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From November 1993 to December 1994, the seroprevalence of anti-HCV, HBsAg was studied among 346 HIV-infected persons (asymptomatic HIV-infected persons and AIDS patients) and 1,023 subjects from the general population (including 119 cord blood samples). The prevalence of anti-HCV, HBsAg among HIV-infected patients aged 15-45+ years was 11.0 and 11.6 per cent respectively which is significantly higher than the comparable levels for the general population (1.9% and 4.7%) in the age group 15-44 years. There was no statistically significant association of anti-HCV and HBsAg prevalence among 200 asymptomatic HIV-infected carriers and 146 AIDS patients. Assays for anti-HCV among blood donors are highly recommended to reduce the development of liver disease or cirrhosis in the immediate future.

From September through October 1987, a cholera outbreak involving 59 cases of biotype El Tor, serotype Inaba occurred in Sunpathong district, Chiang Mai. No cases died. Twenty-seven cases were males and 32 were females. The age ranged between 4 months and 85 years, with a median of 36 years. The outbreak affected 7 small communities, and showed different vehicles of infection. Six housewives and one girl were infected with cholera in the first localized outbreak. The transmission of infection appeared due to the consumption of packed food contaminated by an infected food handler. In the second localized outbreak, 6 young males acquired cholera after eating uncooked fish harvested from a canal contaminated with cholera organisms. Another outbreak of cholera with 24 culture-confirmed cases occurred among guests at a funeral held in one rural village. The source of infection was traced to uncooked pork contaminated from an infected butcher: Early detection of infected persons, rapid identification of possible vehicles of transmission, and prompt implementation of control measures effectively curtailed the extension of these outbreaks.

Information on the morbidity and mortality of neonatal tetanus was reviewed to evaluate the impact of the immunization programme among pregnant women in Thailand from 1977. We also analysed the epidemiological characteristics of investigated neonatal tetanus cases during the period 1984-1986. The neonatal tetanus case rate declined from 72.1 per 100,000 livebirths in 1977 to 53.7 per 100,000 livebirths in 1986. Reduction in the incidence rate was inversely associated with increasing vaccination coverage of pregnant women with tetanus toxoid. The ratio of male to female neonatal tetanus was 1.5 to 1. Approximately 95 per cent of the cases occurred within the first 14 days of life, with the highest number recorded at 6-8 days of life. The majority of investigated cases were infants who became ill following delivery assisted by traditional birth attendants or relatives of mothers. About 88 per cent of these cases were infants whose mothers had no tetanus immunization. Razor blades and bamboo splits were the most frequently used instruments for cutting the umbilical cord. Strategies to control neonatal tetanus in Thailand should include immunization of pregnant women with tetanus toxoid, and more comprehensive training and supervision of untrained birth attendants.