Transmission of B.1.617.2 Delta variant between vaccinated healthcare workers.

Breakthrough infections with SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant have been reported in doubly-vaccinated recipients and as re-infections. Studies of viral spread within hospital settings have highlighted the potential for transmission between doubly-vaccinated patients and health care workers and have highlighted the benefits of high-grade respiratory protection for health care workers. However the extent to which vaccination is preventative of viral spread in health care settings is less well studied. Here, we analysed data from 118 vaccinated health care workers (HCW) across two hospitals in India, constructing two probable transmission networks involving six HCWs in Hospital A and eight HCWs in Hospital B from epidemiological and virus genome sequence data, using a suite of computational approaches. A maximum likelihood reconstruction of transmission involving known cases of infection suggests a high probability that doubly vaccinated HCWs transmitted SARS-CoV-2 between each other and highlights potential cases of virus transmission between individuals who had received two doses of vaccine. Our findings show firstly that vaccination may reduce rates of transmission, supporting the need for ongoing infection control measures even in highly vaccinated populations, and secondly we have described a novel approach to identifying transmissions that is scalable and rapid, without the need for an infection control infrastructure.

Clinico-epidemiological and genomic profile of first Zika Virus outbreak in India at Jaipur city of Rajasthan state.

BACKGROUND: First Zika virus (ZIKV) positive case from North India was detected on routine surveillance of Dengue-Like Illness in an 85-year old female. Objective of the study was to conduct an investigation for epidemiological, clinical and genomic analysis of first ZIKV outbreak in Rajasthan, North India and enhance routine ZIKV surveillance. METHOD: Outbreak investigation was performed in 3 Km radius of the index case among patient contacts, febrile cases, and pregnant women. Routine surveillance was enhanced to include samples from various districts of Rajasthan. Presence of ZIKV in serum and urine samples was detected by real time PCR test and CDC trioplex kit. Few ZIKV positive samples were sequenced using the next-generation sequencing method for genomic analysis. RESULT: On outbreak investigation 153/2043 (7.48%) cases were found positive: 1/153 (0.65%) among contacts, 90/153 (58.8%) in fever cases, 62/153(40.5%) in pregnant females. In routine surveillance, 6/4722 (0.12%) serum samples were ZIKV positive.Majority of patients had mild signs and symptoms, no case of microcephaly and Guillain- Barre Syndrome was seen, 25 (40.3%) pregnant females delivered healthy babies, four (6.4%) reported abortion and three (4.8%) had intrauterine death, one (1.6%) child had colorectal malformation and died after few days of birth. ZIKV was found to belong to Asian lineage, mutation related to enhanced neuro-virulence and transmission in animal models was not found. CONCLUSION: ZIKV was endogenous to India belonging to Asian Lineage. Disease profile of the ZIKV was asymptomatic to mild. No major anomaly was observed in infants born to ZIKV positive mothers; however, long term follow up of these children is required. There is need to scale up surveillance in the virology lab network of India for early detection and control. SUMMARY LINE: Zika virus infection was endogenous due to Asian Lineage with mild disease, no case of microcephaly or Guillain- Barre Syndrome was seen but children need to be followed for anomalies and surveillance of ZIKV needs to be enhanced in the country.

Three-dimensional batch electrochemical coagulation (ECC) of health care facility wastewater-clean water reclamation.

Three-dimensional (3D) batch ECC of raw health care facility wastewater (HCFWW) was adopted using stainless steel (SS) and aluminum (Al) scrap metal particle electrodes. ECC treatment was focused on priority quality parameters viz., chemical oxygen demand (COD), color, and other important water quality parameters. Sludge settling and filterability for post-ECC slurry were investigated after ECC. COD removals of 87.56 and 87.2% were achieved for current densities (CD) 83.33 and 125 A/m2 using SS-3D electrodes, and similarly, 86.99 and 86.23% COD removal for Al-3D electrodes. Simultaneously, color removals were 88.50 and 87.60% for CD 166.66 A/m2 (4A) using SS and Al-3D electrodes. Water quality parameters viz., nitrate, phosphates, and sulfate were also removed by 93.18%, 96.83%, and 41.07% for SS-3D electrodes, while Al-3D electrodes showed 93.15%, 96.72%, and 25.94% removal. Post-ECC slurry settling was good for all the applied CD using SS-3D electrodes generating dense and sturdy flocs. Al-3D electrodes showed excellent floc settling properties. SS-3D electrode flocs displayed good filterability at 1A with α: 2.497 × 1011 m kg-1 and Rm 1.946 × 1010 m-1. Post-ECC slurry using Al-3D electrodes were viscous causing delayed filterability giving α: 1.1760 × 1011 m kg-1 and Rm 1.504 × 109 m-1 for 3A. E. coli was destroyed by 97 and 98% for 2A and 3A respectively. Clear water reclamation of 85-90% and pollutants/contaminants removed within a short HRT of 75 min proved the effectiveness of adopting 3D-ECC for treating raw HCFWW.