| ORIGINAL ARTICLE |
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| Year : 2013 | Volume
: 2
| Issue : 3 | Page : 189-196 |
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Outbreak investigation and intervention measures following viral hemorrhagic fever in rural Kutch (Gujarat)
Kishor M Dhaduk, Kapiil M Gandha, Sumit V Unadkat, Naresh R Makwana, Dipesh V Parmar, Sudha Yadav
Department of Community Medicine, Shri M.P. Shah Government Medical College, Jamnagar, Gujarat, India
Correspondence Address:
Kishor M Dhaduk
Department of Community Medicine, Shri M.P. Shah Government Medical College, Jamnagar, Gujarat
India
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/2278-344X.120588
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Background: To describe detailed epidemiological analysis of an outbreak of suspected Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) based on available clinicopathological and verbal autopsy findings of the cases and epidemiological intervention taken for prevention and control of the same in a rural setting of India. Aims: To define clinical syndrome, to find-out probable etiology, source of infection, mode of transmission and to develop a control and prevention strategy to halt further spread of unknown fatal febrile illness. Settings and Design: It was an outbreak investigation in affected small village of Gujarat, applying few principles of descriptive epidemiology in rural settings. Materials and Methods: Various information obtained by in-depth interviews, verbal autopsy tools, available medical records and house to house active case finding survey. Statistical Analysis: Microsoft Excel 2007 was used for statistical analysis. Results: The relevant information revealed that it as clustering of unknown hemorrhagic fever in households infested by hard tick population with a potential to further outbreak in and around nearby area. All secondary cases had strong epidemiological link with the index case. The illness was characterized by high grade fever with chills, headache and body-ache for short duration of 3-6 days followed by varying degree of hemorrhagic tendency, hepatic and renal involvement. The case fatality rate was very high (60%) and probable length of the incubation period was 9-15 days. Conclusions: It was a probable outbreak of a viral hemorrhagic fever, clinically compatible with CCHF cases. Effective removal of hard tick population from the village by Malathion spray had played a significant role in control and prevention of further cases. |
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