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Although diphtheria is declining in Delhi, case fatality rates (CFRs) are rising. In 1997, of 143 clinically suspected cases admitted to the Infectious Diseases Hospital 45 (32%) died. We examined their records to understand the epidemiology and reasons for high CFRs. About 53% of cases were from Delhi; they were not limited to any particular area. All the deaths and 92% (131/143) of cases occurred in children below 10 years of age. Only 12% of cases had received one or more doses of DPT. Muslims contributed significantly more cases than Hindus. CFRs were significantly higher in young (P = 0.03) and unvaccinated (P = 0.01) children and in those who received antitoxin on the third day of illness or later (P = 0.03). The study highlights the importance of improved vaccine coverage and early diagnosis and prompt administration of antitoxin in reducing CFRs for diphtheria in Delhi.

A number of alkoxides of copper(II), Cu(OR)2 (where R is a primary, secondary or tertiary alkyl group) have been synthesised by the reactions of anhydrous copper(II) chloride with lithium alkoxides in 1:2 molar and also by alcoholysis and trans‐esterification techniques. All the derivatives have been characterized on the basis of various physico‐chemical studies, viz., infra‐red, electronic reflectance spectra and magnetic susceptibility measurements.

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The Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP), straddling the northeastern parts of India near the foothills of the Himalayas, are one of the most densely populated and polluted regions on the globe, with consequent large anthropogenic emissions. In particular, the use of traditional biofuels in the rural areas along the plains leads to strong emissions of various pollutants. Due to this importance, a comprehensive study on the chemical characteristics of rainwater was carried out during southwest summer monsoon season of 2009 at two different locations over Varanasi, India, located in the middle of IGP region in the eastern part of Uttar Pradesh. The rainwater samples were analyzed for major chemical constituents along with pH and its electric conductivity. The pH values ranged from 5.18 to 7.08 with a mean of 5.82 ± 0.45 suggest the alkaline nature of rainwater over Varanasi. During the study period, *14 % rainwater samples were found to be acidic when the winds blew from south-southeast direction. The weighted mean pH and electric conductivity were found higher (5.92 ± 0.45) and (24.59 lS/cm) at Maldahiya site than Banaras Hindu University (5.89 ± 0.46) and (17.16 lS/cm) due to dominance of soil-derived particles. The equivalent concentration of ionic species is of the order: CaThe weighted mean concentration of dominant ions in rainwater over Varanasi was Ca 2? (67.1 ± 56 leq/l), SO 42-(37 ± 23 leq/l) and NO 3 -(27.1 ± 28 leq/l). Significant correlation (r = 0.81; P \ 0.001) between the sum of major cations (NH 4 ? ? Ca 2? ? Mg 2? ) and the sum of acidic species (SO 4 2-? NO 3 -) corroborates that these alkaline species may act as a neutralizing agent for the acidity of rainwater. The source contribution of SO 4 2in

Dengue fever (DF) or dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF) has not previously been reported in Coimbatore and Erode districts in Tamil Nadu in India. In 1998, 20 hospitalized cases of fever tested positive for dengue virus IgM and/or IgG antibodies. All of them had dengue-compatible illness, and at least four had DHF. Two of them died. Sixteen cases were below 10 years of age. The cases were scattered in 15 distantly located villages and 5 urban localities that had a high Aedes aegypti population. Although the incidence of dengue-like illness has not increased recently, almost 89% (95/107) of samples from healthy persons in the community tested positive for dengue IgG antibodies. The study showed that dengue has been endemic in the area, but was not suspected earlier. A strong laboratory-based surveillance system is essential to monitor and control DF/DHF.

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