Epidemiological Investigation of Acute Gastroenteritis in a Residential Campus Area of Delhi, India

1Lecturer, Department of Community, Medicine, Government Medical College, Banda, U.P. 2Assistant Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Government Medical College and ESI Hospital, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. 3Assistant Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Government Medical College, ABVIMS and Dr. RML Hospital, New Delhi. 4Assistant Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Murshidabad Medical College and Hospital, West Bengal. 5Demonstrator, Department of Community Medicine, College of Medicine and Sagure, Kamarhati, Kolkata. 6Assistant Professor (Statistics & Demography), Department of Community Medicine, MGM Medical College, Indore. DOI: https://doi.org/10.24321/2455.7048.201910 Background: This report is about the investigation of an outbreak of acute gastroenteritis that claimed two human lives and left 180 people affected within one week of its outbreak in a residential campus area in Delhi, India in the month of June 2013. The study was conducted to find out the causes of acute gastroenteritis outbreak and to suggest preventive and control measures. Methods: A cross sectional study was designed and a pre-tested predesigned epidemiological case sheet was used and a total of 180 cases of acute gastroenteritis were interviewed. Contribution by ecological factors was also assessed. Stool and water samples were also collected. Results: Out of 14000 inhabitants, 180 people suffered from similar complaints of acute gastroenteritis. Males and females were almost equally affected although people in the age group 15 44 completed years, 88 (48.8%) and those living in type I quarters, 108 (60%) were affected most. Epidemic curve with single peak was obtained. Environmental surveillance revealed breakage of drinking water pipelines and mixing of drinking water with sewage water near type I quarters. Out of 14 stool samples collected, one was positive for Vibrio cholerae (ogawa serotype). Conclusion: The present study reflected the possible contamination drinking water with sewage water in outbreak of gastroenteritis. By employing simple epidemiological field investigation, the outbreak was brought under control.