A preliminary report on the assessment of control and surveillance of haemorrhagic fever in Rangoon

A serological survey was carried out in July and August 1974 in Rangoon with a view to assess the effectiveness of insecticide spraying in the control of the current outbreak of haemorrhagic fever surveillance programme. Altogether 914 children were bled from 3 test areas and 3 control areas. 597 or 65.3

of the children gave history of recent past febrile illness. Frequencies of antibody to dengue and chikungunya were uniformly and highly distributed in all townships regardless of the socio-economic status. The over allpercent antibody prevalent to dengue 3 in the sprayed areas was: 98.2 in Dagon (Nawarat Yeiktha and Minmanaing Quarter), 98.9 in Pabedan and 97.0 in Thaketa Township while in the control areas it was: 100.0 in Latha and 94.5 in and N. Okkalapa Townships. Similary, the over all percent HI antibody to chikungunya in sprayed areas was: 98.2 in Dangon (Nawarat Yeiktha and Minmanaing Quarter).98.9 Pabedan and 96.0 in Thaketa Township while in the control areas it was: 100.0 in Latha and 94.0 in N. Okkalapa Township. All ages and both sexes were qually affected. The findings were discussed and recommendations made.

Some epidemiological features of human rabies and animal-bites in Rangoon

Incidence rates of animal bites and human rabies in the Greater Rangoon area during the period 1915-1969 showed a trend of increase. Human rabies showed a tendency for a 5-year periodicity during the period 1920-40. The monthly distribution of cases of animal-bites and human rabies for the period 1964-1969 showed that the early monsoon months had the lowest incidence, and, that the highest peak for animal-bites occurred during March and April while that for rabies occurred during October and December. The incidence rates for animal-bites correlated directly with those of human rabies by locality in Greater Rangoon. Males had markedly higher rates than females. School age children had the highest incidence rates. The sex differences were minimal for infants and pre-school children and were markedly higher for older ages. Mild bites did not vary by age and sex while moderate and severe bites varied. The lower limb is the commonest part bitten and about 95 per cent of all bites are dog-bites. About 50 per cent of human rabies cases did not receive post-exposure vaccination and 35 per cent received a full course. The average period from exposure to initiation of post-exposure treatment was 1.8 days. The average incubation period for 96 human rabies cases was more than 100 days. 1969 was a high year for rabies when compared to the 5-year expectancy by month, locality, all ages, both sexes and dogs as biting animals.

The effects of climatic and environmental factors on the incidence of diarrhoeic disorders in Burma.III. Data from Rangoon dispensaries 1964-1967

The attendance rate at Rangoon dispensaries per 1,000 population in the city, for diarrhoea and for dysentery has been calculated for each month over the period 1964-67 and the effects of climatic factors, mango supply and total attendances for all illnesses examined. No effect for the 5 climatic factors could be demonstrated nor for the total attendances for all ailments. Mangoes exerted a marked effect on the incidence of diarrhea and a smaller effect on the incidence of dysentery. All variation in the incidence of diarrhea between the 12 months of the year was accounted for but there remained some variation in the incidence of dysentery between the months after the effects of all other factors had been removed. Between the 4 years of the study there remained variation in the incidence of both disorders due to some factor (s) not considered in this investigation.

The effects of climatic and environmental factors on the incidence of diarrhoeic disorders in Burma

The incidence of diarrhoea and of dysentery was calculated for the populations attending 25 Rangoon dispensaries for each of the 12 months in 1967. The effect of 14 climatic and environmental factors was investigated by means of multiple regression analysis. It was found that climatic factors had no effect but that the prevalence of mangoes was an important cause of variation in diarrhea incidence between months. Water supply had a profound effect on the incidence of both diarrhea and dysentery and population per medical officer and the attendance of patients suffering from non-diarrhoeic illness greatly influenced the recorded attendance of those with diarrhoeic disorders. The floor space per person in their home was thought to exert its effect through its relationship with some other unidentified factor and was perhaps related to the attending habits of the dispensary populations which were themselves thought to influence the incidence of both diarrhoea and dysentery attendances. Other measures of congestion, sewage disposal and income had no effect on the incidence of either diarrhea or dysentery.