Lowlanders working at high altitude are at high risk to develop HZ in comparison with persons working at plains. However, a large population-based study is required to investigate and establish the same.

No abstract

No abstract

Background: Dengue is a rapidly spreading mosquito borne disease. Dengue is now endemic in 100 countries worldwide.Methods: Cross sectional descriptive study design was used by the workers. We The workers obtained detailed information from each reported case. Active case finding by surveys during the period of the outbreak, besides a detailed environmental survey was also carried out. Standard statistical tools like calculating relative risk and Chi square were utilised for data analysis.Results: In all 17 cases who fulfilled the case definition criteria were admitted in the month of September 2019. Out of these 16 (94.11%) were confirmed by NS 1 Antigen ELISA, while 01 (05.88%) was probable case. The first case reported on 08 Sep 2019, followed by a sudden spurt in the number of cases. The weekly epidemic curve is depicted in (Figure 1). There were no complications or fatalities. Detailed environmental assessment of the area revealed Aedes mosquito breeding in artificial containers of water. The house index of 7.06%, while the container index was 6.06%.Conclusions: The above study thus highlights the necessity of strict environmental monitoring by all authorities concerned in the country to prevent morbidity and mortality due to Dengue fever and other mosquito borne diseases. The menace of Dengue fever will continue till we learn to manage our solid waste properly, as Dengue is after all a man-made disease due to improper solid waste disposal.

Background: In September 2019, a large number of fever cases among troops and families in a military station in Maharashtra were admitted to the local Military Hospital. Detailed epidemiological investigations revealed the cause to be an outbreak of enteric fever due to sewage contamination of drinking water.Methods: A detailed site survey was undertaken; and a descriptive epidemiological study was carried out. Routine haemogram, blood culture, antibiotic sensitivity test besides serotyping of the isolates were carried out.Results: In all 28 cases who fulfilled the case definition criteria were admitted in the month of September 2019. Out of these 21 (75%) were confirmed by blood culture, while the remaining were probable cases. Bacteriological examination reports of water samples taken from various source as well as consumer end points both prior to beginning of the outbreak and during the outbreak revealed a high presumptive coliform count.  Spatial and temporal clustering of cases was suggestive of common source outbreak. On 16 September 2019 exploration by digging was carried out undertaken which revealed massive leakage of water in close proximity to the overflowing manholes. The outbreak was promptly controlled after detection of this pipeline and provision of alternative source of water supply to the affected area.Conclusions: Salmonella enterica serovar typhi has been implicated in many outbreaks through history. The present outbreak was a common source focal outbreak due to sewage contamination of drinking water in a few areas in the station.