Citation

Panda M, Hutin YJ, Ramachandran V, Murhekar M. J. Toxicol. 2009; 2009: 692496.

Affiliation

Field Epidemiology Training Programme, National Institute of Epidemiology (NIE), Indian Council of Medical Research, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600077, India.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2009, Hindawi Publishing)

DOI

10.1155/2009/692496

PMID

20130775

PMCID

PMC2809339

Abstract

Introduction. We investigated a cluster of pesticide poisoning in Orissa. Methods. We searched the village for cases of vomiting and sweating on 2 February 2008. We described the outbreak by time, place, and person. We compared cases with controls. Results. We identified 65 cases (two deaths; attack rate: 12 per 1000; case fatality: 3%). The epidemic curve suggested a point source outbreak, and cases clustered close to a roadside eatery. Consumption of water from a specific source (odds ratio OR.: 35, confidence interval CI.: 13-93) and eating in the eatery (OR: 2.3, CI: 1.1-4.7) was associated with illness. On 31 January 2008, villagers had used pesticides to kill street dogs and had discarded leftovers in the drains. Damaged pipelines located beneath and supplying water may have aspirated the pesticide during the nocturnal negative pressure phase and rinsed it off the next morning in the water supply. Conclusions. Inappropriate use of pesticides contaminated the water supply and caused this outbreak. Education programs and regulations need to be combined to ensure a safer use of pesticides in India.

Language: en