outcome of patients with crimean-congo hemorrhagic fever in Zahedan, southeast of Iran: a comparative study

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever was rarely reported from Iran before 1999. In a recent outbreak, the disease has been reported from different provinces of Iran, especially from Sistan and Baluchestan. Ribavirin has been recommended by World Health Organization as a potential therapeutic modality for Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever. This study was conducted to determine the clinical outcome and the effect of ribavirin in two groups of patients with Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever who were treated at different times. In this cross-sectional study, we evaluated patients with Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever who were admitted to Boo-Ali Hospital in Zahedan, a subtropical area in southeastern Iran, at the first three years after beginning of the last outbreak [1999 - 2003] and those who were admitted during 2005 - 2007. First, we found all patients with confirmed Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever infection who were treated with oral ribavirin. Then, they were evaluated for recovery and mortality rate. We evaluated 123 patients with confirmed Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever infection [91 patients treated between 1999 and 2003, and 32 patients between 2005 and 2007]. Among the 91 patients, 73 [80%] survived, and 18 [20%] died of the disease. During 2005 - 2007, among the 32 patients who were treated within three days of onset of the disease, only one [3%] died of the disease. The recovery rate was higher among patients who were admitted during 2005 - 2007 than those hospitalized between 1999 and 2003 [97% vs. 80%]. There was a significant [P=0.001] difference in the mortality rate between the two groups. Prompt treatment with oral ribavirin can increase the recovery rate in patients with Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever

Physicochemical quality of municipal borehole water in Imo State, Nigeria

To determine the physicochemical quality of borehole water which is directly bottled and packed for human consumption in Nigeria. Samples of water were collected from boreholes in Owerri municipal Council of Imo State of Nigeria between October 2001 and January 2002. The samples were analyzed for physicochemical quality using standard physicochemical methods. Of 320 samples collected from 10 different sites, the pH ranged from 4.05-6.94, copper from 0.48-0.59mg/l and iron from 0.02-0.58mg/l indicates that copper and iron level is within acceptable Word Health Organization [WHO] standards, while pH is higher. The concentration of manganese ranged from 0.3-9.8mg/l, phosphate from, 0.97-2.69mg/l, sulphate from 0.0-2.0 mg/l, nitrate from 0.5-2.25mg/l and nitrite from 0.15-0.36mg/l showing that the concentrations of manganese and phosphate were higher than the WHO standards while sulphate was within range. The concentration of total solids, hardness, alkalinity, total suspended and dissolved solids was 7.4-97.8mg/l, 10-120mg/l, 3.02-120mg/l, 0-23mg/l and 4.4-83.2mg/l, respectively while the conductivity, temperature and turbidity values ranged from 8.7-165.9 ohms, 27-33.50C and 0-3.9 NTU, respectively. The hardness, total dissolved solids and other parameters are not of concern and no free and total chlorine was detected in all the samples. Most physiochemical parameters are within the WHO standards while those of magnesium and phosphate were above the limits recommended for human and animal consumption and might have deleterious effects on health