Diagnostic tool unveiled to boost war against cholera in Africa

The war against cholera across Sub- Saharan Africa received a new impetus Sunday with the unveiling of a diagnostic innovation to help detect pathogens that cause the deadly disease.

A team of Canadian and African scientists, who developed the "Flocked Swab", said it will strengthen Cholera diagnosis to help minimize infections and deaths in resource poor settings across Africa.

Grand Challenges Canada, a not-for-profit organization funded by the Canadian government, provided seed money to medical researchers to fast-track the development of the new cholera diagnostic tool.

"The simple fact is diagnostics saves lives and if health workers can quickly and accurately pin point the cause of a child's illness, timely help can be administered to prevent deaths, " said Grand Challenges Canada Peter Singer

During a pilot test on its efficacy in Southern African countries, the Flocked Swab helped reveal that one third of babies hospitalized with severe diarrhea were discharged with undiagnosed but treatable infection.

Scientists noted the low cost innovation is able to detect hidden pathogens that cause cholera while eliminating the wait and hazards involved in transporting bulk fecal material for testing.

Medical researchers said rapid diagnosis of pathogens that cause cholera will boost the war against a disease that is responsible for 7% of infant deaths across Sub-Saharan Africa.

According to David Goldfarb, a researcher at the University of British Columbia in Canada, the Flocked Swab has revitalized the war against cholera in Africa.

"Currently, the swabs are being used or evaluated in Namibia, Botswana and Tanzania. The manufacturer of this devise is happy to make them available in resource poor setting across Sub-Saharan Africa," Goldfarb told Xinhua during an email interview.

Rigorous clinical studies indicate the diagnostic efficacy of the Flocked Swab is above board.

Goldfarb noted a study in Botswana revealed the swab was able to detect cholera pathogens with precision, adding that the Flocked Swab had resonated with poor and marginalized communities where cholera is endemic.

Cholera epidemic has lately been reported in several African countries including Kenya, Burundi and South Sudan. In Kenya, the disease has claimed some 65 lives since January when the first case was reported.

Goldfarb stressed the Flocked Swab could deal a fatal blow to cholera and other communicable diseases blighting the rural and urban poor in Kenya and the region.

"The Swab could potentially help with surveillance as well as with case identification for treatment. These are vital components in controlling and managing the cholera epidemic," said Goldfarb, calling on African governments to scale up distribution of rotavirus vaccines in order to reduce the cholera burden. Endi