Saeed Khan|A. Mohammad|Adnan Khan|Amber Farooqui|Shahana Urooj Kazmi|Syed Ali
Prevalence of HCV and HIV infections in 2005-Earthquake-affected areas of Pakistan
Aga Khan University Hospital|Aga Khan University Hospital|University of Karachi|University of Karachi|University of Karachi|Aga Khan University Hospital
abstract background october 8 2005 earthquake magnitude 76 hit northern parts pakistan postearthquake scenario overcrowding improper sewage disposal contamination food drinking water hasty surgical procedures unscreened blood transfusions earthquake victims likely promotes spread infections already prevalent area objective objective study reported determine prevalence human immunodeficiency hepatitis c viruses respectively hiv hcv earthquakeaffected communities pakistan samples analyzed 2 months 11 months earthquake estimate burden hiv hcv areas determine rise prevalence viral infections result earthquake methods blood samples initially collected december 2005 march 2006 245 inhabitants earthquakeaffected areas samples screened hcv hiv using immunochromatography enzymelinked immunosorbent assay elisa results 245 samples tested 8 326 found positive hcv 0 00 hiv indicating existence hcv infection earthquakestricken areas methods used analyze samples collected second round screening area september 2006 11 months earthquake time 290 blood samples collected 16 551 samples positive hcv 0 hiv conclusion slightly higher prevalence hcv recorded 11 months earthquake increase however statistically significant none study participants found hivinfected