An epidemiological investigation of mumps outbreak in a slum of Kolkata.
An unexpected clustering of mumps cases were reported in a slum of Kolkata during early part of 2009. An epidemiological investigation was initiated with a view to assess the characteristics and determinants of the disease, and implications of such clustering of cases in a slum of Kolkata. Data were collected through house to house visit using predesigned schedule and epidemiological case sheet. The propagated outbreak existed for fifteen weeks yielding 104 clinical cases. On the whole, attack rate was 4.7%, the highest and lowest being in 6-10 years (11.68%) and above 15 years (0.94%), respectively. The parotid swelling was bilateral in 92.3% of cases; fever was the most common general symptom, reportedly present in 92.3% of study subjects. The overall mean duration of parotid swelling was 6.85 +/- 1.89 days. Morbidity from mumps far exceeds the mortality rate. Improved ventilation of living rooms, personal & oral hygiene; isolation of cases, upgradation of routine immunization, better nutrition etc. were recommended at family & community level and introduction of MMR vaccine in National Immunization Schedule was suggested.
Deptt of Community Medicine, Burdwan Medical College & Hospital, Burdwan, West Bengal. drsahaindranil@gmail.com
Indranil
I
Saha
Deptt of Community Medicine, R.G. Kar Medical College & Hospital, Kolkata, West Bengal.
Dibakar
D
Haldar
Deptt of Community Medicine, Institute of PGME&R, Kolkata, West Bengal.
Bobby
B
Paul
Deptt of Community Medicine, R.G. Kar Medical College & Hospital, Kolkata, West Bengal.
Prabha
P
Shrivastava
Deptt of Community Medicine, North Bengal Medical College & Hospital, Siliguri, West Bengal.
Dilip Kumar
DK
Das
Basanti Colony, Society for Peoples Awareness.
Mousumi
M
Pal
Deptt of Community Medicine, R.G. Kar Medical College & Hospital, Kolkata, West Bengal.
Saswati
S
Nandy
Deptt of Community Medicine, R.G. Kar Medical College & Hospital, Kolkata, West Bengal.
Abhijit
A
Mukherjee
D000293:Adolescent; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000191:economics*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009107:Mumps / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011204:Poverty Areas