Background:Most outbreaks of viral hepatitis in India are caused by hepatitis E. Recently in the year 2009, Modasa town of Sabarkantha district in Gujarat witnessed the outbreak of hepatitis B.Purpose:An attempt was made to study the outbreak clinically and serologically, to estimate the seropositivity of hepatitis B Virus among the cases and their contacts and to know the seroprevalence of hepatitis B envelope antigen (HBeAg) and IgM antibody against hepatitis B core antigen (IgM HBcAb) out of all the Hepatitis B surface Antigen (HBsAg) positive ones.Materials and Methods:Eight hundred and fifty-six (856) cases and 1145 contacts were evaluated for hepatitis B markers namely HBsAg, HBeAg and IgM HBcAb by enzyme-linked immuno Sorbent Assay (ELISA) test.Results:This outbreak of viral hepatitis B in Modasa, Gujarat was most likely due to unsafe injection practices. Evidence in support of this was collected by Government authorities. Most of the patients and approximately 40% of the surveyed population gave history of injections in last 1.5–6 months. Total 664/856 (77.57%) cases and 20/1145 (1.75%) contacts were found to be positive for HBsAg. 53.41% of the positive cases and 52.93% of the positive contacts were HBeAg-positive and thus in a highly infectious stage.Conclusions:Inadequately sterilized needles and syringes are an important cause of transmission of hepatitis B in India. Our data reflects the high positivity rate of a hepatitis B outbreak due to such unethical practices. There is a need to strengthen the routine surveillance system, and to organise a health education campaign targeting all health care workers including private practitioners, especially those working in rural areas, as well as the public at large, to take all possible measures to prevent this often fatal infection.

Background & objectives: An outbreak of respiratory illness of unknown aetiology was reported from Hubei province of Wuhan, People's Republic of China, in December 2019. The outbreak was attributed to a novel coronavirus (CoV), named as severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-CoV-2 and the disease as COVID-19. Within one month, cases were reported from 25 countries. In view of the novel viral strain with reported high morbidity, establishing early countrywide diagnosis to detect imported cases became critical. Here we describe the role of a countrywide network of VRDLs in early diagnosis of COVID-19. Methods: The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)-National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune, established screening as well as confirmatory assays for SARS-CoV-2. A total of 13 VRDLs were provided with the E gene screening real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) assay. VRDLs were selected on the basis of their presence near an international airport/seaport

Background: Dengue is one of the most serious mosquito borne viral infection mainly affecting tropical and subtropical countries of the world. In absence of specific treatment and vaccine for dengue fever (DF); vector control is the only method by which the spread of dengue can be prevented. Aims & Objective: This study was conducted to report the prevalence of Dengue virus infection in Gujarat, Western India. Material and Methods: Study was performed at a tertiary care hospital in Ahmedabad, Gujarat in year 2012. Patients attending various hospitals across Gujarat for suspected dengue were tested. Blood samples collected in plain tubes were tested for dengue IgM antibodies, NS1 antigen and viral nucleic acid detection by Dengue IgM capture enzyme linked immune sorbent assay, Dengue Early ELISA and real time reverse transcriptase PCR, respectively. The laboratory records were analyzed for demographic features and seasonal variations. Descriptive statistics were used. Data were expressed in proportions. Results: Out of total 4401 serum samples tested, 927 were found positive for dengue virus infection. 65% positive samples were of male patients and 58% positive samples were from 18 to 35 years age group (Adult population) (58%). Seasonal trend showed a gradual increase in dengue positives started from August with a peak in October (34.5%). The most common presentation was fever (97%) while only 1% cases presented haemorrhagic manifestations. Conclusion: Dengue has established its transmission in urban and semi-urban areas of Gujarat with predominantly affecting males and active adult population. Virus activity is high during monsoon and post monsoon period which coincides with increased vector breeding. This study thus emphasizes the need for continuous sero epidemiological surveillance for the timely formulation and implementation of effective dengue control programme.

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Context:Study of patients attending tertiary care ophthalmology institute at Ahmedabad.Aims:To study the microbiological etiology and epidemiological factors associated with suppurative keratitis.Settings and Design:A total of 150 corneal scrapings were evaluated from patients presenting with corneal ulcers at a tertiary ophthalmology center, Ahmedabad from July 2007 to June 2008.Materials and Methods:Scrapings were subjected to Gram stain, potassium hydroxide preparation and culture for bacterial and fungal pathogens. Socio-demographic data and risk factors were recorded.Results:Ninety percent (135/150) people with corneal ulcers had trauma as predisposing factor for keratitis. Trauma due to wooden objects was the leading cause (46/135) followed by vegetable matter and stone injury (23/135). Microbial etiology was established in 59.3% (89/150) of scrapings. Out of 89 positive isolates, 65.1% (58/89) were bacterial while 34.9% (31/89) were fungal. Among the bacterial isolates, 60.3% (35/58) were Gram-positive cocci while 39.7% (23/58) were Gram-negative bacilli. The most common bacterial isolate was Staphylococus aureus (32.7%, 19/58) followed by coagulase-negative Staphylococci (25.8%, 15/58) and Pseudomonas (18.9%, 11/58). Among the 31 fungal pathogens, Aspergillus species was the most common (35.4%11/31), followed by Fusarium species (22.5%, 7/31).Conclusion:Trauma with wooden material is the most common predisposing factor for suppurative keratitis. Males were more affected than females. Bacterial ulcers were more common than fungal in areas in and around Ahmedabad. Staphylococcus aureus and Aspergillus were the commonest bacterial and fungal isolates respectively. Geographical variation persists in microbial etiology of suppurative keratitis.