Introduction: On 14 February 2018, the District Health Officer of Nasirabad reported 16 suspected measles cases from the nomadic population of Dera Murad Jamali to the disease surveillance and response unit of Quetta and requested an investigation. A FELTP fellow was deputed by the Director of General Health Services, Balochistan to investigate the outbreak, evaluate risk factors and recommend control measures. Methodology: A purposive sampling technique was adopted and a case control study was planned and conducted. Case was defined as "acute onset of generalized maculopapular rash and fever with cough or coryza or conjunctivitis from 29 January to 20 February 2018 in a resident of Dera Murad Jamali". Active case searches along with interviews were conducted through a semi structured questionnaire. Demographic, socioeconomic, clinical and epidemiological information was collected along with assessment of routine immunization. Five blood samples were sent for serology. Results: A total of 49 cases (AR= 0.17%), including five deaths (CFR=10.2%), were identified. Males, 61% (n=30), were more affected. The median age was three years (age range=1-10 years). The age-group 0-4 years, 69% (n=34), was most affected. The median age group of controls were four years (age range 1-11 years). Of the cases, 71% were unimmunized for any routine antigen while 32% of controls were unimmunized. Pneumonia, 42.8% (n=21), and diarrhea, 38.7% (n=19), were the most common complications. All five samples were positive for measles IgM. Significant statistical association was found between nomadic populations having zero routine doses of measles containing vaccines (MCV1) (OR 2.85; CI 1.83-4.42; p value <0.0021) and developing measles. Conclusion: Nomadic populations with low immunization was a probable cause of outbreak, resulting in the rapid spread of measles amongst susceptible individuals in the community. Laboratory tests confirmed the outbreak. As a control measure, measles mop-up vaccinations and six health education sessions were suggested and carried out. It was also recommended that proper outreach microplanning and regular pulse immunization should be adopted in future.
Background: Crimean Congo Haemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) is an acute viral zoonotic disease that is endemic in Pakistan. Poverty, limited awareness and lack of biosafety practices make it a potential occupational health risk. A poor surveillance system makes it more difficult to monitor the disease burden. Purpose: An evaluation was carried out to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the event-based CCHF surveillance system in Balochistan, Pakistan, and to propose recommendations for improvement. Methods: A descriptive evaluation study was conducted at an isolation ward of a public hospital from November 2017 to February 2018 in Balochistan Province. Event-based CCHF surveillance system was evaluated by using updated CDC guidelines for Evaluating Public Health Surveillance Systems. Data were collected through review of records and interaction with stakeholders. Using a semi-structured questionnaire, surveillance system attributes were assessed according to the guidelines in the study tool. Findings: The system was simple, but had no standardised case definition. It was found to be flexible as new healthrelated events could be easily incorporated. Data quality was moderate; 80% (75/94) of the reports were completely filled. The system had good timeliness but lacked involvement of the private sector. Acceptability was good with involvement of different government stakeholders. Sensitivity was poor while positive predictive value was 27.5%. Conclusion: Event based surveillance for CCHF can be improved by involvement of private practitioners and laboratories in the surveillance system to improve representativeness. The timeliness could be improved by adopting an online reporting mechanism. Feedback, support and supervision should be ensured for data quality assurance. Periodic refresher trainings of the staff could be organized.
Objective: To determine the frequency of immediate procedural success of Primary PCI in patients with Acute ST segment elevation Myocardial infarction.
Methodology: This observational study was conducted at Cardiology unit of P.I.M.S, Islamabad from April 2018 to October 2018. Study included 43 patients with STEMI. All of them had primary PCI. The main outcome variable was frequency of procedural success which was described as frequency distribution table.
Results: Procedural success was achieved among all (100%) patients. There were 16.3% patients who developed contrast induced nephropathy (recovered), they all were diabetics. There were 4.6% patients who developed hematoma. No other complications seen
Conclusions: Immediate procedural success of primary PCI is high (almost successful in every case) and should be offered to the patients with STEMI whenever the facility is available.
Keywords: ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction; primary percutaneous coronary intervention.
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