Clinical Characteristics of Pregnant Women Infected with Vibrio cholerae in Lusaka, Zambia from December 2023 to March 2024

Cholera infection during pregnancy is known to be associated with severe clinical outcomes for both mothers and infants. However, detailed data regarding the clinical characteristics and outcomes of pregnant women with cholera remain limited in African contexts. A retrospective study was conducted among 89 pregnant women admitted to a specialized cholera treatment center in Lusaka, Zambia between December 15, 2023 and March 31, 2024. Descriptive analysis was performed to evaluate clinical presentations, hospital discharge dispositions, and postdischarge pregnancy outcomes. Among the 89 total admissions, hospital discharge status was known for 75 admissions; 73 women (97.3%) were discharged alive, and 2 women (2.7%) died. Pregnancy outcomes were tracked among the 73 women discharged alive; 32 women (43.8%) were successfully interviewed, and 41 women (56.2%) were lost to follow-up. Among the tracked outcomes, 23 (71.9%) resulted in live births, 7 (21.9%) resulted in neonatal deaths, and 2 (6.3%) resulted in miscarriages. Our results highlight the critical need for enhanced health information systems to systematically track pregnant women and their neonatal outcomes during public health crises.