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Investigation of Hepatitis A virus outbreak in Aligarh and its peripheral areas, Uttar Pradesh, India


Journal of Microbiology & Experimentation
Islam Ahmad, Hiba Sami, Zeeshan Mustafa, Ghazanfar Ali, Indu Shukla, Adil Raza, Haris M Khan

Abstract

Background: Hepatitis A is an enterically transmitted viral disease that can lead to serious morbidity and occasional mortality. This study investigated an outbreak of viral hepatitis and its epidemiological features in Aligarh region of Uttar Pradesh, India, during June-Aug 2019.
Materials and methods: One hundred and eighty three (Male: Female-110:73) blood samples were collected from the various OPDs and Wards like Pediatrics, Medicine, PICU, etc. from patients from Aligarh and adjoining areas presenting with signs and symptoms of hepatitis in JNMCH, AMU, Aligarh, The cases included covered area of about 30 km including city and villages that have deranged LFT reports and jaundice with some cases of raised PT-INR. Serum samples were tested for IgM anti HAV, HBsAg, IgM anti HCV and IgM anti HEV antibodies by ELISA test.
Results: A total of 183 cases of suspected hepatitis were observed during the outbreak. Anti HAV IgM positivity was 56.8% (104/183) in tested samples. The hepatitis cases were mainly seen among children and young adolescent. Apart from HAV, 8.2% (15/183) were positive for HBsAg , 2.2 % (04/183) were positive for anti-HCV, 8.7% (16/183) were positive for anti-HEV, 1.1% (02/183) were positive for both anti-HAV IgM and anti-HEV IgM and 0.5% (01/183) were positive for both anti-HCV IgM and HBsAg antigen.
Conclusion: The aetiological agent of the present investigation was hepatitis A virus which is emerging in an outbreak form in India. The best way to prevent hepatitis A is through vaccination and washing hands with sops and sanitizers. Considering increasing HAV naive population in UP, there is a need to introduce HAV vaccination in High risk group

Keywords

Hepatitis A, Coliform, drinking water, vaccination, Etiology

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