EPIDEMIOLOGICAL INVESTIGATION OF HEPATITIS IN A VILLAGE OF NORTHERN DISTRICT OF BIHAR IN INDIA

Amarendra Kumar*, Bindu Kumari, Anand Gautam, Lalita Sinha, Binod Kumar and Dewesh Kumar

ABSTRACT

An epidemiological investigation was carried out in village Jhigiyahi, block Motipur to understand the cause and risk factor of the hepatitis outbreak. Based on the initial investigation, consumption of contaminated water was suspected as primary source of infection. The outbreak investigation was carried out in the affected village following basic shoe leather epidemiology. A total of 41 cases fulfilling the case definition were identified in the village. Blood samples were collected from 12 individuals for testing HEP-A (IgM-ELISA) and HEP-E (IgM-ELISA) in the Department of Microbiology of Sri Krishna Medical College Muzaffarpur, Bihar. Out of the total 12 samples tested, 11(91%) cases were found to be positive for Hepatitis-E. The patients were followed in the field till their recovery and further surveys were done to note any subsequent cases in future. Domiciliary treatment was provided to all patients and health education was given to all villagers to avoid any such future outbreaks.

Keywords: Outbreak, Hepatitis, Epidemiological investigation.