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Bandara S, Dapat C, Oishi W, Tsinda EK, Apostol LNG, Hirayama N, Saito M, Sano D. Identification of environmental, socioeconomic, water, sanitation, and hygiene (WaSH) factors associated with COVID-19 incidence in the Philippines: A nationwide modelling study. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 946:174214. [PMID: 38914343 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.174214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2024] [Revised: 06/21/2024] [Accepted: 06/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/26/2024]
Abstract
Despite the implementation of non-pharmaceutical interventions, the threat of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) remains significant on a global scale. Identifying external factors contributing to its spread is crucial, especially given the World Health Organization's recommendation emphasizing access to water, sanitation, and hygiene as essential in curbing COVID-19. There is a notable discrepancy in access to sanitation facilities, particularly evident in low- and middle-income countries. However, there is a lack of quantitative assessments regarding these factors. This study examines various environmental, socioeconomic, water, sanitation, and hygiene factors and their associations with COVID-19 incidence. All regions in the Philippines were categorized into clusters based on socioeconomic factors. A conceptual structural equation model (SEM) was developed using domain knowledge. The best-fitting SEM for each cluster was determined, and associations between factors and COVID-19 incidence were estimated. The correlation analysis revealed that rainfall, minimum temperature, and relative humidity were positively correlated with weekly COVID-19 incidence in urban regions. Maximum temperature, mean temperature, wind speed, and wind direction were negatively correlated with weekly COVID-19 incidence in rural regions, with time lags of 0, 3, and 7 weeks. In urban regions (Cluster 1), factors such as urbanization rate (1.00), area (-0.93), and population (0.54) were found to be associated with weekly COVID-19 incidence. Conversely, in rural regions (Cluster 2), factors including area (0.17), basic sanitation (0.84), and wind direction (0.83) showed associations with weekly COVID-19 incidence. These factors were causally associated with a latent variable reflecting the hidden confounders associated with COVID-19 incidence. It is important to note that sanitation factors were associated only in rural regions. Improving access to sanitation facilities in rural regions of the Philippines is imperative to effectively mitigate disease transmission in future pandemics. Identification of the causal effect of unobserved confounders with COVID-19 incidence is recommended for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sewwandi Bandara
- Department of Frontier Science for Advanced Environment, Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Tohoku University, Aoba 6-6-06, Aramaki, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8579, Japan
| | - Clyde Dapat
- World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Center for Reference and Research on Influenza, The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Wakana Oishi
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku University, Aoba 6-6-06, Aramaki, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8579, Japan
| | - Emmanuel Kagning Tsinda
- Center for Biomedical Innovation, Sinskey Lab, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Lea Necitas G Apostol
- Department of Virology, Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, Muntinlupa City, Philippines
| | - Naoko Hirayama
- School of Environmental Science, The University of Shiga Prefecture, Hikone, Shiga, Japan
| | - Mayuko Saito
- Department of Virology, Graduate School of Medicine, 2-1 Seiryo-Machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8575, Japan
| | - Daisuke Sano
- Department of Frontier Science for Advanced Environment, Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Tohoku University, Aoba 6-6-06, Aramaki, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8579, Japan; Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku University, Aoba 6-6-06, Aramaki, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8579, Japan.
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2
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Liggett D, Frame B, Convey P, Hughes KA. How the COVID-19 pandemic signaled the demise of Antarctic exceptionalism. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eadk4424. [PMID: 38427734 PMCID: PMC10906921 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adk4424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 03/03/2024]
Abstract
This paper explores how the COVID-19 pandemic affected science and tourism activities and their governance in the Antarctic and Southern Ocean. The pandemic reduced the ability of Antarctic Treaty Parties to make decisions on policy issues and placed a considerable burden on researchers. Tourism was effectively suspended during the 2020-2021 Antarctic season and heavily reduced in 2021-2022 but rebounded to record levels in 2022-2023. The pandemic stimulated reflection on practices to facilitate dialog, especially through online events. Opportunities arose to integrate innovations developed during the pandemic more permanently into Antarctic practices, in relation to open science, reducing operational greenhouse gas footprints and barriers of access to Antarctic research and facilitating data sharing. However, as well as the long-term impacts arising directly from the pandemic, an assemblage of major geopolitical drivers are also in play and, combined, these signal a considerable weakening of Antarctic exceptionalism in the early Anthropocene.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Bob Frame
- University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Peter Convey
- British Antarctic Survey, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa
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3
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Mario Martin B, Cadavid Restrepo A, Mayfield HJ, Then Paulino C, De St Aubin M, Duke W, Jarolim P, Zielinski Gutiérrez E, Skewes Ramm R, Dumas D, Garnier S, Etienne MC, Peña F, Abdalla G, Lopez B, de la Cruz L, Henríquez B, Baldwin M, Sartorius B, Kucharski A, Nilles EJ, Lau CL. Using Regional Sero-Epidemiology SARS-CoV-2 Anti-S Antibodies in the Dominican Republic to Inform Targeted Public Health Response. Trop Med Infect Dis 2023; 8:493. [PMID: 37999612 PMCID: PMC10675152 DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed8110493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2023] [Revised: 10/29/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Incidence of COVID-19 has been associated with sociodemographic factors. We investigated variations in SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence at sub-national levels in the Dominican Republic and assessed potential factors influencing variation in regional-level seroprevalence. Data were collected in a three-stage cross-sectional national serosurvey from June to October 2021. Seroprevalence of antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein (anti-S) was estimated and adjusted for selection probability, age, and sex. Multilevel logistic regression was used to estimate the effect of covariates on seropositivity for anti-S and correlates of 80% protection (PT80) against symptomatic infection for the ancestral and Delta strains. A total of 6683 participants from 134 clusters in all 10 regions were enrolled. Anti-S, PT80 for the ancestral and Delta strains odds ratio varied across regions, Enriquillo presented significant higher odds for all outcomes compared with Yuma. Compared to being unvaccinated, receiving ≥2 doses of COVID-19 vaccine was associated with a significantly higher odds of anti-S positivity (OR 85.94, [10.95-674.33]) and PT80 for the ancestral (OR 4.78, [2.15-10.62]) and Delta strains (OR 3.08, [1.57-9.65]) nationally and also for each region. Our results can help inform regional-level public health response, such as strategies to increase vaccination coverage in areas with low population immunity against currently circulating strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatris Mario Martin
- School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4006, Australia; (A.C.R.); (H.J.M.); (B.S.); (C.L.L.)
| | - Angela Cadavid Restrepo
- School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4006, Australia; (A.C.R.); (H.J.M.); (B.S.); (C.L.L.)
| | - Helen J. Mayfield
- School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4006, Australia; (A.C.R.); (H.J.M.); (B.S.); (C.L.L.)
| | - Cecilia Then Paulino
- Ministry of Health and Social Assistance, Santo Domingo 10514, Dominican Republic (F.P.)
| | - Micheal De St Aubin
- Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA (G.A.); (E.J.N.)
- Infectious Diseases and Epidemics Program, Harvard Humanitarian Initiative, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - William Duke
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Pedro Henriquez Urena National University, Santo Domingo 10514, Dominican Republic;
| | - Petr Jarolim
- Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA (G.A.); (E.J.N.)
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Emily Zielinski Gutiérrez
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Central America Regional Office, Guatemala City 01015, Guatemala (B.L.)
| | - Ronald Skewes Ramm
- Ministry of Health and Social Assistance, Santo Domingo 10514, Dominican Republic (F.P.)
| | - Devan Dumas
- Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA (G.A.); (E.J.N.)
- Infectious Diseases and Epidemics Program, Harvard Humanitarian Initiative, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Salome Garnier
- Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA (G.A.); (E.J.N.)
- Infectious Diseases and Epidemics Program, Harvard Humanitarian Initiative, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | | | - Farah Peña
- Ministry of Health and Social Assistance, Santo Domingo 10514, Dominican Republic (F.P.)
| | - Gabriela Abdalla
- Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA (G.A.); (E.J.N.)
| | - Beatriz Lopez
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Central America Regional Office, Guatemala City 01015, Guatemala (B.L.)
| | - Lucia de la Cruz
- Ministry of Health and Social Assistance, Santo Domingo 10514, Dominican Republic (F.P.)
| | - Bernarda Henríquez
- Ministry of Health and Social Assistance, Santo Domingo 10514, Dominican Republic (F.P.)
| | - Margaret Baldwin
- Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA (G.A.); (E.J.N.)
- Infectious Diseases and Epidemics Program, Harvard Humanitarian Initiative, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Benn Sartorius
- School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4006, Australia; (A.C.R.); (H.J.M.); (B.S.); (C.L.L.)
| | - Adam Kucharski
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Dynamics, Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UK;
| | - Eric James Nilles
- Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA (G.A.); (E.J.N.)
- Infectious Diseases and Epidemics Program, Harvard Humanitarian Initiative, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Colleen L. Lau
- School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4006, Australia; (A.C.R.); (H.J.M.); (B.S.); (C.L.L.)
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Depero LE, Bontempi E. Comparing the spreading characteristics of monkeypox (MPX) and COVID-19: Insights from a quantitative model. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 235:116521. [PMID: 37419200 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.116521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2023] [Revised: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/09/2023]
Abstract
Climate change is acknowledged to directly affect not only the environment, economy, and society but also the transmission dynamics of infectious diseases, thereby impacting public health. The recent experiences with the spread of SARS-CoV-2 and Monkeypox have highlighted the complex and interconnected nature of infectious diseases, which are strongly linked to various determinants of health. Considering these challenges, adopting a new vision such as the trans-disciplinary approach appears to be imperative. This paper proposes a new theory about viruses' spread, based on a biological model, accounting for the optimisation of energy and material resources for organisms' survival and reproduction in the environment. The approach applies Kleiber's law scaling theory, originally developed in biology, to model community dynamics in cities. A simple equation can be used to model pathogen spread without accounting for each species' physiology by leveraging the superlinear scaling of variables with population size. This general theory offers several advantages, including the ability to explain the rapid and surprising spread of both SARS-CoV-2 and Monkeypox. The proposed model shows similarities in the spreading processes of both viruses, based on the resulting scaling factors, and opens new avenues for research. By fostering cooperation and integrating knowledge from different disciplines to effectively tackle the multifaceted dimensions of disease outbreaks, we can work towards preventing future health emergencies.
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Affiliation(s)
- L E Depero
- INSTM and Chemistry for Technologies Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Brescia, Via Branze, 38, 25123, Brescia, Italy
| | - E Bontempi
- INSTM and Chemistry for Technologies Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Brescia, Via Branze, 38, 25123, Brescia, Italy.
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5
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Friedman SR, Perlman DC, Paraskevis D, Feldman J. Sociopolitical Diagnostic Tools to Understand National and Local Response Capabilities and Vulnerabilities to Epidemics and Guide Research into How to Improve the Global Response to Pathogens. Pathogens 2023; 12:1023. [PMID: 37623983 PMCID: PMC10457759 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12081023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2023] [Revised: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/05/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The AIDS and COVID-19 pandemics demonstrated that nations at similar economic development levels varied widely in their capacity to protect the health of their residents. For AIDS, Britain and Australia brought gay representatives into official counsels and adopted harm reduction far more rapidly than the United States or Spain, and East African countries responded more effectively than South Africa or the Democratic Republic of the Congo. National responses to COVID-19 varied widely, with New Zealand, China, and Vietnam more effective than Italy, Brazil, or the United States. Further, as phylogenetic research has demonstrated, these pandemics spread from one country to another, with those that responded poorly acting as sources for mutations and potentially sources of transmission to countries with more effective responses. Many observers expressed surprise at the poor responses of the United States to COVID-19, but in retrospect the cutbacks in public health funding at state and national levels made it clear that this was a predictable weakness even in addition to the political vacillations that crippled the US and Brazilian responses. In a time of global sociopolitical and climate instability, it is important to measure and conduct research into spatial and time variations in 1. public health and medical funding, 2. social influence networks, social cohesion and trust, and stigmatization, 3. income inequality, 4. social conflict, and 5. other factors that affect responsiveness to pandemics.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - David C. Perlman
- Infectious Diseases, Mount Sinai Beth Israel, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA;
| | - Dimitrios Paraskevis
- Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece;
| | - Justin Feldman
- Visiting Scientist, Harvard FXB Center for Health and Human Rights, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA;
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6
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Castelli C, Castellini M, Comincioli N, Parisi ML, Pontarollo N, Vergalli S. Ecosystem degradation and the spread of Covid-19. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2023; 195:836. [PMID: 37308607 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-023-11403-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The linkages between the emergence of zoonotic diseases and ecosystem degradation have been widely acknowledged by the scientific community and policy makers. In this paper we investigate the relationship between human overexploitation of natural resources, represented by the Human Appropriation of Net Primary Production Index (HANPP) and the spread of Covid-19 cases during the first pandemic wave in 730 regions of 63 countries worldwide. Using a Bayesian estimation technique, we highlight the significant role of HANPP as a driver of Covid-19 diffusion, besides confirming the well-known impact of population size and the effects of other socio-economic variables. We believe that these findings could be relevant for policy makers in their effort towards a more sustainable intensive agriculture and responsible urbanisation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Castelli
- The Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies, Vienna, Austria
| | - Marta Castellini
- Department of Economics and Management "Marco Fanno", University of Padua, Padua, Italy
- Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei, Milan, Italy
| | - Nicola Comincioli
- Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei, Milan, Italy
- Department of Economics and Management, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Maria Laura Parisi
- Department of Economics and Management, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Nicola Pontarollo
- Department of Economics and Management, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
| | - Sergio Vergalli
- Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei, Milan, Italy
- Department of Economics and Management, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
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7
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Esposito MM, Turku S, Lehrfield L, Shoman A. The Impact of Human Activities on Zoonotic Infection Transmissions. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:ani13101646. [PMID: 37238075 DOI: 10.3390/ani13101646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2023] [Revised: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
As humans expand their territories across more and more regions of the planet, activities such as deforestation, urbanization, tourism, wildlife exploitation, and climate change can have drastic consequences for animal movements and animal-human interactions. These events, especially climate change, can also affect the arthropod vectors that are associated with the animals in these scenarios. As the COVID-19 pandemic and other various significant outbreaks throughout the centuries have demonstrated, when animal patterns and human interactions change, so does the exposure of humans to zoonotic pathogens potentially carried by wildlife. With approximately 60% of emerging human pathogens and around 75% of all emerging infectious diseases being categorized as zoonotic, it is of great importance to examine the impact of human activities on the prevalence and transmission of these infectious agents. A better understanding of the impact of human-related factors on zoonotic disease transmission and prevalence can help drive the preventative measures and containment policies necessary to improve public health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle Marie Esposito
- Department of Biology, College of Staten Island, City University of New York, Staten Island, New York, NY 10314, USA
- Ph.D. Program in Biology, The Graduate Center, City University of New York, New York, NY 10314, USA
- Macaulay Honors College, City University of New York, New York, NY 10314, USA
| | - Sara Turku
- Department of Biology, College of Staten Island, City University of New York, Staten Island, New York, NY 10314, USA
- Macaulay Honors College, City University of New York, New York, NY 10314, USA
| | - Leora Lehrfield
- Department of Biology, College of Staten Island, City University of New York, Staten Island, New York, NY 10314, USA
- Macaulay Honors College, City University of New York, New York, NY 10314, USA
| | - Ayat Shoman
- Department of Biology, College of Staten Island, City University of New York, Staten Island, New York, NY 10314, USA
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8
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Shepon A, Wu T, Kremen C, Dayan T, Perfecto I, Fanzo J, Eshel G, Golden CD. Exploring scenarios for the food system-zoonotic risk interface. Lancet Planet Health 2023; 7:e329-e335. [PMID: 37019573 PMCID: PMC10069820 DOI: 10.1016/s2542-5196(23)00007-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2022] [Revised: 12/18/2022] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
The unprecedented economic and health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic have shown the global necessity of mitigating the underlying drivers of zoonotic spillover events, which occur at the human-wildlife and domesticated animal interface. Spillover events are associated to varying degrees with high habitat fragmentation, biodiversity loss through land use change, high livestock densities, agricultural inputs, and wildlife hunting-all facets of food systems. As such, the structure and characteristics of food systems can be considered key determinants of modern pandemic risks. This means that emerging infectious diseases should be more explicitly addressed in the discourse of food systems to mitigate the likelihood and impacts of spillover events. Here, we adopt a scenario framework to highlight the many connections among food systems, zoonotic diseases, and sustainability. We identify two overarching dimensions: the extent of land use for food production and the agricultural practices employed that shape four archetypal food systems, each with a distinct risk profile with respect to zoonotic spillovers and differing dimensions of sustainability. Prophylactic measures to curb the emergence of zoonotic diseases are therefore closely linked to diets and food policies. Future research directions should explore more closely how they impact the risk of spillover events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alon Shepon
- Department of Environmental Studies, The Porter School of the Environment and Earth Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel; The Steinhardt Museum of Natural History, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
| | - Tong Wu
- The Natural Capital Project, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Claire Kremen
- Institute of Resources, Environment and Sustainability, Biodiversity Research Center and Department of Zoology, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Tamar Dayan
- The Steinhardt Museum of Natural History, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel; School of Zoology, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Ivette Perfecto
- School for Environment and Sustainability, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Jessica Fanzo
- School of Advanced International Studies, Berman Institute of Bioethics and Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Gidon Eshel
- Department of Environmental Science, Bard College, Annandale-on-Hudson, NY, USA
| | - Christopher D Golden
- Department of Nutrition and Department of Environmental Health, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
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Cabanillas B, Murdaca G, Guemari A, Torres MJ, Azkur AK, Aksoy E, Vitte J, de Las Vecillas L, Giovannini M, Fernández-Santamaria R, Castagnoli R, Orsi A, Amato R, Giberti I, Català A, Ambrozej D, Schaub B, Tramper-Stranders GA, Novak N, Nadeau KC, Agache I, Akdis M, Akdis CA. A compilation answering 50 questions on monkeypox virus and the current monkeypox outbreak. Allergy 2023; 78:639-662. [PMID: 36587287 DOI: 10.1111/all.15633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Revised: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
The current monkeypox disease (MPX) outbreak constitutes a new threat and challenge for our society. With more than 55,000 confirmed cases in 103 countries, World Health Organization declared the ongoing MPX outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) on July 23, 2022. The current MPX outbreak is the largest, most widespread, and most serious since the diagnosis of the first case of MPX in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), a country where MPX is an endemic disease. Throughout history, there have only been sporadic and self-limiting outbreaks of MPX outside Africa, with a total of 58 cases described from 2003 to 2021. This figure contrasts with the current outbreak of 2022, in which more than 55,000 cases have been confirmed in just 4 months. MPX is, in most cases, self-limiting; however, severe clinical manifestations and complications have been reported. Complications are usually related to the extent of virus exposure and patient health status, generally affecting children, pregnant women, and immunocompromised patients. The expansive nature of the current outbreak leaves many questions that the scientific community should investigate and answer in order to understand this phenomenon better and prevent new threats in the future. In this review, 50 questions regarding monkeypox virus (MPXV) and the current MPX outbreak were answered in order to provide the most updated scientific information and to explore the potential causes and consequences of this new health threat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatriz Cabanillas
- Department of Allergy, Instituto de Investigacion Sanitaria Hospital 12 de Octubre (imas12), Madrid, Spain
| | - Giuseppe Murdaca
- Departments of Internal Medicine, University of Genova, Genova, Italy
| | - Amir Guemari
- Aix-Marseille Univ, IRD, MEPHI, IHU Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
| | - Maria Jose Torres
- Allergy Unit, Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga-ARADyAL, Málaga, Spain
| | - Ahmet Kursat Azkur
- Department of Virology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kirikkale University, Kirikkale, Turkey
| | - Emel Aksoy
- Department of Virology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kirikkale University, Kirikkale, Turkey
| | - Joana Vitte
- Aix-Marseille Univ, IRD, MEPHI, IHU Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France.,Montpellier University, IDESP INSERM UMR UA 11, Montpellier, France
| | | | - Mattia Giovannini
- Allergy Unit, Department of Pediatrics, Meyer Children's Hospital, Florence, Italy.,Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | | | - Riccardo Castagnoli
- Department of Clinical, Surgical, Diagnostic and Pediatric Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.,Pediatric Clinic, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy
| | - Andrea Orsi
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Genova, Genova, Italy
| | - Rosa Amato
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Genova, Genova, Italy
| | - Irene Giberti
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Genova, Genova, Italy
| | - Alba Català
- Dermatology Department, Sexually Transmitted Diseases Clinic, Hospital Clinic, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Dominika Ambrozej
- Department of Pediatric Pneumonology and Allergy, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland.,Doctoral School, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Bianca Schaub
- Pediatric Allergology, Department of Pediatrics, Dr. von Hauner Children's Hospital, University Hospital, LMU, Munich, Germany.,Member of German Center for Lung Research - DZL, LMU, Munich, Germany
| | | | - Natalija Novak
- Department of Dermatology and Allergy, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Kari C Nadeau
- Sean N. Parker Center for Allergy and Asthma Research, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Ioana Agache
- Transylvania University, Brasov, Romania.,Theramed Medical Center, Brasov, Romania
| | - Mubeccel Akdis
- Swiss Institute of Allergy and Asthma Research (SIAF), University of Zurich, Davos, Switzerland
| | - Cezmi A Akdis
- Swiss Institute of Allergy and Asthma Research (SIAF), University of Zurich, Davos, Switzerland.,Christine Kühne Center for Allergy Research and Education (CK-CARE), Davos, Switzerland
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10
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Liao Q, Dong M, Yuan J, Lam WWT, Fielding R. Community vulnerability to the COVID-19 pandemic: A narrative synthesis from an ecological perspective. J Glob Health 2022; 12:05054. [PMID: 36462204 PMCID: PMC9719409 DOI: 10.7189/jogh.12.05054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Background We aimed to conduct a narrative synthesis of components and indicators of community vulnerability to a pandemic and discuss their interrelationships from an ecological perspective. Methods We searched from PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, PsycINFO, and Scopus (updated to November 2021) for studies focusing on community vulnerability to a pandemic caused by novel respiratory viruses on a geographic unit basis . Studies that reported the associations of community vulnerability levels with at least one disease morbidity or mortality outcome were included. Results Forty-one studies were included. All were about the COVID-19 pandemic. Suitable temperature and humidity environments, advanced social and human development (including high population density and human mobility, connectivity, and occupations), and settings that intensified physical interactions are important indicators of vulnerability to viral exposure. However, the eventual pandemic health impacts are predominant in communities that faced environmental pollution, higher proportions of socioeconomically deprived people, health deprivation, higher proportions of poor-condition households, limited access to preventive health care and urban infrastructure, uneven social and human development, and racism. More stringent social distancing policies were associated with lower COVID-19 morbidity and mortality only in the early pandemic phases. Prolonged social distancing policies can disproportionately burden the socially disadvantaged and racially/ethnically marginalized groups. Conclusions Community vulnerability to a pandemic is foremost the vulnerability of the ecological systems shaped by complex interactions between the human and environmental systems. Registration PROSPERO (CRD42021266186).
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11
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Alidadi M, Sharifi A. Effects of the built environment and human factors on the spread of COVID-19: A systematic literature review. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 850:158056. [PMID: 35985590 PMCID: PMC9383943 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.158056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2022] [Revised: 08/08/2022] [Accepted: 08/11/2022] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Soon after its emergence, COVID-19 became a global problem. While different types of vaccines and treatments are now available, still non-pharmacological policies play a critical role in managing the pandemic. The literature is enriched enough to provide comprehensive, practical, and scientific insights to better deal with the pandemic. This research aims to find out how the built environment and human factors have affected the transmission of COVID-19 on different scales, including country, state, county, city, and urban district. This is done through a systematic literature review of papers indexed on the Web of Science and Scopus. Initially, these databases returned 4264 papers, and after different stages of screening, we found 166 relevant papers and reviewed them. The empirical papers that had at least one case study and analyzed the effects of at least one built environment factor on the spread of COVID-19 were selected. Results showed that the driving forces can be divided into seven main categories: density, land use, transportation and mobility, housing conditions, demographic factors, socio-economic factors, and health-related factors. We found that among other things, overcrowding, public transport use, proximity to public spaces, the share of health and services workers, levels of poverty, and the share of minorities and vulnerable populations are major predictors of the spread of the pandemic. As the most studied factor, density was associated with mixed results on different scales, but about 58 % of the papers reported that it is linked with a higher number of cases. This study provides insights for policymakers and academics to better understand the dynamic roles of the non-pharmacological driving forces of COVID-19 at different levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehdi Alidadi
- Graduate School of Engineering and Advanced Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan.
| | - Ayyoob Sharifi
- Graduate School of Humanities and Social Science, Network for Education and Research on Peace and Sustainability (NERPS), and the Center for Peaceful and Sustainable Futures (CEPEAS), Hiroshima University, Japan.
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12
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Guo X, Tu X, Huang G, Fang X, Kong L, Wu J. Urban greenspace helps ameliorate people's negative sentiments during the COVID-19 pandemic: The case of Beijing. BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT 2022; 223:109449. [PMID: 35937083 PMCID: PMC9339086 DOI: 10.1016/j.buildenv.2022.109449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2022] [Revised: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 07/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has had negative effects on people's mental health worldwide, especially for those who live in large cities. Studies have reported that urban greenspace may help lessen these adverse effects, but more research that explicitly considers urban landscape pattern is needed to understand the underlying processes. Thus, this study was designed to examine whether the resident sentiments in Beijing, China changed before and during the pandemic, and to investigate what urban landscape attributes - particularly greenspace - might contribute to the sentiment changes. We conducted sentiment analysis based on 25,357 geo-tagged microblogs posted by residents in 51 neighborhoods. We then compared the resident sentiments in 2019 (before the COVID-19) with those in 2020 (during the COVID-19) using independent sample t-tests, and examined the relationship between resident sentiments and urban greenspace during the COVID-19 pandemic phases using stepwise regression. We found that residents' sentiments deteriorated significantly from 2019 to 2020 in general, and that urban sentiments during the pandemic peak times showed an urban-suburban trend that was determined either by building density or available greenspace. Although our analysis included several other environmental and socioeconomic factors, none of them showed up as a significant factor. Our study suggests the effects of urban greenspace and building density on residents' sentiments increased during the COVID-19 pandemic and that not all green spaces are equal. Increasing greenspace, especially within and near neighborhoods, seems critically important to helping urban residents to cope with public health emergencies such as global pandemics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuan Guo
- School of Natural Resources, Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
- State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology (ESPRE), Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
| | - Xingyue Tu
- Institute of Environmental Information, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, 100012, China
| | - Ganlin Huang
- School of Natural Resources, Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
- State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology (ESPRE), Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
| | - Xuening Fang
- School of Environmental and Geographical Sciences, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai, 200234, China
| | - Lingqiang Kong
- School of Natural Resources, Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
- State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology (ESPRE), Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
| | - Jianguo Wu
- School of Life Sciences and School of Sustainability, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287, USA
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13
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Prevalence of Preterm Births and Complications of Prematurity: A Comparison Between First Year of COVID-19 Pandemic and the Previous Year. ARCHIVES OF PEDIATRIC INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2022. [DOI: 10.5812/pedinfect-121163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Background: COVID-19 pandemic imposed significant challenges on the health systems. COVID-19 management policies such as lockdown have made access to the health centers difficult. Pregnant women are a high-risk group whose pregnancy outcomes may be affected by COVID-19 pandemic. So, it is necessary to determine changes in the prevalence of preterm births and complications of prematurity during the pandemic. Objectives: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of preterm births and complications of prematurity during the first year of COVID-19 pandemic compared with the previous year. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we included all live births born between March 2019 to March 2021 in Mahdieh hospital, Tehran, Iran. We reviewed medical records to extract the prevalence of preterm births and prematurity complications. Then, the prevalence of preterm births and prematurity complications during COVID-19 pandemic compared with the previous year. We used Chi-square test to analyze categorical variables. Results: A total of 10,830 live births were included in this study. During COVID-19 pandemic, the prevalence of moderate or late prematurity had a 4.64% reduction (P < 0.001), and the prevalence of term birth increased by 5.37% (P < 0.001) compared with the previous year. The prevalence of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) decreased significantly during COVID-19 pandemic compared with the previous year (23.64% vs. 26.56%, P < 0.001). The prevalence of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) significantly increased during COVID-19 pandemic compared with the previous year (3.97% vs. 2.28%, P < 0.001). Additionally, sepsis was significantly more prevalent during COVID-19 pandemic compared with the previous year (6.84% vs. 1.23%, P < 0.001). Moreover, intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) significantly increased during COVID-19 pandemic in comparison to the previous year (1.10% vs. 0.08%, P < 0.001). Conclusions: The prevalence of preterm birth decreased during COVID-19 lockdown. Also, major complications of prematurity such as RDS, ROP, sepsis, and IVH may be affected by COVID-19 lockdown.
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14
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Su W, Sun X, Guo X, Zhang W, Li G. An analysis of awe evoked by COVID-19 on green purchasing behavior: A dual-path effect of approach-avoidance motivation. Front Psychol 2022; 13:952485. [PMID: 36033010 PMCID: PMC9407682 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.952485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2022] [Accepted: 07/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The spread of the COVID-19 virus shows that it is time to re-emphasize the ethical attitude of “awe of others, awe of nature, and awe of life.” It once again reveals the importance of green development. In this study, we introduce awe into the context of COVID-19 and construct an “emotion-motivation-behavior” framework, aiming to explore the relationship between the epidemic and green purchasing behavior from a psychological perspective. Study 1 demonstrates the effect of awe on green purchasing and examines the mediating role of the motivation perspective, to reveal the potential different path. Specifically, prosocial motivation mediates the effect of positive awe evoked by COVID-19 on green purchasing; risk avoidance motivation mediates the effect of negative awe evoked by COVID-19 on green purchasing. Study 2 examined the moderating effect of self-construal. These findings have important management implications for enterprises to correctly use emotional guidance strategies and promote green marketing practices during the COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weihuan Su
- School of Management, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Xixiang Sun
- School of Management, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiaodong Guo
- School of Management, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan, China
- *Correspondence: Xiaodong Guo
| | - Wei Zhang
- School of Safety Science and Emergency Management, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan, China
- Wei Zhang
| | - Gen Li
- School of Management, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan, China
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15
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Filosa JN, Botello-Mares A, Goodman-Meza D. COVID-19 needs no passport: the interrelationship of the COVID-19 pandemic along the U.S.-Mexico border. BMC Public Health 2022; 22:1081. [PMID: 35641957 PMCID: PMC9153860 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-022-13513-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic along the U.S.-Mexico border region and evaluate the relationship of COVID-19 related mortality, socioeconomic status, and vaccination. METHODS We used indirect standardization to age-adjust mortality rates and calculate standardized mortality ratios [SMR] in both countries. To examine the impact of socioeconomic factors, we calculated the Human Development Index (HDI) by county/municipality. We performed linear regression to understand the relationship between mortality, vaccination, and HDI. We used choropleth maps to visualize the trends seen in the region. RESULTS Between January 22nd, 2020 and December 1st, 2021, surges of cases and deaths were similar in dyad cities along the U.S.-Mexico border visualizing the interconnectedness of the region. Mortality was higher in U.S. counties along the border compared to the national average (SMR 1.17, 95% CI 1.15-1.19). In Mexico, border counties had a slightly lower mortality to the national average (SMR 0.94, 95% CI 0.93-0.95). In U.S. border states, SMR was shown to negatively correlate with human development index (HDI), a socioeconomic proxy, resulting in a higher SMR in the border region compared to the rest of the counties. Conversely in Mexican border states, there was no association between SMR and HDI. Related to vaccination, U.S. counties along the border were vaccinated at a greater percentage than non-border counties and vaccination was negatively correlated with HDI. In Mexico, states along the border had a higher ratio of vaccinations per person than non-border states. CONCLUSIONS The U.S.-Mexico border is a divide of incredible importance not only to immigration but as a region with unique social, economic, environmental, and epidemiological factors that impact disease transmission. We investigated how the COVID-19 pandemic followed trends of previously studied diseases in the corridor such as tuberculosis, HIV, and influenza H1N1. These data state how targeted intervention along the U.S.-Mexico border region is a necessity when confronting COVID-19 and have implications for future control of infectious diseases in the region.
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Affiliation(s)
- John N Filosa
- David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), 10833 Le Conte Ave, Los Angeles, CA, 90095-1688, USA
| | - Adrian Botello-Mares
- Department of Population Studies, Colegio de la Frontera Norte, Sonora, Nogales, Mexico
| | - David Goodman-Meza
- David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), 10833 Le Conte Ave, Los Angeles, CA, 90095-1688, USA. .,Division of Infectious Diseases, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), CA, Los Angeles, USA.
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16
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Dente M, Riccardo F, Declich S, Milano A, Robbiati C, Agrimi U, Mantovani A, Morabito S, Scavia G, Cubadda F, Villa L, Monaco M, Mancini L, Carere M, Marcheggiani S, Lavazza A, Farina M, Dar O, Villa M, Coggi PT, Brusaferro S. Strengthening preparedness against global health threats: A paradigm shift based on One Health approaches. One Health 2022; 14:100396. [PMID: 35686149 PMCID: PMC9171516 DOI: 10.1016/j.onehlt.2022.100396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2022] [Revised: 05/02/2022] [Accepted: 05/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The implementation of preparedness strategies to prevent and mitigate the impact of global health threats poses several challenges. It should promptly identify cross-cutting drivers of pandemic threats, assess context-specific risks, engage multiple stakeholders, and translate complex data from multiple sources into accessible information for action. This requires a coordinated, multidisciplinary and multisectoral effort engaging systems that, most of the time, work in isolation. The One Health (OH) approach promotes the collaboration and communication among different disciplines and sectors, and could be applied across the preparedness phases at national and international level. We discuss here gaps and needs in preparedness strategies, which can benefit from the OH approach, and a set of actionable recommendations, as shared with the G20–2021 with a dedicated Policy Brief. The discussion adds to the current debate about OH operationalization and promotes a paradigm shift towards coordinated prevention and preparedness strategies for early assessment and management of global health threats.
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17
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Guo Q, Lee DC. The ecology of COVID-19 and related environmental and sustainability issues. AMBIO 2022; 51:1014-1021. [PMID: 34279809 PMCID: PMC8287844 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-021-01603-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2021] [Revised: 05/15/2021] [Accepted: 07/05/2021] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Around the globe, human behavior and ecosystem health have been extensively and sometimes severely affected by the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic. Most efforts to study these complex and heterogenous effects to date have focused on public health and economics. Some studies have evaluated the pandemic's influences on the environment, but often on a single aspect such as air or water pollution. The related research opportunities are relatively rare, and the approaches are unique in multiple aspects and mostly retrospective. Here, we focus on the diverse research opportunities in disease ecology and ecosystem sustainability related to the (intermittent) lockdowns that drastically reduced human activities. We discuss several key knowledge gaps and questions to address amid the ongoing pandemic. In principle, the common knowledge accumulated from invasion biology could also be effectively applied to COVID-19, and the findings could offer much-needed information for future pandemic prevention and management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qinfeng Guo
- USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station, 3041 Cornwallis Road, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709, USA.
| | - Danny C Lee
- USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station, 200 WT Weaver Blvd, Asheville, NC, 28804, USA
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18
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Abdalla W, Renukappa S, Suresh S. Managing COVID‐19‐related knowledge: A smart cities perspective. KNOWLEDGE AND PROCESS MANAGEMENT 2022. [PMCID: PMC9088492 DOI: 10.1002/kpm.1706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Wala Abdalla
- Faculty of Science and Engineering University of Wolverhampton Wolverhampton UK
| | - Suresh Renukappa
- Faculty of Science and Engineering University of Wolverhampton Wolverhampton UK
| | - Subashini Suresh
- Faculty of Science and Engineering University of Wolverhampton Wolverhampton UK
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19
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The Covid-19 pandemic, an Environmental Neurology perspective. Rev Neurol (Paris) 2022; 178:499-511. [PMID: 35568518 PMCID: PMC8938187 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurol.2022.02.455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2022] [Revised: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Neurologists have a particular interest in SARS-CoV-2 because the nervous system is a major participant in COVID-19, both in its acute phase and in its persistent post-COVID phase. The global spread of SARS-CoV-2 infection has revealed most of the challenges and risk factors that humanity will face in the future. We review from an environmental neurology perspective some characteristics that have underpinned the pandemic. We consider the agent, SARS-CoV-2, the spread of SARS-CoV-2 as influenced by environmental factors, its impact on the brain and some containment measures on brain health. Several questions remain, including the differential clinical impact of variants, the impact of SARS-CoV-2 on sleep and wakefulness, and the neurological components of Long-COVID syndrome. We touch on the role of national leaders and public health policies that have underpinned management of the COVID-19 pandemic. Increased awareness, anticipation and preparedness are needed to address comparable future challenges.
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20
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Smith W. Understanding the changing role of global public health in biodiversity conservation. AMBIO 2022; 51:485-493. [PMID: 34115346 PMCID: PMC8194382 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-021-01576-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2021] [Revised: 05/06/2021] [Accepted: 05/16/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Zoonotic disease emergence has become a core concern of biodiversity conservation amid the ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Major international conservation groups now comprehensively center larger human-nature imbalances not only as problems of global public health but as a core challenge of the conservation movement, alongside habitat destruction, biodiversity loss and climate change. There is, however, little consideration of how new biosecurity concerns might alter conservation practice with unexpected and potential harmful impacts on human communities, particularly in developing nations with significant human-wildlife interfaces. Reviewing emerging policy positions from key conservation organizations, this article argues that the proposed responses to the COVID-19 pandemic hold the potential to (a) amplify existing people-park conflicts, and (b) generate new tensions by integrating global systems of viral surveillance into biodiversity conservation. I conclude that the close integration of biosecurity concerns into conservation policies requires greater acknowledgment of the unique challenges for human communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Will Smith
- Alfred Deakin Institute, Deakin University, Building C, Level 1, Burwood, Victoria, 3125, Australia.
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21
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Lou B, Barbieri DM, Passavanti M, Hui C, Gupta A, Hoff I, Lessa DA, Sikka G, Chang K, Fang K, Lam L, Maharaj B, Ghasemi N, Qiao Y, Adomako S, Foroutan Mirhosseini A, Naik B, Banerjee A, Wang F, Tucker A, Liu Z, Wijayaratna K, Naseri S, Yu L, Chen H, Shu B, Goswami S, Peprah P, Hessami A, Abbas M, Agarwal N. Air pollution perception in ten countries during the COVID-19 pandemic. AMBIO 2022; 51:531-545. [PMID: 34155609 PMCID: PMC8216327 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-021-01574-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2020] [Revised: 01/17/2021] [Accepted: 05/09/2021] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
As largely documented in the literature, the stark restrictions enforced worldwide in 2020 to curb the COVID-19 pandemic also curtailed the production of air pollutants to some extent. This study investigates the perception of the air pollution as assessed by individuals located in ten countries: Australia, Brazil, China, Ghana, India, Iran, Italy, Norway, South Africa and the USA. The perceptions towards air quality were evaluated by employing an online survey administered in May 2020. Participants (N = 9394) in the ten countries expressed their opinions according to a Likert-scale response. A reduction in pollutant concentration was clearly perceived, albeit to a different extent, by all populations. The survey participants located in India and Italy perceived the largest drop in the air pollution concentration; conversely, the smallest variation was perceived among Chinese and Norwegian respondents. Among all the demographic indicators considered, only gender proved to be statistically significant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baowen Lou
- School of Highway, Chang’an University, Nan Er Huan Road (Mid-section), Xi’an, 710064 Shaanxi China
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Høgskoleringen 7A, 7491 Trondheim, Trøndelag Norway
| | - Diego Maria Barbieri
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Høgskoleringen 7A, 7491 Trondheim, Trøndelag Norway
| | - Marco Passavanti
- Italian Society of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT-Italy), Mannelli St. 139, 50132 Firenze, Toscana Italy
| | - Cang Hui
- Centre for Invasion Biology, Department of Mathematical Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Matieland, 7602 South Africa
- Biodiversity Informatics Unit, African Institute for Mathematical Sciences, Cape Town, 7945 South Africa
| | - Akshay Gupta
- Department of Civil Engineering, Transportation Engineering Group, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, 321-A&B, Roorkee, Uttarakhand 247667 India
| | - Inge Hoff
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Høgskoleringen 7A, 7491 Trondheim, Trøndelag Norway
| | - Daniela Antunes Lessa
- Department of Civil Engineering, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Rua Nove, Bauxita, Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais 35400-000 Brazil
| | - Gaurav Sikka
- Department of Geography, Lalit Narayan Mithila University, Darbhanga, Bihar 846004 India
| | - Kevin Chang
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Idaho, 875 Perimeter Drive, Mailstop 1022, Moscow, ID 83844 USA
| | - Kevin Fang
- Department of Geography, Sonoma State University, Environment, and Planning, 1801 East Cotati Avenue, Rohnert Park, CA 94928 USA
| | - Louisa Lam
- School of Health, Federation University Australia, 72-100 Clyde Rd, Berwick, VIC 3806 Australia
| | - Brij Maharaj
- Department of Geography, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Howard College City, Durban, 4000 KwaZulu South Africa
| | - Navid Ghasemi
- Department of Civil Chemical Environmental and Materials Engineering, University of Bologna, Viale del Risorgimento, 2, 40136 Bologna, Emilia-Romagna Italy
| | - Yaning Qiao
- School of Mechanics and Civil Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology, Daxue Road 1, Xuzhou, 22116 Jiangsu China
| | - Solomon Adomako
- Department of Engineering and Science, University of Agder, Jon Lilletuns vei 9, 4879 Grimstad, Agder Norway
| | - Ali Foroutan Mirhosseini
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Høgskoleringen 7A, 7491 Trondheim, Trøndelag Norway
| | - Bhaven Naik
- Department of Civil Engineering/Russ College of Engineering & Technology, Ohio University, 28 W. Green Drive, Athens, OH 45701 USA
| | - Arunabha Banerjee
- Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati, Assam 781039 India
| | - Fusong Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Silicate Materials for Architectures, Wuhan University of Technology, Luoshi road 122, Wuhan, 430070 Hubei China
| | - Andrew Tucker
- Connecticut Transportation Safety Research Center, University of Connecticut, 270 Middle Turnpike, Unit 5202 Longley Building, Storrs, CT 06269 USA
| | - Zhuangzhuang Liu
- School of Highway, Chang’an University, Nan Er Huan Road (Mid-section), Xi’an, 710064 Shaanxi China
| | - Kasun Wijayaratna
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, 81, Broadway, Ultimo, NSW 2007 Australia
| | - Sahra Naseri
- School of Medicine, Bam University of Medical Sciences, Bam, 76615-336 Kerman, Iran
| | - Lei Yu
- School of Civil Engineering, Sun Yat-Sen University, Xingang Xi Road 135, Guangzhou, 510275 Guangdong China
| | - Hao Chen
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Høgskoleringen 7A, 7491 Trondheim, Trøndelag Norway
| | - Benan Shu
- Foshan Transportation Science and Technology Co. Ltd., Kuiqi Second Road 18, Foshan, 528000 Guangdong China
| | - Shubham Goswami
- Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Science Bangalore, C V Raman Avenue, Bangalore, Karnataka 560012 India
| | - Prince Peprah
- Department of Social Policy Research Centre, University of New South Wales, John Goodsell Building, Kensington, Sydney, NSW 2052 Australia
| | - Amir Hessami
- Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering, Texas A&M University – , Kingsville, 917 W. Ave B, Kingsville, TX 78363 USA
| | - Montasir Abbas
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Virginia Tech, 301-D3 Patton Hall, Blacksburg, VA 24061 USA
| | - Nithin Agarwal
- Department of Civil & Coastal Engineering, University of Florida, 2100 NE Waldo Rd., Sta 106, Gainesville, FL 32609 USA
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22
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Masuda J, McLaren L, Poland B. COP26: what is the message for public health? Canadian Journal of Public Health 2022; 113:1-5. [PMID: 35102529 PMCID: PMC8803277 DOI: 10.17269/s41997-022-00608-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey Masuda
- School of Public Health and Social Policy, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada.
| | - Lindsay McLaren
- Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.,Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (National Office), Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Blake Poland
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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23
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Gao J, Zhang P. China's Public Health Policies in Response to COVID-19: From an "Authoritarian" Perspective. Front Public Health 2022; 9:756677. [PMID: 34976920 PMCID: PMC8714736 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2021.756677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2021] [Accepted: 11/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: China is generally regarded internationally as an “authoritarian” state. Traditional definitions have assigned many negative connotations surrounding the term of authoritarian. We realize that it might not be considered value-neutral in other countries. But authoritarian in the Chinese context emphasizes more on centralized decision making, collectivism, coordinating all activities of the nation, and public support, which is considered a value-neutral term. Therefore, it is adopted in this paper. We would like to clarify this. Authoritarian governance is considered an important mechanism for developing China's economy and solving social problems. The COVID-19 crisis is no exception. Most of the current research on crisis management and government crises focuses on advanced, democratic countries. However, the consequences of crisis management by authoritarian governments have not been fully appreciated. Although prior research has addressed authoritarian initiatives to manage crises in China, authoritarian interventions have rarely been theorized in public health emergencies. Methods: Based on a literature review and theoretical analysis, we use a descriptive and qualitative approach to assess public health policies and mechanisms from an authoritarian perspective in China. In light of the key events and intervention measures of China's government in response to COVID-19, the strategic practices of the Communist Party of China (CPC) to construct, embody, or set political goals through authoritarian intervention in public health crisis management are discussed. Results: China's government responded to the COVID-19 pandemic with a comprehensive authoritarian intervention, notably by establishing a top-down leadership mechanism, implementing a resolute lockdown, rapidly establishing square cabin hospitals, enhancing cooperation between different government departments, mobilizing a wide range of volunteer resources, enforcing the use of health codes, imposing mandatory quarantine on those returning from abroad, and implementing city-wide nucleic acid testing. These measures ensured that China was able to contain the outbreak quickly and reflect on the unique role of the Chinese authoritarian system in responding to public health crises. Conclusions: Our paper contributes to expanding the existing understanding of the relationship between crisis management and authoritarian system. China's response to COVID-19 exemplifies the unique strengths of authoritarian institutions in public health crisis management, which is a helpful and practical tool to further enhance the CPC's political legitimacy. As a socialist model of crisis management with Chinese characteristics, it may offer desirable experiences and lessons for other countries still ravaged by the epidemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinghua Gao
- Centre for Social Investment (CSI), Max-Weber-Institute for Sociology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Pengfei Zhang
- School of Labor and Human Resources, Renmin University of China, Beijing, China
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Stephens PR, Gottdenker N, Schatz AM, Schmidt JP, Drake JM. Characteristics of the 100 largest modern zoonotic disease outbreaks. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2021; 376:20200535. [PMID: 34538141 PMCID: PMC8450623 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2020.0535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Zoonotic disease outbreaks are an important threat to human health and numerous drivers have been recognized as contributing to their increasing frequency. Identifying and quantifying relationships between drivers of zoonotic disease outbreaks and outbreak severity is critical to developing targeted zoonotic disease surveillance and outbreak prevention strategies. However, quantitative studies of outbreak drivers on a global scale are lacking. Attributes of countries such as press freedom, surveillance capabilities and latitude also bias global outbreak data. To illustrate these issues, we review the characteristics of the 100 largest outbreaks in a global dataset (n = 4463 bacterial and viral zoonotic outbreaks), and compare them with 200 randomly chosen background controls. Large outbreaks tended to have more drivers than background outbreaks and were related to large-scale environmental and demographic factors such as changes in vector abundance, human population density, unusual weather conditions and water contamination. Pathogens of large outbreaks were more likely to be viral and vector-borne than background outbreaks. Overall, our case study shows that the characteristics of large zoonotic outbreaks with thousands to millions of cases differ consistently from those of more typical outbreaks. We also discuss the limitations of our work, hoping to pave the way for more comprehensive future studies. This article is part of the theme issue 'Infectious disease macroecology: parasite diversity and dynamics across the globe'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick R. Stephens
- Odum School of Ecology and Center for the Ecology of Infectious Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, 30602 GA, USA
| | - N. Gottdenker
- Odum School of Ecology and Center for the Ecology of Infectious Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, 30602 GA, USA
- Department of Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, 30602 GA, USA
| | - A. M. Schatz
- Odum School of Ecology and Center for the Ecology of Infectious Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, 30602 GA, USA
| | - J. P. Schmidt
- Odum School of Ecology and Center for the Ecology of Infectious Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, 30602 GA, USA
| | - John M. Drake
- Odum School of Ecology and Center for the Ecology of Infectious Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, 30602 GA, USA
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25
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Otte J, Pica-Ciamarra U. Emerging infectious zoonotic diseases: The neglected role of food animals. One Health 2021; 13:100323. [PMID: 34522761 PMCID: PMC8426280 DOI: 10.1016/j.onehlt.2021.100323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2021] [Revised: 08/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/30/2021] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
This paper compares the relative frequency of zoonotic disease emergence associated with food animals versus emergence from other animal sources and explores differences in disease characteristics and drivers of emergence between the two sources. It draws on a published compilation of 202 Emerging Infectious Zoonotic Disease (EIZD) events for the period 1940–2004. Of the 202 zoonotic EID events in the dataset, 74 (36.6%) were associated with animals kept for food production, which acted as reservoir for the zoonotic pathogen in 64 events and as intermediate / amplifying host in 8 events. Significant differences exist both in the characteristics of the causal agents and the drivers of emergence of zoonotic diseases from food animals and non-food animals. However, the prevailing policy debate on prevention, detection and control of EIZDs largely focuses on diseases of non-food animal origin (wildlife), neglecting the role of food animals. Policies and investments that ensure appropriate veterinary public health measures along and within food animal value chains are essential to mitigate the global risk of EIZDs, particularly in developing regions where the livestock sector is experiencing rapid growth and structural transformation. Over 36% of emerging infectious zoonotic diseases (EIZDs) are associated with animals kept for food production. The prevailing policy debate on managing EIZDs largely focuses on diseases of non-food animal origin (wildlife) The causal agents and drivers of emergence of zoonotic diseases from food animals and non-food animals are significantly different. Policies that ensure appropriate veterinary public health measures are essential to mitigate the global risk of EIZDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joachim Otte
- Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Italy
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26
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Gupta P, Singh MP, Goyal K, Tripti P, Ansari MI, Obli Rajendran V, Dhama K, Malik YS. Bats and viruses: a death-defying friendship. Virusdisease 2021; 32:467-479. [PMID: 34518804 PMCID: PMC8426161 DOI: 10.1007/s13337-021-00716-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2021] [Accepted: 06/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Bats have a primeval evolutionary origin and have adopted various survival methods. They have played a central role in the emergence of various viral diseases. The sustenance of a plethora of virus species inside them has been an earnest area of study. This review explains how the evolution of viruses in bats has been linked to their metabolic pathways, flight abilities, reproductive abilities and colonization behaviors. The utilization of host immune response by DNA and RNA viruses is a commencement of the understanding of differences in the impact of viral infection in bats from other mammals. Rabies virus and other lyssa viruses have had long documented history as bat viruses. While many others like Ebola virus, Nipah virus, Hantavirus, SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV and other new emerging viruses like Sosuga virus, Menangle and Tioman virus are now being studied extensively for their transmission in new hosts. The ongoing pandemic SARS-CoV-2 virus has also been implicated to be originated from bats. Certain factors have been linked to spillover events while the scope of entitlement of other conditions in the spread of diseases from bats still exists. However, certain physiological and ecological parameters have been linked to specific transmission patterns, and more definite proofs are awaited for establishing these connections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Parakriti Gupta
- Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
| | - Mini P. Singh
- Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
| | - Kapil Goyal
- Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
| | - Pande Tripti
- Biological Standardization Division, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute (ICAR-IVRI), Izatnagar, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh 243 122 India
| | - Mohd Ikram Ansari
- Department of Biosciences, Integral University, Dasauli, Kursi Road, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh 226026 India
| | - Vinodhkumar Obli Rajendran
- Division of Epidemiology, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute (ICAR-IVRI), Izatnagar, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh 243 122 India
| | - Kuldeep Dhama
- Division of Pathology, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute (ICAR-IVRI), Izatnagar, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh 243 122 India
| | - Yashpal Singh Malik
- College of Animal Biotechnology, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU), Ludhiana, Punjab 141 004 India
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27
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Towards Sustainable Community-Based Systems for Infectious Disease and Disaster Response; Lessons from Local Initiatives in Four African Countries. SUSTAINABILITY 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/su131810083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
This paper explores the role of decentralised community-based care systems in achieving sustainable healthcare in resource-poor areas. Based on case studies from Sierra Leone, Madagascar, Uganda and Ethiopia, the paper argues that a community-based system of healthcare is more effective in the prevention, early diagnosis, and primary care in response to the zoonotic and infectious diseases associated with extreme weather events as well as their direct health impacts. Community-based systems of care have a more holistic view of the determinants of health and can integrate responses to health challenges, social wellbeing, ecological and economic viability. The case studies profiled in this paper reveal the importance of expanding notions of health to encompass the whole environment (physical and social, across time and space) in which people live, including the explicit recognition of ecological interests and their interconnections with health. While much work still needs to be done in defining and measuring successful community responses to health and other crises, we identify two potentially core criteria: the inclusion and integration of local knowledge in response planning and actions, and the involvement of researchers and practitioners, e.g., community-embedded health workers and NGO staff, as trusted key interlocuters in brokering knowledge and devising sustainable community systems of care.
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28
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Van Oosterhout C. Mitigating the threat of emerging infectious diseases; a coevolutionary perspective. Virulence 2021; 12:1288-1295. [PMID: 33957064 PMCID: PMC8115449 DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2021.1920741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Cock Van Oosterhout
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, UK
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29
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McNeely JA, Munasinghe M. Early lessons from COVID-19: An overview. AMBIO 2021; 50:764-766. [PMID: 33677807 PMCID: PMC7937048 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-021-01541-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Mohan Munasinghe
- Munasinghe Institute for Development (MIND), 10 De Fonseka Place, Colombo 5, Sri Lanka
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30
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Basile M, Russo LF, Russo VG, Senese A, Bernardo N. Birds seen and not seen during the COVID-19 pandemic: The impact of lockdown measures on citizen science bird observations. BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION 2021; 256:109079. [PMID: 34580546 PMCID: PMC8457629 DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2021.109079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2020] [Revised: 02/27/2021] [Accepted: 03/10/2021] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
In early 2020, the rapid spread of the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) led multiple countries to introduce strict lockdown measures to contain the pandemic. Movement restrictions may have influenced the ability of the public to contribute to citizen science projects. We investigated how stay-at-home orders affected data submitted by birdwatchers in Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom (UK) to a widely-used citizen science platform, iNaturalist, depending on whether observations were collected in urban or non-urban areas. We found significant trends in the daily number of observations in all three countries, indicating a surge in urban observation during lockdowns. We found an increase in the mean daily number of urban observations during the lockdown in Italy and Spain, compared to previous years. The mean daily number of non-urban observations decreased in Italy and Spain, while remained similar to previous years in the UK. We found a general decrease of new records during the lockdowns both in urban and non-urban areas in all countries. Our results suggest that the citizen science community remained active during the lockdowns and kept reporting birds from home. However, limitations to movements may have hampered the possibility of birdwatchers to explore natural areas and collect new records. Our findings suggest that future research and conservation applications of citizen science data should carefully consider the bias and gaps in data series caused by the pandemic. Furthermore, our study highlights the potential of urban areas for nature activities, such as birdwatching, and its relevance for sustainable urban planning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Basile
- Chair of Wildlife Ecology and Management, University of Freiburg, Tennenbacher Str. 4, D-79106 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Luca Francesco Russo
- Department of Biosciences and Territory, University of Molise, Pesche, Italy
- Kayla Nature s.r.l.s, via Giambattista Ruoppolo 87, I-80128 Napoli, Italy
| | | | - Andrea Senese
- Kayla Nature s.r.l.s, via Giambattista Ruoppolo 87, I-80128 Napoli, Italy
| | - Nicola Bernardo
- Biological Station of Doñana-CSIC, c/Américo Vespucio 26, E-41092 Sevilla, Spain
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31
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Abstract
With the advent of the pandemic (e.g., novel corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19)), a tremendous amount of data about individuals are collected by the health authorities on daily basis for curbing the disease’s spread. The individuals’ data collection/processing at a massive scale for community well-being with the help of digital solutions (e.g., mobile apps for mobility and proximity analysis, contact tracing through credit card usage history, facial recognition through cameras, and crowd analysis using cellular networks data etc.) raise several privacy concerns. Furthermore, the privacy concerns that are arising mainly due to the fine-grained data collection has hindered the response to tackle this pandemic in many countries. Hence, acquiring/handling individuals data with privacy protection has become a vibrant area of research in these pandemic times. This paper explains the shift in privacy paradigm due to the pandemic (e.g., COVID-19) which involves more and detailed data collection about individuals including locations and demographics. We explain technical factors due to which the people’s privacy is at higher risk in the COVID-19 time. In addition, we discuss privacy concerns in different epidemic control measures (ECMs) (e.g., contact tracing, quarantine monitoring, and symptoms reporting etc.) employed by the health authorities to tackle this disease. Further, we provide an insight on the data management in the ECMs with privacy protection. Finally, the future prospects of the research in this area tacking into account the emerging technologies are discussed. Through this brief article, we aim to provide insights about the vulnerability to user’s privacy in pandemic times, likely privacy issues in different ECMs adopted by most countries around the world, how to preserve user’s privacy effectively in all phases of the ECMs considering relevant data in loop, and conceptual foundations of ECMs to fight with future pandemics in a privacy preserving manner.
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