Patterns of tobacco use amongst school teachers.

Indulgence in tobacco is a known health risk. The example of school teachers in this regard is likely to have far reaching influence on their pupils and the community. A cross sectional study among 257 teachers from 30 schools revealed that as high as 51.0% teachers consumed tobacco in one form or the other. Smoking was the most popular form of tobacco use (72%). Marked gender differences were noted with 73.9%. Male teachers hooked to tobacco habit in comparison to 13.9% of female teachers. Educational qualification had paradoxical effect on tobacco habit as fewer (20.0%) graduate teachers used tobacco in comparison to non graduate teachers (55.7%). However proportion of Post graduate teachers consuming tobacco was still higher (64.2%). Initiation to tobacco habit in majority began at age 21 years and beyond. Common reasons given for tobacco consumption were curiosity (37.9%), to be social (22.0%), enjoyment (21.2%), to relieve stress (8.17%) and improving performance (5.8%). 21.9% smokers consumed more than 20 cigarettes a day. More than four fifth teachers consciously avoided tobacco use in school premises. Nearly half (45.3%) of tobacco users reported reduction in tobacco use in preceding two years. By and large teachers (92.4%) were aware of harmful consequences of tobacco on health. But only in 29.6% it was a cause for concern. 71.2% respondents intended to give up tobacco habit. 33.7% smokers were aware of hazards of passive smoking to others.

Study of the outbreak of Japanese encephalitis in Lakhimpur district of Assam in 1989.

An outbreak of Japanese encephalitis was reported from Lakhimpur district of Assam in July-August, 1989. The outbreak affected 90 villages of the district, covering a population of approximately 36,000. There were 140 cases and 70 deaths due to the epidemic, giving a case fatality rate of 50%. There were no cases from Gogamukh area of the district, where a pilot Japanese encephalitis vaccination project was conducted in the population between July-August 1987, with Kasauli Japanese encephalitis vaccine. Serological examination of acute and convalescent cases showed Japanese encephalitis specific IgM indicating strong evidence of recent Japanese encephalitis infection.

Investigation of an outbreak of Japanese encephalitis in Rourkela City (Orissa) during 1989.

An outbreak of Japanese encephalitis (JE) was reported from Rourkela city for the first time in September-November 1989. 41 cases and 15 deaths occurred with a case fatality rate of 36.6 per cent. Most of the cases (66 per cent) were in the age group of 5-19 years. There was no case under 5 years. Female-male ratio of cases was 1:1.7. Serological examination of convalescent cases showed JE specific IgM indicating strong evidence of recent JE infection. Large number of pigs were seen in the affected areas.