Kolkata Municipal Corp.

We studied the spatio-temporal distribution of dengue at the micro-scale, along with other important factors for disease transmission, like vector prevalence, seasonality, breeding behaviour, entomological indices, and its relation with environmental and climatic factors in Kolkata, one of the most populous metropolitan cities in India, facing dengue upsurge in recent years. We analysed dengue data from 144 wards, city-level meteorological data for 6 years (2017-2022), Land Use Land Cover (LULC) data for 2022, and entomological surveillance data from 7 wards in 2022. Dengue showed high spatial heterogeneity and clustering at the micro-level, with a yearly post-monsoon peak (August-November) accounting for ∼90% of cases and representing a 2-3 month lag between high rainfall, temperature, and relative humidity (RH). Both Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus were prevalent, with distinct spatio-temporal distributions and instances of mixed breeding. Ae. aegypti primarily breeds indoors and peri-domestically, showing a strong correlation with rainfall (R² = 0.78, p-value = 0.0003) in indoor habitats and had a perennial presence. In contrast, Ae. albopictus was the more common outdoor breeder, strongly correlating with rainfall (R² = 0.75, p-value = 0.0003) in outdoor habitats. This is the first study from Kolkata, India, highlighting the spatio-temporal distribution of dengue and its links to vector behaviour, climate, and environmental factors. The findings will help identify recent dengue hotspots in Kolkata, which will help in developing targeted vector control strategies.

Human papilloma virus (HPV) is one of the most common causes of sexually transmitted viral diseases worldwide. High-risk HPV types such as HPV16 and 18 are known to cause cervical dysplasia and carcinoma. In human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive individual, chance of HPV coinfection and risk of cervical dysplasia/carcinoma have been found to be significantly more than in HIV-negative individuals.

In this institution-based, cross-sectional, observational study, we aim to find out the relationship of HPV infection of the uterine cervix with cervical dysplasia and neoplasia in HIV-infected/AIDS patients.

Conventional Pap smears were taken from HIV-infected individuals admitted in the department of gynecology and obstetrics and reported by the Bethesda system. A second sample was sent to the virology unit of ICMR for detection and typing of HPV. Control samples were taken from HIV-negative individuals.

Fifty HIV-positive patients were included in this study. On cervical Pap smear examination, 32 cases were cytologically benign and 18 cases showed atypical cytomorphology. Twenty-four cases were HPV positive, among which 16 were cytologically atypical and 8 were benign. HPV 16 was the most common subtype (50%) followed by HPV 18 (37.5%) and others (12.5%) in HIV-positive patients. Chance of cervical dysplasia increased with age independent of HIV infection and with progressive lower CD4 count. Koilocytosis was a significant predictor of HPV infection. Majority of patients were asymptomatic. Peak incidence of HPV infection occurred in reproductive age group (20–40 years). The association between HIV and HPV coinfection (P = 0.002) and between HPV infection and cytology atypia (P < 0.0001) was statistically significant.

Present study highlights the necessity of routine cervical Pap smear screening in HIV infected reproductive age-group women. Early detection enables dysplasia to revert or be effectively managed.

The ongoing Corona virus (COVID-19) pandemic has witnessed global political responses of unimaginable proportions. Many nations have implemented lockdowns that involve mandating citizens not to leave their residences for non-essential work. The Indian government has taken appropriate and commendable steps to curtail the community spread of COVID-19. While this may be extremely beneficial, this perspective discusses the other reasons why COVID-19 may have a lesser impact on India. We analyze the current pattern of SARS-CoV-2 transmission, testing, and mortality in India with an emphasis on the importance of mortality as a marker of the clinical relevance of COVID-19 disease. We also analyze the environmental and biological factors which may lessen the impact of COVID-19 in India. The importance of cross-immunity, innate immune responses, ACE polymorphism, and viral genetic mutations are discussed.