Science Advances· 2026Q1
Defining epidemiologically relevant units of cholera transmission in sub-Saharan Africa
- 1citations
- Q1SCImago
- 2026year
Short summary
Researchers identified 3-4 distinct 'cholera transmission units' in sub-Saharan Africa, grouped into Western and Eastern/Central/Southern clusters, showing more frequent cross-border spread within these units.
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Key points
- Identified 3-4 distinct 'cholera transmission units' in sub-Saharan Africa based on phylogeographic and genomic/epidemiologic data.
- These units form two major clusters: one in Western Africa and bordering countries, and another spanning Central, Eastern, and Southern regions.
- The defined units improve assessment of international spread risk and reveal heterogeneities in spread speed based on outbreak origin.
- Developed methods to infer cholera incidence from specific lineages even without genetic sequencing data.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Abstract
Abstract Much remains unknown about cholera transmission dynamics in Africa. Applying both traditional phylogeographic techniques and novel methods for combining epidemiologic and genomic data, we identified 3-4 distinct ‘cholera transmission units’ within which cross-border cholera transmission has been more frequent. These units can be grouped into two major transmission clusters, one in Western Africa and bordering countries, and one spanning the Central, Eastern, and Southern regions. Simulation studies show that these clusters can be used to assess the risk of international spread of introduced cholera strains and identify heterogeneities in the speed of international spread based on outbreak location. Our methods further allow us to infer cholera incidence attributable to specific lineages in the absence of sequencing data. This work has clear implications for cholera control.
The authors' abstract, as published at the source. Science Advances, 2026 · DOI ↗
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EndocrinologyBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology