Cholera outbreak in village Haji Aijaz Solangi, District Naushahro Feroze, Sind, Pakistan, May 2011

Abstract

Background: On 9th May 2011 Pediatrician DHQ Naushahro Feroze reported about some patients of AWD at DHQ hospital with varying complaints of diarrhea, abdominal pain, vomiting, dehydration and fever. An investigation was carried out to identify the source and mode of spread of the disease.Methods: Data was collected from the concerned hospital and the affected village was also visited. All individuals of any age passing more than three watery stools in 24 hours from 9th May, 2011 to 20th May, 2011 were included as cases. Controls were also taken from the same village matched with age and sex. 4 stool samples and 9 drinking water samples were randomly collected for laboratory analyses.Results: A total of 24 individuals developed acute watery diarrhea manifested by abdominal pain (84%), vomiting (61%), Severe dehydration (38%) and fever (19%). Mean age was 8.5 years while 71% were 10 or less years of age. For the analysis of risk factors 24 cases and 24 controls were taken. Exposure to hand pumps close to toilets (used as drinking source) (OR = 12.14, CI = 2.56-63.93), eating habits as reuse of cooked food on alternate day on 8th May, 2011 (OR = 4.86, CI = 1.23-20.20) were the most significant factors associated with AWD outbreak. Of the four stool samples two were positive for Vibrio Cholera poly 01 serotype Ogawa. Three out of nine water samples were found unsafe for drinking. Hand pumps were installed close to latrines which caused sewerage water to stand openly in the houses.Conclusion: Contamination of drinking water was the likely source of this outbreak. Health education campaigns and chlorination of water controlled the outbreak. Recommendations for proper sanitation system were shared with the health authorities and the local government committed for allocation of budget for sanitation and proper hand pumps in the village.

Aflatoxins: biosynthesis, prevention and eradication

“…The UV radiation in time dependent dose (0, 5, 10, 20, 40, 80 and 160 min) was used to decontaminate AF in open grains and the grains packed in sacks. The results demonstrated 80-90 % and 65-73 % respectively, decrease in the AF levels in both wheat samples exposed to the UV light (Ghanghro et al, 2016).…”

“…The AF have been found to be very sensitive to the treatment with the UV light and the UV light was found to be the most effective method used in reduction of AF level in wheat and to protect grains from deterioration during storage (Ghanghro et al, 2016). Several studies demonstrated that the AF production could be affected by the light without damaging nutritional qualities of food (Samarajeewa et al, 1990).…”