Outbreak of cholera in & around Chandigarh during two successive years (2002, 2003).

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE Outbreaks of cholera caused by Vibrio cholerae O1 Ogawa occurred in and around Chandigarh during two successive year 2002 and 2003. This study highlights the antibiotic sensitivity and phage typing pattern of V. cholerae isolates during 2002 and 2003. METHODS Faecal specimens from acute gastroenteritis cases from July to September, 2002 and in the same month in 2003 were collected. Isolation and identification of pathogen was done according to standard methodology. Simultaneously water samples from the areas reporting the maximum number of cholera cases were also processed. Antibiotic susceptibility pattern of the isolates was studied and isolates were sent to National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases (NICED), Kolkata for confirmation and phage typing. RESULTS Of the 156 patients in 2002 and 125 in 2003, 59 and 40 isolates respectively were found to be positive for V. cholerae O1 serotype Ogawa biotype El tor. Of the 45 water samples tested in 2002, eight were found to be positive for V. cholerae O1 serotype Ogawa biotype El tor. None of the 52 water samples tested in 2003 was found to be positive for V. cholerae. Phage type 27 was found to be the predominant type for both the years. Majority of the clinical isolates were found to be resistant to more than two drugs. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION The drug resistance in V. cholerae was on the rise during the subsequent outbreak. Phage 27 remained the predominant type in both the years. The major reason for the outbreak was traced to be contaminated water of the hand pumps in the affected area. Continuous surveillance of the outbreak is necessary to contain the spread of transmission.