The Shimla jaundice outbreak is an outbreak of jaundice in the North Indian town of Shimla.[1] The first reported cases of jaundice in Shimla began in December 2015.[2] As of March 2016 the outbreak is still ongoing, and should continue without changes to Shimla's water system.[3] According to official estimates 10 people have died and 1600 have developed the disease.[1] Unofficial estimates put the number of infected at over 10,000, with half of the total families in Shimla having experienced infection.[1][2]
The cause of the outbreak is Hepatitis E contamination in Shimla's water supply, stemming from improperly filtered sewage released into the Ashwani Khud river system.[3] The Hepatitis E virus, commonly contracted from faecal matter, attacks the liver of infected individuals thereby causing jaundice.[4] Contaminated water finds its way into the city's water supply schemes, located downstream from the sewage treatment plants.[3] The problem is exasperated in winter months, when less rainfall leads to less water volume, and therefore higher concentration of the virus.[4]
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