Outbreak of waterborne acute diarrheal disease in a South District village of Tripura: A public health emergency in the Northeast region of India

Abstract

Food and waterborne outbreaks are a neglected public health problem in India. However, it is important to identify the source of infection and the causative pathogen to curb the outbreak quickly and minimize mortality and morbidity. A retrospective descriptive study was conducted with a line list of 130 diarrheal cases. Epidemiological investigation and laboratory investigation were done. Data were collected from hospital case report forms as well as interviewed affected cases. A case of acute diarrheal disease was reported among the people in the village with abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea from December 31, 2022 to January 3, 2023. Out of a total of 130 recorded cases, 33 stool samples were collected and were positive for Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli, Shigella flexneri 3a, and Shigella sonnei by cultural and molecular tests. The presumptive fecal pollution indicator assay indicated high coliform counts in the water samples (most probable number [MPN]-05) and the presence of Escherichia coli. The identified pathogens showed susceptibility to gentamicin and meropenem. People who used public drinking water were found to be infected with acute diarrheal disease (ADD). Quick identification of the causative pathogens and their antimicrobial resistance pattern helped correct antibiotic prescriptions and quick recovery of the patients without any deaths. Thus, a timely implementation of food and waterborne outbreak investigation is crucial to saving lives and preventing the spread of infection.