Title : Community outbreak of pulmonary tuberculosis in kolossonguikaha, mankono health district, Côte d’Ivoire, 2026

Background: Between epidemiological weeks 07 and 10 of 2026, an unusual increase in persistent cough was reported in Kolossonguikaha village, located 13 km from Baradougou Rural Health Center in Mankono health district, Béré region, Côte d’Ivoire. An outbreak investigation was conducted to determine the magnitude of the event, describe cases by time, place, and person, identify associated risk factors, and recommend control measures.

Methods: We conducted a descriptive cross-sectional outbreak investigation on March 9, 2026. A suspected case was defined as any person residing in or having stayed in Kolossonguikaha presenting with a cough lasting at least two weeks since February 2026. A confirmed case was a suspected case with sputum positive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis using GeneXpert MTB/RIF assay. Active case finding included medical record review, household visits, and community interviews. Data on sociodemographic, clinical, and environmental characteristics were collected and analyzed using Excel and Epi Info 7.

Results: A total of 103 suspected cases were identified. The median age was 6 years (range: 0–30 years), and 67% were aged 1–9 years. Males accounted for 53.4% of cases. Among suspected cases, 31 individuals were eligible for sputum testing, and 12 were confirmed as pulmonary tuberculosis cases, yielding a positivity rate of 38.7%. Close contact with a symptomatic individual was reported by 33% of participants, while 83.5% attended the same school. All households reported exposure to wood smoke in poorly ventilated dwellings. Self-medication or use of traditional remedies was reported by 68.9% of cases. No deaths were recorded.

Conclusion: This investigation confirmed a community outbreak of pulmonary tuberculosis in Kolossonguikaha. Overcrowding, delayed healthcare-seeking behavior, and poor ventilation likely facilitated transmission. Strengthening active case finding, contact tracing, and community sensitization is essential to interrupt further spread.

Keywords: Tuberculosis, outbreak investigation, active case finding, GeneXpert, Côte d’Ivoire, Mankono

KOFFI Koidio Marcel Venance is a State Registered Nurse and Health Data Manager working as Surveillance Officer at the Regional Directorate of Health and Public Hygiene of Béré, Côte d’Ivoire. He is a graduate of the FETP Frontline and Intermediate programs and serves as an FETP mentor. He specializes in disease surveillance, data management, and outbreak investigation and response. He has participated in international scientific conferences, including the Pan-African Society of Public Health Conference and EMOIS 2025 (Nancy, France). In 2025, he was ranked 3rd best surveillance officer in Côte d’Ivoire.