreak with odds ratios ranging from 1.2 to 2.7. The epidemic curve showed a propagated fashion of transmission and the outbreak was brought under control with public education on hand washing and disinfection of surfaces and door handles. The conclusion was that food items served at the buffet were not associated with the outbreak. Instead, a possible contamination of surfaces and door handles probably caused it. To prevent future occurrences, routine and regular hand washing and disinfection of surfaces and door handles is recommended.
Keywords
diarrhoeal outbreak, Sedco energy, oil rig, Ghana
About this articleTitle
An outbreak of gastroenteritis on board an oil drilling rig in Ghana
Journal
Issue
Article type
Case report
Pages
51-57
Published online
2018-03-28
Page views
1631
Article views/downloads
1084
DOI
Pubmed
Bibliographic record
IMH 2018;69(1):51-57.
Keywords
diarrhoeal outbreak
Sedco energy
oil rig
Ghana
Authors
Michael N.K. Babayara
Bright Addo
References (9)- Zhang N, Miao R, Huang H, et al. Contact infection of infectious disease onboard a cruise ship. Sci Rep. 2016; 6: 38790.
- Fujita DM, Henrique L, Giraldi RD, et al. Brazilian Public Health Policy for Cruise Ships - A Review of Morbidity and Mortality Rates - 2009/2015. Int J Travel Med Glob Health. 2018; 6(1): 11–15.
- Hameed JM, McCaffrey RL, McCoy A, et al. Incidence, Etiology and Risk Factors for Travelers' Diarrhea during a Hospital Ship-Based Military Humanitarian Mission: Continuing Promise 2011. PLoS One. 2016; 11(5): e0154830.
- Rooney RM, Cramer EH, Mantha S, et al. A review of outbreaks of foodborne disease associated with passenger ships: evidence for risk management. Public Health Rep. 2004; 119(4): 427–434.
- Republic of Ghana. Standard Treatment Guidelines. Ministry of Health. Sixth Edition 2010.
- World Health Organization. WHO Diarrhoeal disease Fact sheet. WHO Media Centre, 2017. http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs330/en/.
- Cumming G, Finch S. Inference by eye: confidence intervals and how to read pictures of data. Am Psychol. 2005; 60(2): 170–180.
- Carling PC, Bruno-Murtha LA, Griffiths JK. Cruise ship environmental hygiene and the risk of norovirus infection outbreaks: an objective assessment of 56 vessels over 3 years. Clin Infect Dis. 2009; 49(9): 1312–1317.
- Curtis V, Cairncross S. Effect of washing hands with soap on diarrhoea risk in the community: a systematic review. Lancet Infect Dis. 2003; 3(5): 275–281.
