Prevalence of drink‐driving in Thimphu, Bhutan: Targeted surveillance at sentinel sites

Abstract

Introduction and Aims Bhutan has a high incidence of alcohol‐related disease. With economic development, motorised transport is proliferating, increasing the potential for traffic injury. We investigated drink‐driving in the country's largest urban environment. Methods Working with police, we set up checkpoints at major thoroughfares in Thimphu, on Tuesday, Friday and Saturday nights, from May to July 2017. Police directed cars to testing bays where drivers were breathalysed and interviewed. Results All 1596 drivers stopped by police were breathalysed, and 212 (13%) tested positive. Blood alcohol of >0.02 g/dL (which we defined as ‘probable impairment’) was detected in 178 drivers (11%), while 67 (4.2%) exceeded the legal limit of 0.08 g/dL. Probable impairment was more common in men, older drivers, on Tuesdays (versus Fridays or Saturdays) and later at night. Conclusion Drink‐driving is very common at night‐time in Bhutan. Routine roadside random breath‐testing, and media campaigns emphasising the risk of apprehension and consequent serious financial and social penalties, should be considered to deter drink‐driving.

Exposure to Leptospira spp. and Associated Risk Factors in the Human, Cattle and Dog Populations in Bhutan

“…The serogroup/serovar panel was chosen on the basis of the limited information available on prevalent serogroups in Bhutan [ 18 ] and on commonly prevalent serogroups worldwide. However, the panel may have not covered all endemic/local strains with the consequence that the overall prevalence may have been further underestimated.…”

“…In an unpublished report from 2009, seroscreening of cattle at the National Jersey Breeding Centre in the Samtse district indicated the presence of serovar (sv) Hardjobovis with a seroprevalence of 5%. A second unpublished report from a serosurvey in 2014–2015 found 138 of 520 cattle to be positive for sv Lai Like (36.2%), followed by sv Hebdomadis (21.7%) and sv Pomona (15.9%) [ 18 ]. In Bhutan, Leptospira spp.…”