Here we report a retrospective study, analyzing the JE (Japanese encephalitis) positivity among the acute encephalitis syndrome (AES) cases referred from tertiary care centers in Chennai - Government General Hospitals, Institute of Child Health, Stanley
Medical College & Hospital, other Government Hospitals and private institutions during a period of three years (2007-2009). Most of the cases were referred from various districts in Tamil Nadu. (Correspondence)

Cholera, the most dreadful of all diarrhoeal diseases, is an acute intestinal infection, caused by Vibrio cholerae, which afflicts 3 to 5 million of people and causes 0.1 million deaths every year . Cholera outbreaks have been infrequently reported from
developed countries and often reported from various parts of developing, and underdeveloped countries mainly owing to poor sanitation of potable water. In India sporadic cases of acute watery diarrhoea occur throughout the year, especially in rural areas.

The Delhi Drug Policy for National Capital Territory (NCT) was constituted in 1994. For its effective implementation a step by step approach was adopted. To start with an essential drug list (EDL) was formulated which has since been revised every two years. As part of the implementation of the Delhi Drug Policy, training programmes are being conducted at regular intervals, to increase the awareness about the components of Rational Use of Drug amongst prescribers working in the health facilities of Delhi. (Correspondence)

Mosquitoes act as a vector for most of the life threatening diseases like malaria, yellow fever, dengue fever, chikungunya ferver, filariasis, encephalitis, West Nile Virus infection, etc. Under the Integrated Mosquito Management (IMM), emphasis was given on the application of alternative strategies in mosquito control. The continuous application of synthetic insecticides causes development of resistance in vector species, biological magnification of toxic substances through the food chain and adverse effects on environmental quality and non target organisms including human health.

High prevalence and poor control of asthma make its management a major public health issue worldwide, especially in developing countries. Optimum review of asthma management in the community is essential to improve asthma control. This study was conducted to investigate the quality of asthma management, knowledge about asthma and quality of life of asthma patients referred to a public tertiary care chest hospital in Delhi.

A large numbers of subjects were exposed to the aerosol of methyl isocyanate (MIC) during Bhopal gas disaster and lung was one of the most commonly affected organs. The aim of the present study was to analyze retrospectively the lung function abnormalities among the surviving MIC exposed population (gas victims) and to compare it with the non-MIC exposed (non gas exposed) population.

Knowledge of the bionomics of mosquitoes, especially of disease vectors, is essential to plan appropriate vector avoidance and control strategies. Information on biting activity of vectors during the night hours in different seasons is important for choosing personal protection measures. This study was carried out to find out the composition of mosquito fauna biting on humans and seasonal biting trends in Goa, India.

Several studies have raised the suspicion that the body mass index (BMI) cut-off for overweight as defined by the WHO may not adequately reflect the actual overweight status. The present study looked at the relationship between BMI and body fat per cent (BF %) / health risks (hypertension and type 2 diabetes) in male residents of Lucknow city, north India to evaluate the validity of BMI cut-off points for overweight.

In 2008, India’s Labour Ministry launched a hospital insurance scheme called Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY) covering ‘Below Poverty Line’ (BPL) households. RSBY is implemented through insurance companies; premiums are subsidized by Union and States governments (75 : 25%). We examined RSBY’s enrolment of BPL, costs vs. budgets and policy ramifications.

Over several centuries, leprosy had remained a dreaded, incurable disease. Patients were viewed with abhorrence, ostracized and subjected to inhuman treatment. Today, the stigma and prejudice against leprosy have reduced considerably, and the ravages of the disease are rarely seen in the community. This has been possible due the availability of effective drugs to cure the disease, access to technology for early diagnosis, prevention and repair of deformities, as well as increased awareness in society about leprosy. (Editorial)