Microbiological Examination of Sachet Water Due to a Cholera Outbreak in Ibadan, Nigeria

A severe outbreak of cholera in Ibadan (Oyo state, Nigeria) occurred after a devastating flood in August, 2011, causing the death of over 18 persons and several cases of hospitalization. The project aimed at screening sachet water for mi-croorganisms related to water-borne diseases. One hundred sachet water samples were randomly collected. The pH was determined using a digital pH meter. Values ranged between 6.3 - 8.7, with 28% of the samples being above the WHO approved range of 6.4 - 7.6. No residual chlorine was detected. Gram negative isolates were 80%, while 20% were Gram positive. Faecal coliforms above the recommended WHO zero coliforms per 100 mL were 30%. Escherichia coli had the highest incidence (17%), followed by Acinetobacter sp. (12%), Enterobacter aerogenes (11%), Flavobacterium sp. (11%), Proteus mirabilis (11%), Staphyloccocus aureus (10%), Bacillus subtilis (8%), Micrococcus sp. (5%), Streptococcus faecalis (2%), Klebsiella sp. (2%) and Vibrio cholerae (1%). There is urgent need for public awareness campaigns against water-borne diseases.