Post-earthquake outbreak of rotavirus gastroenteritis in Kashmir (India): An epidemiological analysis

Summary 

Objective

An earthquake struck Kashmir on 8 October 2005. A central team of public health specialists was sent to Kashmir to assess the public health measures required following the earthquake, and to assist in institution of public health measures.

Study design

Epidemiological and environmental investigation in Tangdar block (Kupwara district) and Uri Tehsil (Baramula district).

Methodology

Visits to villages affected by the earthquake, rehabilitation camps and health care, examination of cases with acute diarrhoeal disease (ADD), environmental observations, collection of clinical samples from ADD cases and environmental samples from drinking water sources, and laboratory methods.

Results

In total, 1783 cases of ADD were reported between 14 October and 17 December 2005 in Tangdar (population 65000). The overall attack rate was 20% in children under 4 years of age. Twelve cases of ADD with loose motions without blood were studied, and 11 rectal swabs and one stool sample were processed. No bacterial enteropathogens could be isolated, but three of the 12 samples yielded rotavirus antigen on enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Twelve of 13 (92.3%) water samples, collected from various stream or tap water (source: spring/stream) sources, were unsatisfactory (P=0.001) using the H₂S strip method compared with other sources (well/mineral water). All eight water sources in Tangdar block were unsatisfactory, indicated by blackening of H₂S filter paper strips. Following the earthquake, drinking stream water or tap water without boiling or chlorination may have led to a common source water-borne outbreak of rotavirus gastroenteritis. Other contributing factors were: overcrowding; poor sanitation; open-air defaecation; poor hygiene; and living in makeshift camps near streams. Person-to-person transmission may also have contributed to perpetuation of the outbreak. Following the establishment of medical camps and information, education and communication regarding the need to drink boiled water and follow safer hygienic practices, the outbreak was brought under control.

Conclusions

The earthquake in Kashmir in 2005 led to widespread contamination of drinking water sources such as stream and tap water (source: stream or spring). This appears to have led to a common source outbreak of rotavirus between October and December 2005, leading to ADD, amongst infants and small children, transmitted by the faecal-oral route and perpetuated by person-to-person transmission.

Keywords: Rotavirus, Gastroenteritis, Earthquake, Diarrhoea, Stream, Outbreaks, Disease outbreak, Water