An outbreak investigation of typhoid fever in Pondicherry, South India, 2013
Background: Preliminary investigation at Pediatric ward of Indira Gandhi Medical College revealed admission of a cluster of typhoid cases who were residents of one particular street in a nearby locality. Objectives: This study was undertaken to estimate the magnitude of the outbreak, identify the...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
2015
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| Online Access: | http://journalarticle.ukm.my/8779/ http://journalarticle.ukm.my/8779/ http://journalarticle.ukm.my/8779/1/P.256-261.pdf |
| Summary: | Background: Preliminary investigation at Pediatric ward of Indira Gandhi Medical College revealed admission of a cluster
of typhoid cases who were residents of one particular street in a nearby locality.
Objectives: This study was undertaken to estimate the magnitude of the outbreak, identify the source of infection, and,
thereby, institute control measures.
Materials and Methods: An investigation team including 10 MBBS students carried out a sanitary survey, house-to-house
survey, data collection using epidemiological case sheets, and spot mapping. Typhoid diagnosis was confirmed as per
the IDSP guidelines, i.e., either a blood culture growth positive for Salmonella typhi or a fourfold rise in antibody titer. An
age- and gender-matched case–control study was conducted to find the association of occurrence of typhoid with various
possible sources of infection. Water samples were collected from the affected households and public taps for investigation.
Results: Rapid survey of all the 6 streets of Thilaspet covered 1106 people living in 283 households. All nine confirmed
cases were residents of one particular street. The attack rate calculated was 3.4% in this street. A significant association of
occurrence of typhoid was found only with consumption of raw drinking water (OR = 12.6, P = 0.01). Water samples only from
the affected street tested positive for the presence of coliforms. The sanitary survey documented water pipeline breakage at
the junction of this street. Further spread of disease was stopped by advocating drinking of boiled water and repair of pipeline.
Conclusion: Strengthening of disease surveillance for early identification of localized outbreaks and instituting control
measures can effectively control disease spread. |
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