title: Health & Demographic Surveillance System profile: the Muzaffarpur-TMRC Health and Demographic Surveillance System.
abstract: The Muzaffarpur-TMRC Health and Demographic Surveillance System (HDSS), established in 2007, was developed as an enlargement of the scope of a research collaboration on the project Visceral Leishmaniasis in Bihar, which had been ongoing since 2005. The HDSS is located in a visceral leishmaniasis (VL)-endemic area in the Muzaffarpur district of Bihar state in India. It is the only HDSS conducting research on VL, which is a vector-borne infectious disease transmitted by female phlebotomine sandflies and is fatal if left untreated. Currently the HDSS serves a population of over 105,000 in 66 villages. The HDSS collects data on vital events including pregnancies, births, deaths, migration and marriages, as well as other socio-economic indicators, at regular intervals. Incident VL cases are identified. The HDSS team is experienced in conducting both qualitative and quantitative studies, sample collection and rapid diagnostic tests in the field. In each village, volunteers connect the HDSS team with the community members. The Muzaffarpur-TMRC HDSS provides opportunities for studies on VL and other neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) and their interaction with demographic events such as migration. Queries related to research collaborations and data sharing can be sent to Dr Shyam Sundar at [drshyamsundar@hotmail.com].
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium and Barcelona Centre for International Health Research, Hospital Clinic-Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium and Barcelona Centre for International Health Research, Hospital Clinic-Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Paritosh
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Malaviya
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium and Barcelona Centre for International Health Research, Hospital Clinic-Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Picado
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium and Barcelona Centre for International Health Research, Hospital Clinic-Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Epco
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hasker
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium and Barcelona Centre for International Health Research, Hospital Clinic-Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Bart
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ostyn
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium and Barcelona Centre for International Health Research, Hospital Clinic-Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Sangeeta
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kansal
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium and Barcelona Centre for International Health Research, Hospital Clinic-Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Rudra Pratap
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium and Barcelona Centre for International Health Research, Hospital Clinic-Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Ravi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Shankar
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium and Barcelona Centre for International Health Research, Hospital Clinic-Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Marleen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boelaert
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium and Barcelona Centre for International Health Research, Hospital Clinic-Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain drshyamsundar@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Shyam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sundar
mesh_terms: D055812:Community-Based Participatory Research; D016208:Databases, Factual / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003710:Demography / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors