These findings will inform the design of quantitative surveys aimed at estimating the prevalence of specific behaviors related to substance use among youth and potential avenues for prevention.

Long Lasting Insecticide Nets (LLINs) reduce human-mosquito contact through the provision of physical barrier, repellent effect or mortality effect. This study evaluated the physical integrity and residual effect of insecticides in Perma Net® 2.0 of 6 months, 1 year, 2 years, 3 years and 4 years duration of use. Perma Net®2.0 used were obtained from systematically picked households within Ifite Awka and new Perma Net® 2.0 serving as control were collected from Society for Family Health. Adult mosquitoes were collected from picked households using Pyrethrum knockdown Collection method before the Perma Net® 2.0 were removed. The top and four sides of the nets were examined for presence of holes. Also, net pieces measuring 25cm × 25cm were obtained from Perma Net® 2.0 of different duration and subjected to WHO cone bioassay using Randomized Block Experimental Design. The Culex quinquefasciatus and Aedes aegypti used for the bioassay were collected from breeding sites within Ifite Awka, reared and maintained in an insectary. There was at least one hole in 10%, 30% and 40% of LLINs with 2 years, 3years and 4 years duration of use respectively. Significant differences were found in the physical integrity of the nets (P < 0.05). Culexquinquefasciatus and Aedes aegypti constituted 40.9% and 27.0% of all mosquitoes collected indoors respectively. There was no significant difference in the indoor abundance of the two mosquito species (P >0.05). However, their abundance depended on the duration of LLINs usage (P < 0.05). The mortality effects of16%, 8%, 7%, 5%, 5% and 2% on Culex quinquefasciatus were recorded for Perma Net® 2.0 of 0 month, 6 months, 1 year, 2 years, 3 years and 4 years respectively. The mortality effects of 23%, 12%, 9%, 6%, 5% and 3% on Aedes aegypti were recorded for Perma Net® 2.0 of 0 month, 6 months, 1 year, 2 years, 3 years and 4years respectively. The new LLINs produced significantly highest mortality effect (P < 0.05) on both mosquito species than nets of other duration of usage. The mortality effect of Perma Net® 2.0 on Culex quinquefasciatus, and that on Aedes aegypti were similar (P > 0.05). It shows that Perma Net® 2.0 offer physical barrier more than repellency and mortality effect against Culex quinquefasciatus, and Aedes aegypti.

Floods increase the transmission of water and vector borne diseases. In August 2018, severe floods affected the south Indian state Kerala. Present study was conducted in Ernakulam district of Kerala. Objectives: (i) To determine the major breeding sources for mosquitoes in the peri-domestic area (ii) to identify the species of mosquitoes and (iii) to analyse the vector (larval) indices. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in Ernakulam district of Kerala by using a mix method. Data was collected from 15 th to 30 th September, 2018 by House to House survey, Review of IDSP records and interview of key health officials of the district. Larval survey was done in 525 houses selected from 11 purposively selected areas. Data was entered and objective wise analysis was done by using Microsoft Excel and data was presented in number and percentages. Result: Ernakulam district is endemic for dengue fever. Out of total 1580 containers inspected maximum were of plastic (35.7%), followed by metals (21.9%) and plastic drums (9.9%). House Index ranged from 2-18 percent. Container Index ranged from 0.6-6.3 percent. Breatu Index ranged from 1.8-24.8 percent. Out of total 51 mosquitoes, 33 (64.7%) were Aedes Albopictus, 4 (7.8%) were Aedes Pseudotaeniatus, 5 (9.8%) were Armigeres Subalbatus and 9 (17.6%) were Culex Quinquefasciatus. Conclusion: High level of all the vector indices and plenty of empty containers is responsible for endemicity of dengue and it can give rise to outbreak at any point of time.

The recent global outbreaks of the ZIKA Virus (ZIKV) reported in 85 countries and territories caused severe complications such as microcephaly among neonates and Guillain-Barre Syndrome among the older population. Recently, an outbreak of ZIKV was reported from Thiruvananthapuram, the capital city of Kerala, India with 66 cases being reported so far. We conducted an outbreak investigation and the primary findings are described here. A cluster of ZIKV cases from the Kadakampalli / Anamugham administrative wards of the Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation area was reported where Kerala Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS) is located. Later many ZIKV cases were reported from other wards of the city. The density of known Aedes vectors was high in this region of the metropolitan city. Aedes albopictus, Aedes aegypti and Aedes vittatus collected from the focal area of the outbreak were found to be naturally infected with ZIKV. Male specimens of Ae. albopictus were naturally infected, indicating trans-ovarian transmission of the virus. This is first report of incrimination of Ae. albopictus and Ae. vittatus in ZIKV transmission from India. The virus was characterized and the partial sequences clustered with the Asian strain of ZIKV reported from India. The NS5 sequences of human and Ae. albopictus pools from Thiruvananthapuram were 100% similar indicating an ongoing active ZIKV transmission. The state health authorities were sensitized and appropriate containment and vector control measures have been initiated to contain the outbreak. This report underscores the importance of continued human and vector surveillance as well as genomic sequencing to understand the virus evolution and implications on public health.