cholera outbreaks evaluation in sistan and baluchestan province of iran

background several hundred thousand people are infected with vibrio cholera every year worldwide, with a case fatality rate over 2%. periodic cholera outbreaks are of important health issues in iran, especially in sistan and baluchistan province. objectives in this study, we evaluated cholera out breaks and related factors, during 2010-2013, to improve controlling the disease in this province. materials and methods in this study, all epidemiologic data about patients with cholera, during 2010-2013, were evaluated. afterwards the environmental determinants and management indices were assessed. results the largest outbreak occurred in 2013. the incidence rate was significantly higher in men than women (rr = 2.8), in foreign immigrants than the iranians (rr = 44.1) and in rural population than the urban population (rr = 26.2). the major part of patients, especially the first cases, lived in areas with poor sanitation like immigrant camps or remote villages and did not have access to sanitary water. conclusions problems like poor sanitation and sanitary water access limitation, in rural and remote areas and also in immigrant camps necessitate allocating more resources, better inter-institutional cooperation and more intense border travelling control in this province.