Background Acute respiratory infections (ARIs) and severe acute respiratory illness (SARI) are public health burdens globally. The percentage of non-SARS CoV-2 respiratory viruses among patients having ARI and SARI who visit Car Nicobar's hospital settings is undocumented. Changes in the epidemiology of other respiratory viruses during COVID19 pandemic is being reported worldwide. Methods Inpatient and outpatient settings at BJR hospital, Car Nicobar Island, India, were used to conduct prospective monitoring for ARI and SARI among Nicobarese tribal members. The patients with ARI and SARI were enlisted in BJR hospital from June 2019 to May 2021. At the ICMR-NIV in Pune, duplex RT-PCR assays were used to test the presence of respiratory viruses. The prevalence of non- SARS CoV-2 respiratory viruses was measured by comparing here between pandemic and pre-pandemic periods. Results During the COVID19 pandemic, Influenza A (H3N2) and rhinovirus were predominantly reported non-SARS CoV-2 respiratory viruses while Human metapneumovirusand influenza A (H1N1)pdm09were most commonly reported in the prepandemic period. This result indicates the altered circulation of non-SARS CoV-2 during pandemic. Conclusions A considerable proportion of respiratory infection was correlated with respiratory viruses. Prevalence of non-SARS CoV-2 respiratory viruses was high at the time of infection when compared with pre-pandemic period, at Car Nicobar Island. This study enlightened the change in circulation of other respiratory viruses among the indigenous Nicobarese tribes. Clinicians and allied medical staff should be more prudent of these respiratory infections.

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Background: Acute respiratory infections (ARIs) and severe acute respiratory illness (SARI) are public health burdens globally. The percentage of non-SARS CoV-2 respiratory viruses among patients having ARI and SARI who visit Car Nicobar's hospital settings is undocumented. Changes in the epidemiology of other respiratory viruses during COVID19 pandemic is being reported worldwide.Methods: Inpatient and outpatient settings at BJR hospital, Car Nicobar Island, India, were used to conduct prospective monitoring for ARI and SARI among Nicobarese tribal members. The patients with ARI and SARI were enlisted in BJR hospital from June 2019 to May 2021. At the ICMR-NIV in Pune, duplex qRTPCR assays were used to test the presence of respiratory viruses. The prevalence of non- SARS CoV-2 respiratory viruses was measured by comparing here between pandemic and pre-pandemic periods.Results: During the COVID19 pandemic, Influenza A (H3N2) (55.7%), and rhinovirus (12.5%) were predominantly reported non-SARS CoV-2 respiratory viruses while Human metapneumovirus (48.1%) and influenza A (H1N1)pdm09 (18.5%) were most commonly reported in the prepandemic period. This result indicates the altered circulation of non-SARS CoV-2 during pandemic.Conclusions: A considerable proportion of respiratory infection was correlated with respiratory viruses. Prevalence of non-SARS CoV-2 respiratory viruses was high at the time of infection when compared with pre-pandemic period, at Car Nicobar Island. This study enlightened the change in circulation of other respiratory viruses among the indigenous Nicobarese tribes. Clinicians and allied medical staff should be more prudent of these respiratory infections.

Background: Tobacco usage and consumption of alcoholic beverages are reported to be high among the Nicobarese tribe. The main objective of this study was to assess the status of oral cancer and precancerous lesions among this tribe. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted for screening Nicobarese tribal population by documenting the details of the potential risk factors in a predesigned proforma and clinically examining them according to WHO guidelines. A total of 2600 individuals from 10 study villages by including 260 individuals from each village were screened in the study. Informed consent was collected from each participant. Results: The prevalence of oral precancerous lesions including oral cancer was found to be 9.92% whereas oral cancer alone was 0.19%. Tobacco use by smoking cigarettes, using smokeless tobacco in form of sukka alone or with an adjunct to other forms of smokeless tobacco were significantly associated with oral cancer and precancerous lesions. These oral lesions were predominant in the age group of 26- 45 years and male. Conclusions: There is no available data on the prevalence of oral cancer and precancerous lesions among the indigenous Nicobarese tribe of remote Car Nicobar Island. Our study reports a high prevalence of oral precancerous lesions among this tribe. Although the prevalence of oral cancer is low the use of smokeless tobacco is much higher than the national prevalence. Hence early screening for oral lesions and creating awareness of the harmful effects of tobacco is necessary among this tribe.