Litchis behind mysterious deaths of kids in Bihar : Lancet study

The findings of that investigation, published on January 31 in the leading medical journal The Lancet Global Health, have, for the first time, comprehensively confirmed that this illness is associated with litchi fruit consumption and the effects of naturally occurring (litchi) toxins.

Based on the results of this collaborative investigation, public health recommendations targeted at preventing illness and reducing mortality were provided to state and national health authorities.

This included recommendations to minimize litchi fruit consumption among young children in the affected area, to ensure that children receive an evening meal throughout the outbreak period, and to rapidly assess and correct blood glucose levels in any child suspected of having the outbreak illness. These recommendations should be broadly adopted and implemented.

The application of a comprehensive and systematic approach to investigating illness, including the key role of the CDC/NCDC-led India Epidemic Intelligence Service officers in the field, was critical to successfully identifying the etiology and risk factors for this illness, and led directly to recommendations to prevent illness and deaths from this outbreak.

This collaborative investigation exemplifies the benefits of Indo-U.S. public health collaborations, such as Global Health Security, and highlights the potential of these partnerships to contribute toward identifying interventions that can reduce morbidity and mortality in India.