A steady decrease in occurrence of Salmonella typhi infection in Rourkela, Orissa

Between January 1999 and December 2001, the isolation rate of Salmonella typhi in Rourkela was found to be under steady fall as compared to the isolation rate encountered between 1996 and 1998. Of 4378 blood samples tested, 254 were found positive for S. typhi giving an over all per cent positivity of 5.8. Enteric fever was found to occur almost through out the year. An over all 30.7 per cent of multi drug resistant (MDR) strains of S. typhi have appeared during this period. Proper and timely health education besides undertaking corrective measures in sanitary system and water supply management, appeared to have a cumulative effect in the steady reduction of enteric fever morbidity in this region.