Highlights At Kumbh Mela 2019, disease surveillance was established for 22 acute diseases and syndromes. Among the reported illnesses, 95% were communicable diseases such as acute respiratory illness (35%), acute fever (28%), and skin infections (18%). The incident command centre generated 12 early warning signals from indicator-based and event-based surveillance: acute diarrheal diseases ( n = 8, 66%), vector-borne diseases ( n = 2, 16%), vaccine-preventable disease ( n = 1, 8%), and thermal event ( n = 1, 8%). There were two outbreaks (acute gastroenteritis and chickenpox) that were investigated and controlled. Implementation of disease surveillance facilitated early outbreak detection and response.

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Pneumocephalus is a rare complication of chronic otitis media. Despite its rarity intra-cranial air carries a potential risk of increased intra-cranial pressure or meningitis, which requires immediate therapy. A 10-year-old child presented to us with complaints of fever, headache, vomiting, and decreased hearing from left ear. He had history of left ear discharge since 2 years. Clinical examination revealed neck rigidity and left chronic otitis media. Contrast enhanced computed axial tomography scan of head [Figures 1 and 2] showed pneumocephalus in left cerebellopontine angle, opacification of left middle ear and nonpneumatisation of left mastoid. Child was immediately put on empirical intravenous antibiotics and decongestants. He showed clinical improvement in 3 days. Pneumocephalus secondary to chronic otitis media is extremely rare; we are reporting one such case in a child with review of literature.

Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) is a rare but devastating disease in acquired immuno deficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients. PML in HIV/AIDS is rare in India and literature is limited. We are reporting a case of probable AIDS-related PML from Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) Centre Jabalpur. It was our first case of PML (possible) in 3194 registered HIV patients taking ART since 2006.

Summary In September 2019, after a reported death due to acute diarrheal disease in Shahpur village, Panchkula district, Haryana state, India, we conducted an outbreak investigation to identify the etiological agent, estimate the burden of disease, and make recommendations to prevent future outbreaks. The suspected cholera case was a resident of Shahpur huts, ≥1 year of age having ≥3 loose stools within a 24-h period between September 1 and 28, 2019 and a laboratory-confirmed cholera case, whose stool specimen tested positive for Vibrio cholerae . We identified 196 suspected cholera cases with a median age of 18 years (range: 1–65 years); 54% (106) being female. The overall attack rate was 8% (196/2,602), and the case fatality rate was 1% (2/196). Tested samples of water from tanks ( n = 6), sewage effluent ( n = 2), and 22% (4/18) of stool specimens collected from suspected cases were positive for V. cholerae . Strengthening surveillance, improving water, and sanitation systems are recommended to prevent future cholera outbreaks.