A spectrum of viral diseases in Odisha state, eastern India: An evidence-based analysis from 2010-2017.

Introduction: Emerging and re-emerging viral diseases are a major threat to public health. Odisha, being one of the coastal states in the country, reports many viral illnesses due to its typical geographical location. This study focuses on the prevalence of different viral diseases in the state of Odisha, India, from 2010-2017. Material and Methods: A total of 43,397 patients with clinical suspicion of viral diseases were screened for different viral etiologies during 2010-2017. The laboratory diagnosis was conducted by serology (ELISA) and RT-PCR for 24 different viruses, i.e., dengue, chikungunya, Japanese encephalitis, hepatitis A virus, hepatitis E virus, hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, rotavirus, herpes simplex virus-1 and herpes simplex virus-2, Epstein-Barr virus, cytomegalovirus, and respiratory viruses. Patients were enrolled from sporadic hospital admissions and outbreaks under different categories as per clinical diagnoses like fever with rash, diarrhoea, encephalitis, jaundice, respiratory illness, and fever of unknown etiology. Results: The majority of patients belonged to exanthematous group, i.e., fever with rash (32.24%). The number of males was more in all categories except fever with rash, where females (53.34%) were more. Children <16 years of age were found to be the predominant age group for suspected viral diarrhoea (85.26%), encephalitis (76.96%), fever of unknown origin (40.16%), and respiratory infections (27.23%). Conclusion: Not only vector-borne diseases pose a threat to the Odisha state, but other viral illnesses have also emerged. This detailed report of different viral diseases in the state of Odisha will support public health management.

Epidemiology of viral disease outbreaks in Odisha, India (2010-2019).

Despite consistent public health efforts, the burden of viral disease in India remains high. The present study was undertaken to understand the aetiology, frequency and distribution of viral disease outbreaks in the state of Odisha between 2010 and 2019. This was a prospective study conducted at the Virology Research and Diagnostic Laboratory located at ICMR-Regional Medical Research Centre, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, wherein all the outbreaks of viral aetiologies were investigated and analysed to provide a comprehensive picture of the state of viral disease outbreaks in the region. A total of 191 suspected viral outbreaks were investigated by the team from VRDL during September 2010 and September 2019 reported from all the 30 districts of Odisha. Annual number of suspected cases ranged from 185 to 1002. The most commonly suspected outbreaks were of viral hepatitis (55 outbreaks; 1223 cases) followed by dengue (45 outbreaks; 1185 cases), chickenpox (30 outbreaks; 421 cases), viral encephalitis (27 outbreaks; 930 cases), measles (23 outbreaks; 464 cases), chikungunya (10 outbreaks; 593 cases) and rubella (1 outbreak; 60). The outbreaks peaked in frequency and intensity during the months of July and September. The epidemiology of viral disease outbreaks in the region is presented in the study. Health system preparedness based on evidence is essential for early detection and adequate response to such viral outbreaks.

Molecular and phylogenetic analysis of the dengue strains circulating in Odisha, India.

Dengue has emerged as a major public health challenge in terms of both changing clinical pattern and epidemiological features. The state of Odisha reported first dengue epidemic in the year 2010 and this continued each year in epidemic form during post monsoon period gradually becoming an endemic phenomenon. Present study depicts the changing epidemiological and clinical pattern of dengue with reference to its serotypes and genotypes. The study included 5320 suspected dengue cases from different health facilities of the state during 2010-2017. Dengue NS1 antigen and IgM antibody was done through ELISA. Serotyping was done through RTPCR by amplifying a part of core-pre-membrane gene (CprM) followed by sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. Dengue IgM antibody in 17.7% cases and NS1 antigen in 53.20% cases was detected. Dengue serotype 2 (DEN-2) was the only serotype detected in 2010 and 2011 where as all four serotypes 1, 2, 3, 4 were detected in 2012-2017, DEN-2 being dominant but in 2017 DEN-3 was found to be dominant. Phylogenetic analysis revealed genotype IV of DEN-2 and genotype III of DEN-1 and DEN-3 circulating in this region. In 6 cases involvement of DEN-2 in clinically evident encephalitis cases is an important observation in this region and needs public health attention. High prevalence of dengue was observed without any previous reported outbreaks in the state with increased number of cases from 2010 to 2012 affecting both urban and rural areas. High incidence in 2012 was due to co-circulation of more than one serotype which continued in the following years. Severity in some cases was associated with mixed infection but in most cases it was mild indicating the endemic nature of the virus in most parts of Odisha.

An Investigation on the Coinfection of Measles and HSV-1 in Hospitalized Acute Encephalitis Syndrome Patients in Eastern India.

Acute encephalitis syndrome (AES) is a clinical condition that occurs due to infectious and noninfectious agents- however, viruses are considered to be the dominant pathogen. agents- however, viruses are considered to be the dominant pathogen. In this study, suspected AES cases were enrolled and tested for viral etiology through serology and polymerase chain reaction (PCR)/reverse transcriptase PCR from August 2012-July 2013. During this period, 820 cases were investigated and 96 cases were diagnosed to have a viral etiology whereas 20 patients had IgM antibodies for measles in serum and HSV-1 DNA in cerebrospinal fluid. All 20 of the patients were children below 14 years of age. The median hospital stay was 15 days (IQR: 14.2-17 days) and median GCS score was 7(IQR: 6-8) and were significantly different with patients with co-infections when comapred with patients having HSV-1 infection only. It may be suspected that the measles infection may have a role in the pathogenesis and thus an impact on the prognosis of the AES when present with HSV-1.

Epidemiological and clinical profile of Influenza A(H1N1) pdm09 in Odisha, eastern India.

Epidemic of flu is highly contagious and it spreads through air. In 2009 H1N1 influenza virus emerged after reassortment of North American TRIG and Eurasia Avian like virus of swine and started epidemic in Mexico. The first cases were reported from Hyderabad city on 16th May 2009 in India that spread rapidly within a short span of time. During this period large population of Odisha situated at the eastern side of India was also affected and incidences of H1N1 cases were recorded through state Government surveillance system. In this study real time RT-PCR based diagnosis was conducted for the throat swabs collected from suspected H1N1 cases in Odisha during 2009-2017. A total of 2872 throat swabs were received from 23 different Government and private hospitals and 21.1% positivity was confirmed. The disease affected mostly 46-60 years age group, males (50.6%) being more affected. The clinical features had shown that fever with cough (89.6%) was the most common symptom followed by shortness of breath (72.7%). Post monsoon was the peak season in which most of the cases were reported. Neurological signs, pregnancy, diabetes and hypertension were found to be risk factors for H1N1. The case fatality rate (CFR) was 15%.

Viral aetiology and clinico-epidemiological features of acute encephalitis syndrome in eastern India.

This study reports clinico-epidemiological features and viral agents causing acute encephalitis syndrome (AES) in the eastern Indian region through hospital-based case enrolment during April 2011 to July 2012. Blood and CSF samples of 526 AES cases were investigated by serology and/or PCR. Viral aetiology was identified in 91 (17·2%) cases. Herpes simplex virus (HSV; types I or II) was most common (16·1%), followed by measles (2·6%), Japanese encephalitis virus (1·5%), dengue virus (0·57%), varicella zoster virus (0·38%) and enteroviruses (0·19%). Rash, paresis and cranial nerve palsies were significantly higher (P < 0·05) with viral AES. Case-fatality rates were 10·9% and 6·2% in AES cases with and without viral aetiology, respectively. Simultaneous infection of HSV I and measles was observed in seven cases. This report provides the first evidence on viral aetiology of AES viruses from eastern India showing dominance of HSV that will be useful in informing the public health system.

Rapid spread of chikungunya virus infection in Orissa: India.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: A large number of cases of undiagnosed fever and joint pain were reported from different parts of the State of Orissa since February 2006. Epidemiological and laboratory investigation were carried out to confirm the cause of emerging illness, which was provisionally suspected as Chikungunya (CHIK) fever. METHODS: Upon getting the reports of suspected CHIK like illness in different parts of the State, epidemic investigations were carried out in the outbreak affected villages. Case history was recorded, clinical examination undertaken and blood samples collected for seroconfirmation for CHIK IgM antibody using ELISA based kit. Simultaneously vector survey was also carried out. RESULTS: With no previous record of CHIK infection in the State, the first outbreak was confirmed during February 2006. Subsequently, the infection spread to 13 of 30 districts in different episodes covering 79 villages till November 2007. Attack rate was 9-43 per cent in the different outbreaks with average seropositivity of 24 per cent to CHIK specific IgM. Morbidity was high though no deaths were recorded. Aedes aegypti and Ae. albopictus were identified as the possible vectors for transmission. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSIONS: The report confirmed emergence of CHIK infection in the State of Orissa, India, and its spread to a larger geographic zone in a short period which warrants public health measures to control further spread.

Deconvolving an Estimate of Breath Measured Blood Alcohol Concentration from Biosensor Collected Transdermal Ethanol Data.

Biosensor measurement of transdermal alcohol oncentration in perspiration exhibits significant variance from subject to subject and device to device. Short duration data collected in a controlled clinical setting is used to calibrate a forward model for ethanol transport from the blood to the sensor. The calibrated model is then used to invert transdermal signals collected in the field (short or long duration) to obtain an estimate for breath measured blood alcohol concentration. A distributed parameter model for the forward transport of ethanol from the blood through the skin and its processing by the sensor is developed. Model calibration is formulated as a nonlinear least squares fit to data. The fit model is then used as part of a spline based scheme in the form of a regularized, non-negatively constrained linear deconvolution. Fully discrete, steepest descent based schemes for solving the resulting optimization problems are developed. The adjoint method is used to accurately and efficiently compute requisite gradients. Efficacy is demonstrated on subject field data.