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Burgueño A, Giovanetti M, Fonseca V, Morel N, Lima M, Castro E, Guimarães NR, Iani FCM, Bormida V, Cortinas MN, Ramas V, Coppola L, Bento AI, Franco L, Rico JM, Lourenço J, Junior Alcantara LC, Chiparelli H. Genomic and eco-epidemiological investigations in Uruguay reveal local Chikungunya virus transmission dynamics during its expansion across the Americas in 2023. Emerg Microbes Infect 2024; 13:2332672. [PMID: 38517841 PMCID: PMC11020592 DOI: 10.1080/22221751.2024.2332672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/24/2024]
Abstract
Uruguay experienced its first Chikungunya virus outbreak in 2023, resulting in a significant burden to its healthcare system. We conducted analysis based on real-time genomic surveillance (30 novel whole genomes) to offer timely insights into recent local transmission dynamics and eco-epidemiological factors behind its emergence and spread in the country.
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Affiliation(s)
- Analía Burgueño
- Laboratorio de Virus Emergentes/reemergentes. Unidad de Virología, Departamento de Laboratorios de Salud Pública Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Marta Giovanetti
- Department of Sciences and Technologies for Sustainable Development and One Health, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Rome, Italy
- Instituto René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
- Climate Amplified Diseases And Epidemics (CLIMADE), Brazil
| | - Vagner Fonseca
- Department of Exact and Earth Sciences, University of the State of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil
- Coordenação de Vigilância, Preparação e Resposta à Emergências e Desastres (PHE), Organização Pan-Americana da Saúde / Organização Mundial da Saúde (OPAS/OMS), Brasilia, Brazil
| | - Noelia Morel
- Laboratorio de Virus Emergentes/reemergentes. Unidad de Virología, Departamento de Laboratorios de Salud Pública Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Mauricio Lima
- Laboratorio Central de Saúde Pública do Estado de Minas Gerais, Fundação Ezequiel Dias, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Emerson Castro
- Laboratorio Central de Saúde Pública do Estado de Minas Gerais, Fundação Ezequiel Dias, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Natália R. Guimarães
- Laboratorio Central de Saúde Pública do Estado de Minas Gerais, Fundação Ezequiel Dias, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Felipe C. M. Iani
- Laboratorio Central de Saúde Pública do Estado de Minas Gerais, Fundação Ezequiel Dias, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Victoria Bormida
- Laboratorio de Genómica Departamento de Laboratorios de Salud Pública, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Maria Noel Cortinas
- Laboratorio de Genómica Departamento de Laboratorios de Salud Pública, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Viviana Ramas
- Laboratorio de Virus Respiratorios, Unidad de Virología. Departamento de Laboratorios de Salud Pública, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Leticia Coppola
- Laboratorio de Virus Respiratorios, Unidad de Virología. Departamento de Laboratorios de Salud Pública, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Ana I. Bento
- Pandemic Prevention Initiative, The Rockefeller Foundation, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Leticia Franco
- Infectious Hazards Management, Health Emergencies Department (PHE), Pan American Health Organization / World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO), WashingtonDC, USA
| | - Jairo Mendez Rico
- Infectious Hazards Management, Health Emergencies Department (PHE), Pan American Health Organization / World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO), WashingtonDC, USA
| | - José Lourenço
- Faculty of Medicine, Católica Biomedical Research Center, Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Lisbon, Portugal
- Climate Amplified Diseases and Epidemics (CLIMADE), Portugal
| | - Luiz Carlos Junior Alcantara
- Instituto René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
- Climate Amplified Diseases And Epidemics (CLIMADE), Brazil
| | - Hector Chiparelli
- Departamento de Laboratorios de Salud Pública, Unidad de Virología, Montevideo, Uruguay
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Boelsums TL, Buskermolen M. Authors' response: Added value of backward contact tracing for COVID-19. Euro Surveill 2024; 29:2400047. [PMID: 38275015 PMCID: PMC10986647 DOI: 10.2807/1560-7917.es.2024.29.4.2400047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Timo Louis Boelsums
- Department of Infectious Disease Control, Public Health Service Rotterdam-Rijnmond, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Maaike Buskermolen
- Department of Infectious Disease Control, Public Health Service Rotterdam-Rijnmond, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
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3
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Barnett E, Harvill JJ, Rabang NJ. Use of the Extension for Community Health Outcomes (ECHO) model for public health emergency response in Alaska. Int J Circumpolar Health 2023; 82:2244768. [PMID: 37561083 PMCID: PMC10416732 DOI: 10.1080/22423982.2023.2244768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Revised: 07/16/2023] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Project ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) is a telehealth and virtual mentoring model. It is a scalable platform to create peer communities where professionals can gain knowledge, skills, and relevant information to their work and clinical practice. Key informant interviews of Alaska public health leaders, clinical providers, ECHO staff, and local government representatives were conducted to evaluate the effectiveness and utility of the Project ECHO for COVID-19 response. Project ECHO session attendance and evaluation data were also reviewed. A combined total of 41,255 attendees participated in a COVID-19 response ECHO July 1, 2019 - June 30, 2022. Eight key informant interviews were conducted with individuals involved in leading or coordinating COVID-19 response efforts. Key informants identified four themes impacting the effectiveness of the Project ECHO model in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic: (1) Engagement, (2) Amplification, (3) Adaptability, and (4) Trust. In a rapidly changing pandemic, the ECHO model provided adaptive and effective virtual spaces where Alaskan providers, communities, elected officials, educators, and other stakeholders were able to receive tailored and up-to-date information on mitigation, treatment, and other concerns exacerbated by COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erinn Barnett
- College of Health, Center for Human Development, University of Alaska Anchorage, Anchorage, AK, USA
| | - Jessica J. Harvill
- College of Health, Center for Human Development, University of Alaska Anchorage, Anchorage, AK, USA
| | - Nathan J. Rabang
- College of Health, Center for Human Development, University of Alaska Anchorage, Anchorage, AK, USA
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Bohrerova Z, Brinkman NE, Chakravarti R, Chattopadhyay S, Faith SA, Garland J, Herrin J, Hull N, Jahne M, Kang DW, Keely SP, Lee J, Lemeshow S, Lenhart J, Lytmer E, Malgave D, Miao L, Minard-Smith A, Mou X, Nagarkar M, Quintero A, Savona FDR, Senko J, Slonczewski JL, Spurbeck RR, Sovic MG, Taylor RT, Weavers LK, Weir M. Ohio Coronavirus Wastewater Monitoring Network: Implementation of Statewide Monitoring for Protecting Public Health. J Public Health Manag Pract 2023; 29:845-853. [PMID: 37738597 PMCID: PMC10539008 DOI: 10.1097/phh.0000000000001783] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/24/2023]
Abstract
CONTEXT Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, wastewater influent monitoring for tracking disease burden in sewered communities was not performed in Ohio, and this field was only on the periphery of the state academic research community. PROGRAM Because of the urgency of the pandemic and extensive state-level support for this new technology to detect levels of community infection to aid in public health response, the Ohio Water Resources Center established relationships and support of various stakeholders. This enabled Ohio to develop a statewide wastewater SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) monitoring network in 2 months starting in July 2020. IMPLEMENTATION The current Ohio Coronavirus Wastewater Monitoring Network (OCWMN) monitors more than 70 unique locations twice per week, and publicly available data are updated weekly on the public dashboard. EVALUATION This article describes the process and decisions that were made during network initiation, the network progression, and data applications, which can inform ongoing and future pandemic response and wastewater monitoring. DISCUSSION Overall, the OCWMN established wastewater monitoring infrastructure and provided a useful tool for public health professionals responding to the pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zuzana Bohrerova
- Ohio Water Resources Center (Drs Bohrerova, Lenhart, and Weavers), Civil, Environmental and Geodetic Engineering (Drs Bohrerova, Hull, Lenhart, and Weavers), Infectious Diseases Institute (Drs Faith and Lee and Ms Savona), Sustainability Institute (Dr Hull), Department of Food Science & Technology (Dr Lee), and Center for Applied Plant Sciences (Dr Sovic), The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio; Office of Research and Development, US Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, District of Columbia (Drs Brinkman, Garland, Jahne, Keely, and Nagarkar); Departments of Physiology and Pharmacology (Dr Chakravarti) and Medical Microbiology and Immunology (Drs Chattopadhyay and Taylor), University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences, Toledo, Ohio; LuminUltra Technologies Inc, Hialeah, Florida (Mr Herrin and Dr Quintero); Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Toledo, Toledo, Ohio (Dr Kang); Divisions of Environmental Health Sciences (Drs Lee and Weir) and Biostatistics (Drs Lemeshow and Malgave and Ms Miao), The Ohio State University College of Public Health, Columbus, Ohio; Department of Biological Sciences, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio (Ms Lytmer); Health Outcomes and Biotechnology Solutions, Battelle Memorial Institute, Columbus, Ohio (Ms Minard-Smith and Dr Spurbeck); Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio (Dr Mou); Department of Geosciences and Department of Biology, The University of Akron, Akron, Ohio (Dr Senko); and Department of Biology, Kenyon College, Gambier, Ohio (Dr Slonczewski)
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Egoroff N, Bloomfield H, Gondarra W, Yambalpal B, Guyula T, Forward D, Lyons G, O'Connor E, Sanderson L, Dowden M, Williams D, de Dassel J, Coffey P, Dhurrkay ER, Gondarra V, Holt DC, Krause VL, Currie BJ, Griffiths K, Dempsey K, Glynn-Robinson A. An outbreak of acute rheumatic fever in a remote Aboriginal community. Aust N Z J Public Health 2023; 47:100077. [PMID: 37625204 DOI: 10.1016/j.anzjph.2023.100077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Revised: 07/08/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES We describe the public health response to an outbreak of acute rheumatic fever (ARF) in a remote Aboriginal community. METHODS In August 2021, the Northern Territory Rheumatic Heart Disease Control Program identified an outbreak of acute rheumatic fever in a remote Aboriginal community. A public health response was developed using a modified acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis protocol and the National Acute Rheumatic Fever Guideline for Public Health Units. RESULTS 12 cases were diagnosed during the outbreak; six-times the average number of cases in the same period in the five years prior (n=1.8). Half (n=6) of the outbreak cases were classified as recurrent episodes with overdue secondary prophylaxis. Contact tracing and screening of 11 households identified 86 close contacts. CONCLUSIONS This outbreak represented an increase in both first episodes and recurrences of acute rheumatic fever and highlights the critical need for strengthened delivery of acute rheumatic fever secondary prophylaxis, and for improvements to the social determinants of health in the region. IMPLICATIONS FOR PUBLIC HEALTH Outbreaks of acute rheumatic fever are rare despite continuing high rates of acute rheumatic fever experienced by remote Aboriginal communities. Nevertheless, there can be improvements in the current national public health guidance relating to acute rheumatic fever cluster and outbreak management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natasha Egoroff
- National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Australian National University, Australia; Miwatj Health Aboriginal Corporation, Australia; Centre for Disease Control, Northern Territory Health, Australia.
| | - Hilary Bloomfield
- Miwatj Health Aboriginal Corporation, Australia; Centre for Disease Control, Northern Territory Health, Australia.
| | | | | | - Terrence Guyula
- Centre for Disease Control, Northern Territory Health, Australia.
| | - Demi Forward
- Miwatj Health Aboriginal Corporation, Australia.
| | - Gemma Lyons
- Miwatj Health Aboriginal Corporation, Australia.
| | - Emer O'Connor
- Miwatj Health Aboriginal Corporation, Australia; Centre for Disease Control, Northern Territory Health, Australia; Rheumatic Heart Disease Australia, Australia.
| | | | | | - Desley Williams
- Centre for Disease Control, Northern Territory Health, Australia.
| | | | | | | | | | - Deborah C Holt
- Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Australia.
| | - Vicki L Krause
- Centre for Disease Control, Northern Territory Health, Australia.
| | - Bart J Currie
- Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Australia; Rheumatic Heart Disease Australia, Australia.
| | - Kalinda Griffiths
- Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Australia; University of New South Wales, Australia; University of Melbourne, Australia.
| | | | - Anna Glynn-Robinson
- National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Australian National University, Australia.
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Boelsums TL, van de Luitgaarden IAT, Whelan J, Poell H, Hoffman CM, Fanoy E, Buskermolen M, Richardus JH. The value of manual backward contact tracing to control COVID-19 in practice, the Netherlands, February to March 2021: a pilot study. Euro Surveill 2023; 28:2200916. [PMID: 37824253 PMCID: PMC10571494 DOI: 10.2807/1560-7917.es.2023.28.41.2200916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023] Open
Abstract
BackgroundContact tracing has been a key component of COVID-19 outbreak control. Backward contact tracing (BCT) aims to trace the source that infected the index case and, thereafter, the cases infected by the source. Modelling studies have suggested BCT will substantially reduce SARS-CoV-2 transmission in addition to forward contact tracing.AimTo assess the feasibility and impact of adding BCT in practice.MethodsWe identified COVID-19 cases who were already registered in the electronic database between 19 February and 10 March 2021 for routine contact tracing at the Public Health Service (PHS) of Rotterdam-Rijnmond, the Netherlands (pop. 1.3 million). We investigated if, through a structured questionnaire by dedicated contact tracers, we could trace additional sources and cases infected by these sources. Potential sources identified by the index were approached to trace the source's contacts. We evaluated the number of source contacts that could be additionally quarantined.ResultsOf 7,448 COVID-19 cases interviewed in the study period, 47% (n = 3,497) indicated a source that was already registered as a case in the PHS electronic database. A potential, not yet registered source was traced in 13% (n = 979). Backward contact tracing was possible in 62 of 979 cases, from whom an additional 133 potential sources were traced, and four were eligible for tracing of source contacts. Two additional contacts traced had to stay in quarantine for 1 day. No new COVID-19 cases were confirmed.ConclusionsThe addition of manual BCT to control the COVID-19 pandemic did not provide added value in our study setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timo Louis Boelsums
- Department of Infectious Disease Control, Public Health Service Rotterdam-Rijnmond, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | | | - Jane Whelan
- Department of Infectious Disease Control, Public Health Service Rotterdam-Rijnmond, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Hanna Poell
- Department of Infectious Disease Control, Public Health Service Rotterdam-Rijnmond, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Charlotte Maria Hoffman
- Department of Infectious Disease Control, Public Health Service Rotterdam-Rijnmond, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Ewout Fanoy
- Department of Infectious Disease Control, Public Health Service Rotterdam-Rijnmond, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
- Department of Infectious Disease Control, Public Health Service Amsterdam-Amstelland, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Maaike Buskermolen
- Department of Infectious Disease Control, Public Health Service Rotterdam-Rijnmond, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Jan Hendrik Richardus
- Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
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Franco EL, Harper DM. Acting on past lessons and learning new ones. eLife 2023; 12:e91607. [PMID: 37671700 PMCID: PMC10482427 DOI: 10.7554/elife.91607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/07/2023] Open
Abstract
eLife has published a special issue containing articles that examine how cancer prevention, control, care and survivorship were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Sachdev DD, Petersen M, Havlir DV, Schwab J, Enanoria WT, Nguyen TQ, Mercer MP, Scheer S, Bennett A, Tenner AG, Marks JD, Bobba N, Philip S, Colfax G. San Francisco's Citywide COVID-19 Response: Strategies to Reduce COVID-19 Severity and Health Disparities, March 2020 Through May 2022. Public Health Rep 2023; 138:747-755. [PMID: 37408322 PMCID: PMC10323495 DOI: 10.1177/00333549231181353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/07/2023] Open
Abstract
San Francisco implemented one of the most intensive, comprehensive, multipronged COVID-19 pandemic responses in the United States using 4 core strategies: (1) aggressive mitigation measures to protect populations at risk for severe disease, (2) prioritization of resources in neighborhoods highly affected by COVID-19, (3) timely and adaptive data-driven policy making, and (4) leveraging of partnerships and public trust. We collected data to describe programmatic and population-level outcomes. The excess all-cause mortality rate in 2020 in San Francisco was half that seen in 2019 in California as a whole (8% vs 16%). In almost all age and race and ethnicity groups, excess mortality from COVID-19 was lower in San Francisco than in California overall, with markedly diminished excess mortality among people aged >65 years. The COVID-19 response in San Francisco highlights crucial lessons, particularly the importance of community responsiveness, joint planning, and collective action, to inform future pandemic response and advance health equity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Maya Petersen
- Divisions of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Diane V. Havlir
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Joshua Schwab
- Divisions of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | | | - Trang Q. Nguyen
- San Francisco Department of Public Health, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Mary P. Mercer
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Susan Scheer
- San Francisco Department of Public Health, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Ayanna Bennett
- San Francisco Department of Public Health, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Andrea G. Tenner
- San Francisco Department of Public Health, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - James D. Marks
- Department of Anesthesia, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Naveena Bobba
- San Francisco Department of Public Health, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Susan Philip
- San Francisco Department of Public Health, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Grant Colfax
- San Francisco Department of Public Health, San Francisco, CA, USA
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Mohapatra RK, Kutikuppala LVS, Kandi V, Mishra S, Rabaan AA, Costa S, Al‐qaim ZH, Padhi BK, Sah R. Rift valley fever (RVF) viral zoonotic disease steadily circulates in the Mauritanian animals and humans: A narrative review. Health Sci Rep 2023; 6:e1384. [PMID: 37404448 PMCID: PMC10315559 DOI: 10.1002/hsr2.1384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2023] [Revised: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/16/2023] [Indexed: 07/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background and Aim Rift valley fever (RVF) virus (RVFV) is reportedly steadily circulating in Mauritania being repeated in 1987, 2010, 2012, 2015, and 2020. Mauritania seems a preferred niche for RVF virus due to its persistent outbreak there. Lately, nine Mauritanian wilayas confirmed 47 (23 fatalities with 49% CFR) human cases between August 30 and October 17, 2022. Most of the cases were largely among livestock breeders associated with animal husbandry activities. The review aimed at understanding the origin, cause, and measures to counter the virus. Methods The facts and figures from the various published articles sourced from databases including Pubmed, Web of Science, and the Scopus as also some primary data from health agencies like WHO, CDC, and so forth were evaluated and the efficacy of countermeasures reviewed. Results Among the reported confirmed cases, it was found that 3-70 year age-group males outnumbered the females. Deaths after fever occurred primarily due to acute hemorrhagic thrombocytopenia. Human infections often occurred through zoonotic transmission mainly through mosquitoes in the population contiguous to cattle outbreak, a conducive site for local RVFV transmission. Many transmission cases were through direct or indirect contact with blood or organs of the infected animal. Conclusion RVFV infection was predominant in the Mauritanian regions bordering Mali, Senegal, and Algeria. High human and domesticated animal density as also the existing zoonotic vectors further contributed to RVF virus circulation. Mauritanian RVF infection data confirmed that RVFV was zoonotic that included small ruminants, cattle, and camel. This observation hints at the role of transborder animal mobility in RVFV transmission. In light of this, preventive approaches with effective surveillance and monitoring system following the One Health model is extremely beneficial for a free and fair healthy world for all.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Venkataramana Kandi
- Department of MicrobiologyPrathima Institute of Medical SciencesKarimnagarTelanganaIndia
| | - Snehasish Mishra
- School of Biotechnology, Campus‐11, KIIT Deemed‐to‐be‐UniversityBhubaneswarOdishaIndia
| | - Ali A. Rabaan
- Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory, Johns Hopkins Aramco HealthcareDhahranSaudi Arabia
- College of MedicineAlfaisal UniversityRiyadhSaudi Arabia
- Department of Public Health and NutritionThe University of HaripurHaripurPakistan
| | - Sharo Costa
- College of Osteopathic MedicineMichigan State UniversityEast LansingMichiganUSA
| | | | - Bijaya K. Padhi
- Department of Community MedicineSchool of Public Health, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and ResearchChandigarhIndia
| | - Ranjit Sah
- Institute of Medicine, Tribhuvan University Teaching HospitalKathmanduNepal
- Dr. D. Y. Patil Medical College, Hospital and Research Centre, Dr. D. Y. Patil VidyapeethPuneMaharashtraIndia
- Department of Public Health DentistryDr. D. Y. Patil Dental College and Hospital, Dr. D. Y. Patil VidyapeethPuneMaharashtraIndia
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10
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Moyo E, Mhango M, Moyo P, Dzinamarira T, Chitungo I, Murewanhema G. Emerging infectious disease outbreaks in Sub-Saharan Africa: Learning from the past and present to be better prepared for future outbreaks. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1049986. [PMID: 37228735 PMCID: PMC10203177 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1049986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2022] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Enos Moyo
- School of Nursing and Public Health, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Malizgani Mhango
- School of Public Health, University of Western Cape, Bellville, South Africa
| | - Perseverance Moyo
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
| | - Tafadzwa Dzinamarira
- School of Health Systems and Public Health, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Itai Chitungo
- College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Grant Murewanhema
- College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe
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11
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Henry Akintobi T, Quarells RC, Bednarczyk RA, Khizer S, Taylor BD, Nwagwu MNA, Hill M, Ordóñez CE, Sabben G, Spivey S, Davis K, Best ML, Chen AZ, Lovell K, Craig LS, Mubasher M. Community-Centered Assessment to Inform Pandemic Response in Georgia (US). Int J Environ Res Public Health 2023; 20:ijerph20095741. [PMID: 37174257 PMCID: PMC10178178 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20095741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Revised: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
The Georgia Community Engagement Alliance (CEAL) Against COVID-19 Disparities Project conducts community-engaged research and outreach to address misinformation and mistrust, to promote inclusion of diverse racial and ethnic populations in clinical trials and increase testing and vaccination uptake. Guided by its Community Coalition Board, The GEORGIA CEAL Survey was administered among Black and Latinx Georgia 18 years and older to learn about community knowledge, perceptions, understandings, and behaviors regarding COVID-19 testing and vaccines. Survey dissemination occurred using survey links generated through Qualtrics and disseminated among board members and other statewide networks. Characteristics of focus counties were (a) highest proportion of 18 years and older Black and Latinx residents; (b) lowest COVID-19 testing rates; and (c) highest SVI values. The final sample included 2082 surveyed respondents. The majority of participants were men (57.1%) and Latinx (62.8%). Approximately half of the sample was aged 18-30 (49.2%); the mean age of the sample was 33.2 years (SD = 9.0), ranging from 18 to 82 years of age. Trusted sources of COVID-19 information that significantly predicted the likelihood of vaccination included their doctor/health care provider (p-value: 0.0054), a clinic (p-value: 0.006), and university hospitals (p-value: 0.0024). Latinx/non-Latinx, Blacks vs. Latinx, Whites were significantly less likely to get tested and/or vaccinated. Non-Latinx, Blacks had higher mean knowledge scores than Latinx, Whites (12.1 vs. 10.9, p < 0.001) and Latinx, Blacks (12.1 vs. 9.6, respectively, p < 0.001). The mean knowledge score was significantly lower in men compared to women (10.3 vs. 11.0, p = 0.001), in those who had been previously tested for COVID-19 compared to those who had never been tested (10.5 vs. 11.5, respectively, p = 0.005), and in those who did not receive any dose of vaccination compared to those who were fully vaccinated (10.0 vs. 11.0, respectively, p < 0.001). These data provide a benchmark for future comparisons of the trajectory of public attitudes and practices related to the COVID-19 pandemic. They also point to the importance of tailoring communication strategies to specific cultural, racial, and ethnic groups to ensure that community-specific barriers to and determinants of health-seeking behaviors are appropriately addressed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tabia Henry Akintobi
- Community Health and Preventive Medicine, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30301, USA
| | - Rakale C Quarells
- Community Health and Preventive Medicine, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30301, USA
| | | | - Saadia Khizer
- Vaccination Trial Unit, Community Health and Preventive Medicine, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30301, USA
| | - Brittany D Taylor
- Community Health and Preventive Medicine, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30301, USA
| | - Michelle N A Nwagwu
- Community Health and Preventive Medicine, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30301, USA
| | - Mekhi Hill
- Community Health and Preventive Medicine, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30301, USA
| | - Claudia E Ordóñez
- Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Gaëlle Sabben
- Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | | | - Kayla Davis
- DeKalb County Board of Health, Decatur, GA 30031, USA
| | - Michael L Best
- Sam Nunn School of International Affairs and the School of Interactive Computing, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30308, USA
| | - Amy Z Chen
- Sam Nunn School of International Affairs and the School of Interactive Computing, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30308, USA
| | | | | | - Mohamed Mubasher
- Community Health and Preventive Medicine, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30301, USA
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12
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Pasco R, Johnson K, Fox SJ, Pierce KA, Johnson-León M, Lachmann M, Morton DP, Meyers LA. COVID-19 Test Allocation Strategy to Mitigate SARS-CoV-2 Infections across School Districts. Emerg Infect Dis 2023; 29:501-510. [PMID: 36787729 PMCID: PMC9973671 DOI: 10.3201/eid2903.220761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/16/2023] Open
Abstract
In response to COVID-19, schools across the United States closed in early 2020; many did not fully reopen until late 2021. Although regular testing of asymptomatic students, teachers, and staff can reduce transmission risks, few school systems consistently used proactive testing to safeguard return to classrooms. Socioeconomically diverse public school districts might vary testing levels across campuses to ensure fair, effective use of limited resources. We describe a test allocation approach to reduce overall infections and disparities across school districts. Using a model of SARS-CoV-2 transmission in schools fit to data from a large metropolitan school district in Texas, we reduced incidence between the highest and lowest risk schools from a 5.6-fold difference under proportional test allocation to 1.8-fold difference under our optimized test allocation. This approach provides a roadmap to help school districts deploy proactive testing and mitigate risks of future SARS-CoV-2 variants and other pathogen threats.
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Seto J, Aoki Y, Komabayashi K, Yamada K, Ishikawa H, Ichikawa T, Ahiko T, Mizuta K. Measles Outbreak Response Activity in Japan, and a Discussion for a Possible Strategy of Outbreak Response Using Cycle Threshold Values of Real-Time Reverse Transcription PCR for Measles Virus in Measles Elimination Settings. Viruses 2023; 15:171. [PMID: 36680212 PMCID: PMC9863267 DOI: 10.3390/v15010171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2022] [Revised: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Measles is a highly contagious, but vaccine-preventable disease caused by the measles virus (MeV). Although the administration of two doses of measles vaccines is the most effective strategy to prevent and eliminate measles, MeV continues to spread worldwide, even in 2022. In measles-eliminated countries, preparedness and response to measles outbreaks originating from imported cases are required to maintain elimination status. Under these circumstances, real-time reverse transcription (RT) PCR for MeV could provide a diagnostic method capable of strengthening the subnational capacity for outbreak responses. Real-time RT-PCR can detect MeV RNA from patients with measles at the initial symptomatic stage, which can enable rapid public health responses aimed at detecting their contacts and common sources of infection. Furthermore, low cycle threshold (Ct) values (i.e., high viral load) of throat swabs indicate high infectiousness in patients with measles. The high basic reproduction number of measles suggests that patients with high infectiousness can easily become super-spreaders. This opinion proposes a possible strategy of rapid and intensive responses to counter measles outbreaks caused by super-spreader candidates showing low Ct values in throat swabs. Our strategy would make it possible to effectively prevent further measles transmission, thereby leading to the early termination of measles outbreaks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junji Seto
- Yamagata Prefectural Institute of Public Health, Yamagata 990-0031, Japan
| | - Yoko Aoki
- Yamagata Prefectural Institute of Public Health, Yamagata 990-0031, Japan
| | | | - Keiko Yamada
- Okitama Public Health Center, Yamagata 992-0012, Japan
| | - Hitoshi Ishikawa
- Department of Physical Therapy, Yamagata Prefectural University of Health Sciences, Yamagata 990-2212, Japan
| | - Tomoo Ichikawa
- Department of Society and Regional Culture, Okinawa International University, Ginowan 901-2701, Japan
| | - Tadayuki Ahiko
- Yamagata Prefectural Institute of Public Health, Yamagata 990-0031, Japan
- Department of Health and Welfare, Yamagata Prefectural Government, Yamagata 990-8570, Japan
| | - Katsumi Mizuta
- Yamagata Prefectural Institute of Public Health, Yamagata 990-0031, Japan
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Leslie M, Hansen B, Abboud R, Claussen C, McBrien K, Hu J, Ward R, Aghajafari F. Building a Data Bridge: Policies, Structures, and Governance Integrating Primary Care Into the Public Health Response to COVID-19. Ann Fam Med 2023; 21:4-10. [PMID: 36690483 PMCID: PMC9870644 DOI: 10.1370/afm.2900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2021] [Revised: 09/16/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE The effective integration of primary care into public health responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly through data sharing, has received some attention in the literature. However, the specific policies and structures that facilitate this integration are understudied. This paper describes the experiences of clinicians and administrators in Alberta, Canada as they built a data bridge between primary care and public health to improve the province's community-based response to the pandemic. METHODS Fifty-seven semistructured qualitative interviews were conducted with a range of primary care and public health stakeholders working inside the Calgary Health Zone. Interpretive description was used to analyze the interviews. RESULTS SARS-CoV-2 test results produced by the local public laboratory were, initially, only available to central public health clinicians and not independent primary care physicians. This enabled centrally managed contact tracing but meant primary care physicians were unaware of their patients' COVID-19 status and unable to offer in-community follow-up care. Stakeholders from both central public health and independent primary care were able to leverage a policy commitment to the Patient Medical Home (PMH) care model, and a range of existing organizational structures, and governance arrangements to create a data bridge that would span the gap. CONCLUSIONS Primary care systems looking to draw lessons from the data bridge's construction may consider ways to: leverage care model commitments to integration and adjust or create organization and governance structures which actively draw together primary care and non-primary care stakeholders to work on common projects. Such policies and structures develop trusting relationships, open the possibility for champions to emerge, and create the spaces in which integrative improvisation can take place.
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Affiliation(s)
- Myles Leslie
- School of Public Policy, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Department of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Brian Hansen
- Zone Business Unit, Calgary and Area Primary Care Networks, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Rida Abboud
- Co-RIG Project Consultant, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Caroline Claussen
- Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Kerry McBrien
- Department of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Department of Family Medicine, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Jia Hu
- Department of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- 19 to Zero, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Rick Ward
- Department of Family Medicine, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Calgary Zone Primary Care Division, Alberta Health Services, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Fariba Aghajafari
- Department of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Department of Family Medicine, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
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15
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Brosi DN, Mays GP. Local Public Health System Capabilities and COVID-19 Death Rates. Public Health Rep 2022; 137:980-987. [PMID: 35634877 PMCID: PMC9357746 DOI: 10.1177/00333549221097660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Efforts to contain the health effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have achieved less success in the United States than in many comparable countries. Previous research documented wide variability in the capabilities of local public health systems to carry out core disease prevention and control activities, but it is unclear how this variability relates to COVID-19 control. Our study explored this relationship by using a nationally representative sample of 725 US communities. METHODS We used data collected from the National Longitudinal Survey of Public Health Systems to classify each community into 1 of 3 ordinal categories indicating limited, intermediate, or comprehensive public health system capabilities. We used 2-part generalized linear models to estimate the relationship between public health system capabilities and COVID-19 death rates while controlling population and community characteristics associated with COVID-19 risk. RESULTS Across 3 waves of the pandemic in 2020, we found a significant negative association between COVID-19 mortality and public health system capabilities. Compared with comprehensive public health systems, intermediate public health systems had an average of 4.97 to 19.02 more COVID-19 deaths per 100 000 residents, while limited public health systems had an average of 5.95 to 18.10 more COVID-19 deaths per 100 000 residents. CONCLUSION Overall, communities with stronger public health capabilities had significantly fewer deaths. Future initiatives to strengthen pandemic preparedness and reduce health disparities in the United States should focus on local public health system capabilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deena N. Brosi
- Department of Health Systems,
Management and Policy, Colorado School of Public Health, University of
Colorado–Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Glen P. Mays
- Department of Health Systems,
Management and Policy, Colorado School of Public Health, University of
Colorado–Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
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16
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Knaus WA, Kehoe S, Lindley C. All Public Health is Local: Lessons From Eagle County During the First 2 Years of the Coronavirus Disease-2019 Pandemic. Med Care 2022; 60:596-601. [PMID: 35797458 PMCID: PMC9256900 DOI: 10.1097/mlr.0000000000001736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND During the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic cumulative United States COVID-19 deaths per capita were higher than all other large, high-income nations, but with substantial variation across the country. OBJECTIVE The aim was to detail the public health response during the pandemic in Eagle County, Colorado. RESEARCH DESIGN AND MEASURES Observational study using pre-COVID-19 county public health metrics. Pandemic actions were recorded from a narrative summary of daily phone consultations by a county-wide taskforce and interviews. Outcomes obtained from local, state, and nationally reported databases. METHODS Eagle County began with a life expectancy of 85.9, low all-cause age-adjusted death rates equal for both White and Latinx populations, a high household median income, and other prepandemic advantages. It also launched an innovative, independent county-wide taskforce lead by experienced mid-level managers. The taskforce implemented rapid communication of decision consequences, made immediate course corrections without traditional organizational approvals or contradictory political pressures. RESULTS Eagle County was first in Colorado to obtain Personal Protective Equipment and to establish a drive-through testing facility. The COVID-19 case fatality rate was 0.34%. The sole intensive care unit never reached maximum capacity. By March 2022, Eagle County had administered at least 1 vaccine dose to 100% of the population and 83% were fully vaccinated. CONCLUSIONS It is not possible to directly attribute superior outcomes to either the baseline characteristics of Eagle County or its innovative taskforce design and deployment. Rather this report highlights the potential impact that improving the baseline health status of US citizens and permitting novel problem-solving approaches by local public health officials might have for the next pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- William A. Knaus
- Emeritus Professor of Public Health Sciences University of Virginia School of Medicine, Edwards, CO
| | - Shaneis Kehoe
- Director Project Management, Disease Prevention, and Public Health Response, Colorado Department of Public Health and the Environment, Denver, CO
| | - Chris Lindley
- Vail Health, Eagle Valley Behavioral Health, Vail, CO
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17
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Barin B, Kozlakidis Z, Ricci F, Su L, Tsioutis C, Welburn SC, Ropert C, Iosa M, Rawson T, Sun J, Lumbers ER. Editorial: Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19): Pathophysiology, Epidemiology, Clinical Management and Public Health Response, Volume II. Front Public Health 2022; 10:913507. [PMID: 35747774 PMCID: PMC9210928 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.913507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2022] [Accepted: 05/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Burc Barin
- The Emmes Company, LLC, Rockville, MD, United States
| | - Zisis Kozlakidis
- International Agency for Research on Cancer, World Health Organization, Lyon, France
| | - Fabrizio Ricci
- Department of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, G.d'Annunzio University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Longxiang Su
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | | | - Susan C. Welburn
- Infection Medicine, Deanery of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Zhejiang University-University of Edinburgh Institute, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Haining, China
| | - Catherine Ropert
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Institute of Biological Sciences (ICB), Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Marco Iosa
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
- Smart Lab, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy
| | - Thomas Rawson
- Medical Research Council (MRC) Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis, Jameel Institute, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jiufeng Sun
- Guangdong Provincial Institute of Public Health, Guangdong Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guangzhou, China
| | - Eugenie R. Lumbers
- School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW, Australia
- Pregnancy and Reproduction Program, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, NSW, Australia
- Priority Research Centre for Reproductive Sciences, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW, Australia
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18
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Marsh K, Tayler R, Pollock L, Roy K, Lakha F, Ho A, Henderson D, Divala T, Currie S, Yirrell D, Lockhart M, Rossi MK, Phin N. Investigation into cases of hepatitis of unknown aetiology among young children, Scotland, 1 January 2022 to 12 April 2022. Euro Surveill 2022; 27:2200318. [PMID: 35426362 PMCID: PMC9012090 DOI: 10.2807/1560-7917.es.2022.27.15.2200318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 37.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
On 31 March 2022, Public Health Scotland was alerted to five children aged 3-5 years admitted to hospital with severe hepatitis of unknown aetiology. Retrospective investigation identified eight additional cases aged 10 years and younger since 1 January 2022. Two pairs of cases have epidemiological links. Common viral hepatitis causes were excluded in those with available results. Five children were adenovirus PCR-positive. Other childhood viruses, including SARS-CoV-2, have been isolated. Investigations are ongoing, with new cases still presenting.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rachel Tayler
- Department of Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Royal Hospital for Children, Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Louisa Pollock
- Department of Paediatric Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Royal Hospital for Children, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Kirsty Roy
- Public Health Scotland, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Fatim Lakha
- Public Health Scotland, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Antonia Ho
- Medical Research Council-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Nick Phin
- Public Health Scotland, Glasgow, United Kingdom
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19
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Doolan DL, Kozlakidis Z, Zhang Z, Paessler S, Su L, Yokota YT, Shioda T, Rodriguez-Palacios A, Kaynar AM, Ahmed R, Samy A, Bradby H, Kalergis AM, Dutta MJ, Kogut M, Zhang SY. Editorial: Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19): Pathophysiology, Epidemiology, Clinical Management and Public Health Response. Front Public Health 2021; 9:807159. [PMID: 34917586 PMCID: PMC8669503 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2021.807159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2021] [Accepted: 11/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Denise L. Doolan
- Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia
| | - Zisis Kozlakidis
- International Agency for Research on Cancer, World Health Organization, Lyon, France
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20
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Fu XM, Yuan L, Liu QJ. System and capability of public health response to nuclear or radiological emergencies in China. J Radiat Res 2021; 62:744-751. [PMID: 34179986 PMCID: PMC8438267 DOI: 10.1093/jrr/rrab052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2021] [Revised: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
In order to respond to nuclear or radiological emergencies effectively and protect the physical and mental health of the public, the national-, provincial-, municipal- and county-level public health response systems for nuclear or radiological emergencies had been established in China by the end of twentieth century. The health administrative departments at all levels have established professional emergency response teams, continue to improve their own level of emergency response systems and operating mechanisms, enhance the capabilities of radiation injury treatment, radiation monitoring and protection through training and exercises and also pay attention to the logistical support for emergency response. In this article the organizations, management system and capabilities of public health response to nuclear or radiological emergencies in China are briefly introduced. We try to strengthen information exchange and cooperation with foreign counterparts in this field in the future, so as to jointly promote the development of preparedness and response for nuclear or radiological emergencies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xi-Ming Fu
- National Institute for Radiological Protection, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 100088, P.R. China
- Chinese Center for Medical Response to Radiation Emergency, Beijing, 100088, P.R. China
| | - Long Yuan
- Corresponding authors: National Institute for Radiological Protection, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2 Xinkang Street, Deshengmenwai, Beijing 100088, P.R. China. Phone: +861062389665; Fax: +861062049160; E-mail: ; National Institute for Radiological Protection, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2 Xinkang Street, Deshengmenwai, Beijing 100088, P.R. China. Phone:+861062389629; Fax:+861062012501; E-mail:
| | - Qing-Jie Liu
- Corresponding authors: National Institute for Radiological Protection, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2 Xinkang Street, Deshengmenwai, Beijing 100088, P.R. China. Phone: +861062389665; Fax: +861062049160; E-mail: ; National Institute for Radiological Protection, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2 Xinkang Street, Deshengmenwai, Beijing 100088, P.R. China. Phone:+861062389629; Fax:+861062012501; E-mail:
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21
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Sudbury EL, O'Sullivan S, Lister D, Varghese D, Satharasinghe K. Case Manifestations and Public Health Response for Outbreak of Meningococcal W Disease, Central Australia, 2017. Emerg Infect Dis 2021; 26:1355-1363. [PMID: 32568047 PMCID: PMC7323526 DOI: 10.3201/eid2607.181941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Neisseria meningitidis serogroup W has emerged as an increasingly common cause of invasive meningococcal disease worldwide; the average case-fatality rate is 10%. In 2017, an unprecedented outbreak of serogroup W infection occurred among the Indigenous pediatric population of Central Australia; there were 24 cases over a 5-month period. Among these cases were atypical manifestations, including meningococcal pneumonia, septic arthritis, and conjunctivitis. The outbreak juxtaposed a well-resourced healthcare system against unique challenges related to covering vast distances, a socially disadvantaged population, and a disease process that was rapid and unpredictable. A coordinated clinical and public health response included investigation of and empiric treatment for 649 febrile children, provision of prophylactic antimicrobial drugs for 465 close contacts, and implementation of a quadrivalent meningococcal ACWY conjugate vaccine immunization program. The response contained the outbreak within 6 months; no deaths and only 1 case of major illness were recorded.
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22
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Tibbetts KK, Ottoson RA, Tsukayama DT. Public Health Response to Tuberculosis Outbreak among Persons Experiencing Homelessness, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, 2017-2018. Emerg Infect Dis 2021; 26:420-426. [PMID: 32091365 PMCID: PMC7045824 DOI: 10.3201/eid2603.190643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Tuberculosis (TB) is a greater risk for populations experiencing homelessness. When a TB exposure occurs in a homeless shelter, evaluation of contacts is both urgent and challenging. In 2017, local public health workers initiated a response to a TB outbreak in homeless shelters in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. In this contact investigation, we incorporated multiple techniques to identify, evaluate, and manage patients, including the concentric-circle method to characterize amount of contact, identifying the most frequent sites of sporadic medical care, using electronic medical records, and engaging with medical providers treating this population. Of 298 contacts evaluated, 41 (14%) had latent TB infection and 2 had active TB disease. Our analysis indicated a significant relationship between duration of exposure and positive TB test result (p = 0.001). We encourage local public health departments to expand beyond traditional contact tracing techniques by leveraging partnerships and existing systems to reach contacts exposed in shelters.
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Kamata K, Jindai K, Ide K, Funaki T, Saito H, Takeshita N, Ohmagari N, Hinoshita E, Asanuma K. The Flight Evacuation Mission for COVID-19 from Wuhan, China to Tokyo, Japan from January 28 to February 17, 2020. Jpn J Infect Dis 2020; 74:373-376. [PMID: 33390435 DOI: 10.7883/yoken.jjid.2020.938] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Multiple countries have reported evacuation missions to repatriate their citizens in the early phase of the emergence of COVID-19 from China. However, a paucity of data exists on how to optimally execute an evacuation while balancing the risk of transmission during the flight and avoiding spread to the evacuees' home countries. We describe the collective findings of the flight evacuation mission from Wuhan, China to Tokyo, Japan from January 28 to February 17, 2020. The evacuation team established the evacuation processing flow, including a focused health questionnaire, temperature monitoring, ticketing and check-in, and boarding procedure planning. The evacuees were seated according to pre-planned zones. Additionally, to facilitate the triage of evacuees for medical needs, we conducted in-flight quarantine to determine the disposition of the evacuees. All evacuees, regardless of their health condition, were required to perform rigorous hand hygiene frequently and to wear surgical masks throughout the flight. We implemented strict infection prevention and control throughout the mission, including in-flight quarantine. The pre-planned protocol and vigilant observation during the flight were crucial elements of this mission. Our experience is of value in developing a more refined plan for the next outbreak.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazuhiro Kamata
- Infectious Diseases Research Center of Niigata University in Myanmar, Myanmar.,Department of Pediatrics, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Japan
| | - Kazuaki Jindai
- Department of Healthcare Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Kyoto University, Japan
| | - Kazuhiko Ide
- Tokyo Quarantine Station, Tokyo Airport Quarantine Branch Office, Japan.,Infectious Disease Control Division, Health Service Bureau, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Japan
| | - Takanori Funaki
- Department of Infectious Diseases, National Center for Child Health and Development, Japan
| | - Hiroki Saito
- Department of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, School of Medicine, University of St. Marianna-Yokohama City Seibu Hospital, Japan
| | - Nozomi Takeshita
- Infectious Disease Control Division, Health Service Bureau, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Japan
| | - Norio Ohmagari
- Disease Control and Prevention Center, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Japan
| | - Eiji Hinoshita
- Infectious Disease Control Division, Health Service Bureau, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Japan
| | - Kazunari Asanuma
- Pharmaceutical Safety and Environmental Health Bureau, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Japan
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Calloway EE, Chiappone AL, Schmitt HJ, Sullivan D, Gerhardstein B, Tucker PG, Rayman J, Yaroch AL. Exploring Community Psychosocial Stress Related to Per- and Poly-Fluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Contamination: Lessons Learned from a Qualitative Study. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2020; 17:E8706. [PMID: 33255157 PMCID: PMC7727701 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17238706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2020] [Revised: 11/14/2020] [Accepted: 11/20/2020] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to qualitatively explore the per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) exposure experience and associated stressors, to inform public health efforts to support psychosocial health and resilience in affected communities. Semi-structured interviews (n = 9) were conducted from July-September 2019 with community members and state public health department representatives from areas with PFAS-contaminated drinking water. Thematic analysis was completed and themes were described and summarized. Reported stressors included health concerns and uncertainty, institutional delegitimization and associated distrust, and financial burdens. Interviewees provided several strategies to reduce stress and promote stress coping capacity and resilience, including showing empathy and validating the normalcy of experiencing stress; building trust through visible action and sustained community engagement; providing information and actionable guidance; discussing stress carefully; fostering stress coping capacity and resilience with opportunities to build social capital and restore agency; and building capacity among government agencies and health care providers to address psychosocial stress. While communities affected by PFAS contamination will face unavoidable stressors, positive interactions with government responders and health care providers may help reduce negative stress. More research on how best to integrate community psychosocial health and stress coping and resilience concepts into the public health response to environmental contamination could be helpful in addressing these stressors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric E. Calloway
- Gretchen Swanson Center for Nutrition, Omaha, NE 68114, USA; (A.L.C.); (A.L.Y.)
| | - Alethea L. Chiappone
- Gretchen Swanson Center for Nutrition, Omaha, NE 68114, USA; (A.L.C.); (A.L.Y.)
- College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | - Harrison J. Schmitt
- Department of Psychology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA; (H.J.S.); (D.S.)
| | - Daniel Sullivan
- Department of Psychology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA; (H.J.S.); (D.S.)
| | - Ben Gerhardstein
- Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Atlanta, GA 30341, USA; (B.G.); (P.G.T.); (J.R.)
| | - Pamela G. Tucker
- Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Atlanta, GA 30341, USA; (B.G.); (P.G.T.); (J.R.)
| | - Jamie Rayman
- Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Atlanta, GA 30341, USA; (B.G.); (P.G.T.); (J.R.)
| | - Amy L. Yaroch
- Gretchen Swanson Center for Nutrition, Omaha, NE 68114, USA; (A.L.C.); (A.L.Y.)
- College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
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25
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Grebe G, Vélez JA, Tiutiunnyk A, Aragón-Caqueo D, Fernández-Salinas J, Navarrete M, Laroze D. Dynamic quarantine: a comparative analysis of the Chilean public health response to COVID-19. Epidemiol Infect 2020; 148:e270. [PMID: 33143799 DOI: 10.1017/S0950268820002678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022] Open
Abstract
In this study, an analysis of the Chilean public health response to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 is presented. The analysis is based on the daily transmission rate (DTR). The Chilean response has been based on dynamic quarantines, which are established, lifted or prolonged based on the percentage of infected individuals in the fundamental administrative sections, called communes. This analysis is performed at a national level, at the level of the Metropolitan Region (MR) and at the commune level in the MR according to whether the commune did or did not enter quarantine between late March and mid-May of 2020. The analysis shows a certain degree of efficacy in controlling the pandemic using the dynamic quarantine strategy. However, it also shows that apparent control has only been partially achieved to date. With this policy, the control of the DTR partially falls to 4%, where it settles, and the MR is the primary vector of infection at the country level. For this reason, we can conclude that the MR has not managed to control the disease, with variable results within its own territory.
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26
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Parry MF, Shah AK, Sestovic M, Salter S. Precipitous Fall in Common Respiratory Viral Infections During COVID-19. Open Forum Infect Dis 2020; 7:ofaa511. [PMID: 33269297 PMCID: PMC7665739 DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofaa511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Accepted: 10/15/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
In the midst of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, we were surprised to find that all other respiratory viral infections fell precipitously. The difference in respiratory viral infections during the 16-week period of our peak COVID-19 activity in 2020 (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention weeks 14–29) was significantly lower than during the same period in the previous 4 years (a total of 4 infections vs an average of 138 infections; P < .0001). We attribute this to widespread use of public health interventions including wearing face masks, social distancing, hand hygiene, and stay-at-home orders. As these interventions are usually ignored by the community during most influenza seasons, we anticipate that their continued use during the upcoming winter season could substantially blunt the case load of influenza and other respiratory viral infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael F Parry
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Stamford Health, Stamford, Connecticut, USA.,Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York, USA
| | - Asha K Shah
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Stamford Health, Stamford, Connecticut, USA.,Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York, USA
| | - Merima Sestovic
- Department of Infection Prevention, Stamford Health, Stamford, Connecticut, USA
| | - Selma Salter
- Department of Microbiology, Stamford Health, Stamford, Connecticut, USA
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27
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Baquero B, Gonzalez C, Ramirez M, Chavez Santos E, Ornelas IJ. Understanding and Addressing Latinx COVID-19 Disparities in Washington State. Health Educ Behav 2020; 47:845-849. [PMID: 33148042 DOI: 10.1177/1090198120963099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed, and intensified, health inequities faced by Latinx in the United States. Washington was one of the first U.S. states to report cases of COVID-19. Public health surveillance shows that 31% of Washington cases are Latinx, despite being only 13% of the state population. Unjust policies related to immigration, labor, housing, transportation, and education have contributed to both past and existing inequities. Approximately 20% of Latinx are uninsured, leading to delays in testing and medical care for COVID-19, and early reports indicated critical shortages in professional interpreters and multilingual telehealth options. Washington State is taking action to address some of these inequities. Applying a health equity framework, we describe key factors contributing to COVID-19-related health inequities among Latinx populations, and how Washington State has aimed to address these inequities. We draw on these experiences to make recommendations for other Latinx communities experiencing COVID-19 disparities.
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28
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Yimer B, Ashebir W, Wolde A, Teshome M. COVID-19 and Global Health Security: Overview of the Global Health Security Alliance, COVID-19 Response, African Countries' Approaches, and Ethics. Disaster Med Public Health Prep 2020;:1-5. [PMID: 33004106 DOI: 10.1017/dmp.2020.360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Public health emergencies can arise from a wide range of causes, one of which includes outbreaks of contagion. The world has continued to be threatened by various infectious outbreaks of different types that have global consequences. While all pandemics are unique in their level of transmission and breadth of impact, the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic is the deepest global crisis of the 21st century, which has affected nearly every country globally. Yet, going forward, there will be a continued need for global health security resources to protect people around the world against increasing infectious disease outbreaks frequency and intensity. Pandemic response policies and processes all need to be trusted for effective and ethical pandemic response. As the world can learn during the past few years about frequent infectious disease outbreaks, (these) diseases respect no borders, and, therefore, our spirit of solidarity must respect no borders in our efforts to stop the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and be better prepared to respond effectively to a health crisis in the future.
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29
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Means AR, Wagner AD, Kern E, Newman LP, Weiner BJ. Implementation Science to Respond to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Front Public Health 2020; 8:462. [PMID: 32984248 PMCID: PMC7493639 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2020.00462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2020] [Accepted: 07/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to expand globally, requiring massive public health responses from national and local governments. These bodies have taken heterogeneous approaches to their responses, including when and how to introduce and enforce evidence-based interventions—such as social distancing, hand-washing, personal protective equipment (PPE), and testing. In this commentary, we reflect on opportunities for implementation science to contribute meaningfully to the COVID-19 pandemic response. We reflect backwards on missed opportunities in emergency preparedness planning, using the example of PPE stockpiling and supply management; this planning could have been strengthened through process mapping with consensus-building, microplanning with simulation, and stakeholder engagement. We propose current opportunities for action, focusing on enhancing the adoption, fidelity, and sustainment of hand washing and social distancing; we can combine qualitative data, policy analysis, and dissemination science to inform agile and rapid adjustment to social marketing strategies to enhance their penetration. We look to future opportunities to enhance the integration of new evidence in decision-making, focusing on serologic and virologic testing systems; we can leverage simulation and other systems engineering modeling to identify ideal system structures. Finally, we discuss the ways in which the COVID-19 pandemic challenges implementation science to become more rapid, rigorous, and nimble in its approach, and integrate with public health practice. In summary, we articulate the ways in which implementation science can inform, and be informed by, the COVID-19 pandemic, looking backwards, proposing actions for the moment, and approaches for the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arianna Rubin Means
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Anjuli D Wagner
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Eli Kern
- Public Health-Seattle and King County, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Laura P Newman
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States.,Office of Communicable Disease Epidemiology, Washington State Department of Health, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Bryan J Weiner
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States.,Department of Health Services, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
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Abstract
Following the April 16, 2020 release of the Opening Up America Again guidelines for relaxing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) social distancing policies, local leaders are concerned about future pandemic waves and lack robust strategies for tracking and suppressing transmission. Here, we present a strategy for triggering short-term shelter-in-place orders when hospital admissions surpass a threshold. We use stochastic optimization to derive triggers that ensure hospital surges will not exceed local capacity and lockdowns are as short as possible. For example, Austin, Texas-the fastest-growing large city in the United States-has adopted a COVID-19 response strategy based on this method. Assuming that the relaxation of social distancing increases the risk of infection sixfold, the optimal strategy will trigger a total of 135 d (90% prediction interval: 126 d to 141 d) of sheltering, allow schools to open in the fall, and result in an expected 2,929 deaths (90% prediction interval: 2,837 to 3,026) by September 2021, which is 29% of the annual mortality rate. In the months ahead, policy makers are likely to face difficult choices, and the extent of public restraint and cocooning of vulnerable populations may save or cost thousands of lives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Duque
- Industrial Engineering and Management Sciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208
| | - David P Morton
- Industrial Engineering and Management Sciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208;
| | - Bismark Singh
- Discrete Mathematics, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen 91058, Germany
| | - Zhanwei Du
- Department of Integrative Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712
| | - Remy Pasco
- Operations Research and Industrial Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712
| | - Lauren Ancel Meyers
- Department of Integrative Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712
- Santa Fe Institute, Santa Fe, NM 87501
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Abstract
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), was first reported in late 2019 from Wuhan, China. Considering COVID-19's alarming levels of spread and severity, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a global pandemic on March 11, 2020. The first case of COVID-19 in Nepal was reported on January 23, 2020. The Government of Nepal implemented different public health measures to contain COVID-19, including border closures and a countrywide lockdown. We collected the daily data provided by the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) of the Government of Nepal and illustrated the early epidemiological characteristics of COVID-19 in Nepal. By May 31, 2020, 1,572 cases and eight deaths were reported in Nepal associated with COVID-19. The estimate of prevalence for COVID-19 among tested populations was 2.25% (95% CI: 2.15–2.37%) and case-fatality rate was 0.5%. The majority of the cases were young males (n = 1,454, 92%), with overall average age being 30.5 years (ranging from 2 months to 81 years) and were mostly asymptomatic. There were only five cases from three districts until the end of March, but cases surged from April and spread to 57 out of 77 districts of Nepal by the end of May 2020 despite the continuous lockdown. Most of these cases are from the southern plains of Nepal, bordering India. As the effect of COVID-19 is expected to persist longer, the Government of Nepal should make appropriate strategies for loosening lockdowns in a phase-wise manner while maintaining social distancing and personal hygiene and increasing its testing, tracking, and medical capacity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Santosh Dhakal
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Surendra Karki
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Himalayan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Kirtipur, Nepal
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32
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Ruckart PZ, Ettinger AS, Hanna-Attisha M, Jones N, Davis SI, Breysse PN. The Flint Water Crisis: A Coordinated Public Health Emergency Response and Recovery Initiative. J Public Health Manag Pract 2020; 25 Suppl 1, Lead Poisoning Prevention:S84-S90. [PMID: 30507775 PMCID: PMC6309965 DOI: 10.1097/phh.0000000000000871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
CONTEXT The City of Flint was already distressed because of decades of financial decline when an estimated 140 000 individuals were exposed to lead and other contaminants in drinking water. In April 2014, Flint's drinking water source was changed from Great Lakes' Lake Huron (which was provided by the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department) to the Flint River without necessary corrosion control treatment to prevent lead release from pipes and plumbing. Lead exposure can damage children's brains and nervous systems, lead to slow growth and development, and result in learning, behavior, hearing, and speech problems. After the involvement of concerned residents and independent researchers, Flint was reconnected to the Detroit water system on October 16, 2015. A federal emergency was declared in January 2016. PROGRAM The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provided assistance and support for response and recovery efforts including coordinating effective health messaging; assessing lead exposure; providing guidance on blood lead screening protocols; and identifying and linking community members to appropriate follow-up services.In response to the crisis in Flint, Congress funded the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to establish a federal advisory committee; enhance Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program activities; and support a voluntary Flint lead exposure registry. The registry, funded through a grant to Michigan State University, is designed to identify eligible participants and ensure robust registry data; monitor health, child development, service utilization, and ongoing lead exposure; improve service delivery to lead-exposed individuals; and coordinate with other community and federally funded programs in Flint. The registry is also collaborating to make Flint "lead-free" and to share best practices with other communities. DISCUSSION The Flint water crisis highlights the need for improved risk communication strategies, and environmental health infrastructure, enhanced surveillance, and primary prevention to identify and respond to environmental threats to the public's health. Collecting data is important to facilitate action and decision making to prevent lead poisoning. Partnerships can help guide innovative strategies for primary lead prevention, raise awareness, extend outreach and communication efforts, and promote a shared sense of ownership.
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Affiliation(s)
- Perri Zeitz Ruckart
- Lead Poisoning Prevention and Environmental Health Tracking Branch, Division of Environmental Health Science and Practice, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia (Ms Ruckart and Dr Ettinger); Pediatric Public Health Initiative and Department of Pediatrics and Human Development, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, Flint, Michigan (Dr Hanna-Attisha); Department of Pediatrics and Human Development/Division of Public Health, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan (Dr Jones); Office of Science, National Center for Environmental Health/Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia (Ms Davis); and National Center for Environmental Health/Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia (Dr Breysse)
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Abstract
Mexico has been one of the most affected countries in the world by the COVID-19 pandemic. The true impact of the pandemic has probably been underestimated, and President López Obrador, as well as the Ministry of Health, has struggled to lead the country since the beginning. While cases and deaths continue to rise, stronger leadership and unity are needed to limit the impact of COVID-19 on the health of millions of Mexicans.
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Fischer LS, Mansergh G, Lynch J, Santibanez S. Addressing Disease-Related Stigma During Infectious Disease Outbreaks. Disaster Med Public Health Prep 2019; 13:989-94. [PMID: 31156079 DOI: 10.1017/dmp.2018.157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Outbreaks of emerging infectious disease are a constant threat. In the last 10 years, there have been outbreaks of 2009 influenza A (H1N1), Ebola virus disease, and Zika virus. Stigma associated with infectious disease can be a barrier to adopting healthy behaviors, leading to more severe health problems, ongoing disease transmission, and difficulty controlling infectious disease outbreaks. Much has been learned about infectious disease and stigma in the context of nearly 4 decades of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome pandemic. In this paper, we define stigma, discuss its relevance to infectious disease outbreaks, including how individuals and communities can be affected. Adapting lessons learned from the rich literature on HIV-related stigma, we propose a strategy for reducing stigma during infectious disease outbreaks such as Ebola virus disease and Zika virus. The implementation of brief, practical strategies such as the ones proposed here might help reduce stigma and facilitate more effective control of emerging infectious diseases.
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Abstract
Hurricane Katrina devastated the Mississippi Gulf Coast on August 29, 2005, causing an ecological disaster. Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) entomologists established a vector control program in affected areas with the following objectives: 1) helping local vector control agencies reestablish services, 2) performing mosquito surveillance, and 3) establishing mosquito larviciding and adulticiding where necessary. The MSDH personnel also helped write Action Request Forms requesting assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for increased ground spraying in the 6 lower counties. Mosquito surveillance was conducted daily for 2 wk after the storm, then weekly for another month. Sanitation lagged, with people using makeshift latrines or simply piles of rubbish for bathrooms. Filth flies contaminated food and food surfaces. Responders lived in tent cities, many allowing filth fly access. Approximately 2 wk after hurricane landfall, due to increasing mosquito numbers, MSDH entomologists requested FEMA for an aerial spraying of insecticide to reduce nuisance mosquito biting in the area. A private vendor made 1 application of naled (Dibrom®) insecticide in the 3 coastal counties, yielding over 90% control in entire counties in 1 night. No complaints or medical or environmental problems from the increased ground spraying and aerial spraying were reported. Overall, important lessons in disaster vector control were learned, including how to work effectively with Centers for Disease Control, FEMA, and the US Public Health Service personnel, how to manage the public relations/educational aspects, and how to avoid or mitigate political interference in the disaster response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jerome Goddard
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Entomology and Plant Pathology, 100 Twelve Lane, Clay Lyle Entomology, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762
- Bureau of Environmental Health, Mississippi Department of Health, P.O. Box 1700, Jackson, MS 39215
| | - Wendy C Varnado
- Bureau of Environmental Health, Mississippi Department of Health, P.O. Box 1700, Jackson, MS 39215
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36
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Ganguli-Mitra A, Young I, Engelmann L, Harper I, McCormack D, Marsland R, Buch Segal L, Sethi N, Stewart E, Tichenor M. Segmenting communities as public health strategy: a view from the social sciences and humanities. Wellcome Open Res 2020; 5:104. [PMID: 32587904 PMCID: PMC7309410 DOI: 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.15975.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
On the 5th of May 2020, a group of modellers, epidemiologists and biomedical scientists from the University of Edinburgh proposed a "segmenting and shielding" approach to easing the lockdown in the UK over the coming months. Their proposal, which has been submitted to the government and since been discussed in the media, offers what appears to be a pragmatic solution out of the current lockdown. The approach identifies segments of the population as at-risk groups and outlines ways in which these remain shielded, while 'healthy' segments would be allowed to return to some kind of normality, gradually, over several weeks. This proposal highlights how narrowly conceived scientific responses may result in unintended consequences and repeat harmful public health practices. As an interdisciplinary group of researchers from the humanities and social sciences at the University of Edinburgh, we respond to this proposal and highlight how ethics, history, medical sociology and anthropology - as well as disability studies and decolonial approaches - offer critical engagement with such responses, and call for more creative and inclusive responses to public health crises.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ingrid Young
- Centre for Biomedicine, Self & Society, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Lukas Engelmann
- Centre for Biomedicine, Self & Society, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Ian Harper
- School of Social and Political Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Donna McCormack
- Centre for Biomedicine, Self & Society, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,School of Literature and Languages, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK
| | - Rebecca Marsland
- School of Social and Political Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Lotte Buch Segal
- School of Social and Political Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Nayha Sethi
- Centre for Biomedicine, Self & Society, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Ellen Stewart
- Centre for Biomedicine, Self & Society, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Marlee Tichenor
- School of Social and Political Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
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37
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Abstract
This study aims to analyze South Korea's experience during the COVID-19 outbreak through a gendered lens. We briefly introduce the COVID-19 outbreak in Korea, scrutinize gendered vulnerability in contracting the virus, and then analyze the gendered aspects of the pandemic response in two phases: quarantine policy and mitigation policy. The authors elicit four lessons from the analysis. First, gender needs to be mainstreamed at all stages of a public health emergency response. Second, in addition to medical care, all formal and informal care work should be considered as an essential component of health care systems. Third, a people-centered approach in health governance should be prioritized to make women's voices heard at every level. Fourth, medical technology and resources to cope with pandemic should be produced and distributed in an equitable manner, acknowledging differential vulnerability and susceptibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saerom Kim
- People's Health Institute, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jin-Hwan Kim
- Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Yukyung Park
- People's Health Institute, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Sun Kim
- People's Health Institute, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Chang-Yup Kim
- People's Health Institute, Seoul, Republic of Korea.,Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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38
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Zhang S, Wang Z, Chang R, Wang H, Xu C, Yu X, Tsamlag L, Dong Y, Wang H, Cai Y. COVID-19 containment: China provides important lessons for global response. Front Med 2020; 14:215-219. [PMID: 32212059 PMCID: PMC7095399 DOI: 10.1007/s11684-020-0766-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2020] [Accepted: 03/09/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
The world must act fast to contain wider international spread of the epidemic of COVID-19 now. The unprecedented public health efforts in China have contained the spread of this new virus. Measures taken in China are currently proven to reduce human-to-human transmission successfully. We summarized the effective intervention and prevention measures in the fields of public health response, clinical management, and research development in China, which may provide vital lessons for the global response. It is really important to take collaborative actions now to save more lives from the pandemic of COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuxian Zhang
- School of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Zezhou Wang
- Department of Cancer Prevention, Shanghai Cancer Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Ruijie Chang
- School of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Huwen Wang
- School of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Chen Xu
- School of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Xiaoyue Yu
- School of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Lhakpa Tsamlag
- School of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Yinqiao Dong
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, 110122, China
| | - Hui Wang
- School of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China.
| | - Yong Cai
- School of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China.
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Reusken CB, Buiting A, Bleeker-Rovers C, Diederen B, Hooiveld M, Friesema I, Koopmans M, Kortbeek T, Lutgens SP, Meijer A, Murk JL, Overdevest I, Trienekens T, Timen A, Van den Bijllaardt W, Van Dissel J, Van Gageldonk-Lafeber A, Van der Vegt D, Wever PC, Van der Hoek W, Kluytmans J. Rapid assessment of regional SARS-CoV-2 community transmission through a convenience sample of healthcare workers, the Netherlands, March 2020. Euro Surveill 2020; 25:2000334. [PMID: 32234115 PMCID: PMC7118342 DOI: 10.2807/1560-7917.es.2020.25.12.2000334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2020] [Accepted: 03/25/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
To rapidly assess possible community transmission in Noord-Brabant, the Netherlands, healthcare workers (HCW) with mild respiratory complaints and without epidemiological link (contact with confirmed case or visited areas with active circulation) were tested for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Within 2 days, 1,097 HCW in nine hospitals were tested; 45 (4.1%) were positive. Of six hospitals with positive HCW, two accounted for 38 positive HCW. The results informed local and national risk management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chantal B Reusken
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control-National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, the Netherlands
- These authors contributed equally to this work
- Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Anton Buiting
- Elisabeth-Tweesteden hospital, Tilburg and Waalwijk, the Netherlands
| | | | - Bram Diederen
- Bravis hospital, Roosendaal and Bergen-op-Zoom, the Netherlands
| | - Mariëtte Hooiveld
- Nivel, Netherlands institute for health services research, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Ingrid Friesema
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control-National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | | | - Titia Kortbeek
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control-National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | | | - Adam Meijer
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control-National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | - Jean-Luc Murk
- Elisabeth-Tweesteden hospital, Tilburg and Waalwijk, the Netherlands
| | | | | | - Aura Timen
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control-National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | | | - Jaap Van Dissel
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control-National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | - Arianne Van Gageldonk-Lafeber
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control-National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | | | | | - Wim Van der Hoek
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control-National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, the Netherlands
- These authors contributed equally to this work
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Erly SJ, Herbeck JT, Kerani RP, Reuer JR. Characterization of Molecular Cluster Detection and Evaluation of Cluster Investigation Criteria Using Machine Learning Methods and Statewide Surveillance Data in Washington State. Viruses 2020; 12:E142. [PMID: 31991877 DOI: 10.3390/v12020142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2019] [Revised: 01/21/2020] [Accepted: 01/22/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Molecular cluster detection can be used to interrupt HIV transmission but is dependent on identifying clusters where transmission is likely. We characterized molecular cluster detection in Washington State, evaluated the current cluster investigation criteria, and developed a criterion using machine learning. The population living with HIV (PLWH) in Washington State, those with an analyzable genotype sequences, and those in clusters were described across demographic characteristics from 2015 to2018. The relationship between 3- and 12-month cluster growth and demographic, clinical, and temporal predictors were described, and a random forest model was fit using data from 2016 to 2017. The ability of this model to identify clusters with future transmission was compared to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Washington state criteria in 2018. The population with a genotype was similar to all PLWH, but people in a cluster were disproportionately white, male, and men who have sex with men. The clusters selected for investigation by the random forest model grew on average 2.3 cases (95% CI 1.1–1.4) in 3 months, which was not significantly larger than the CDC criteria (2.0 cases, 95% CI 0.5–3.4). Disparities in the cases analyzed suggest that molecular cluster detection may not benefit all populations. Jurisdictions should use auxiliary data sources for prediction or continue using established investigation criteria.
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Eshraghian EA, Ferdos SN, Mehta SR. The Impact of Human Mobility on Regional and Global Efforts to Control HIV Transmission. Viruses 2020; 12:E67. [PMID: 31935811 DOI: 10.3390/v12010067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2019] [Revised: 12/30/2019] [Accepted: 01/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
HIV prevention and control methods are implemented on different scales to reduce the spread of the virus amongst populations. However, despite such efforts, HIV continues to persist in populations with a global incidence rate of 1.8 million in 2017 alone. The introduction of new infections into susceptible regional populations promotes the spread of HIV, indicating a crucial need to study the impact of migration and mobility on regional and global efforts to prevent HIV transmission. Here we reviewed studies that assess the impact of human mobility on HIV transmission and spread. We found an important role for both travel and migration in driving the spread of HIV across regional and national borders. Combined, our results indicate that even in the presence of control and preventive efforts, if migration and travel are occurring, public health efforts will need to remain persistent to ensure that new infections do not grow into outbreaks.
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Francis JR, Gargan C, Remenyi B, Ralph AP, Draper A, Holt D, Krause V, Hardie K. A cluster of acute rheumatic fever cases among Aboriginal Australians in a remote community with high baseline incidence. Aust N Z J Public Health 2019; 43:288-293. [PMID: 30994967 DOI: 10.1111/1753-6405.12893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2018] [Revised: 12/01/2018] [Accepted: 02/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES We report a cluster of acute rheumatic fever (ARF) cases and the public health response in a high-burden Australian setting. METHODS The public health unit was notified of an increase in ARF cases in a remote Australian Aboriginal community. A multi-disciplinary group coordinated the response. Household contacts were screened for ARF or group A Streptococcus (GAS) infection by questionnaire and swab collection, offered an echocardiogram if aged 5-20 years, and intramuscular benzathine benzylpenicillin if aged over one year or if less than one year with impetigo. RESULTS Fifteen definite and seven probable ARF cases were diagnosed in the community in July-December 2014 (all-age incidence of definite ARF: 1,473/100,000). The public health response identified two additional cases of ARF. A total of 81 contacts were screened; GAS was detected in 3/76 (4%) throat swabs and 11/24 (46%) skin swabs. Molecular typing revealed high GAS strain diversity. CONCLUSIONS The incidence of ARF during this cluster was very high. Carriage and infection with GAS was observed, but no outbreak strain identified. Implications for public health: A national public health guideline has since been developed that includes advice on the investigation of an ARF outbreak/cluster. Sustained efforts with strong community engagement are required to tackle high ARF rates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua R Francis
- Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Northern Territory.,Royal Darwin Hospital, Northern Territory
| | - Catherine Gargan
- Top End Health Service - Primary Health Care Branch, Northern Territory
| | - Bo Remenyi
- Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Northern Territory
| | - Anna P Ralph
- Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Northern Territory.,Royal Darwin Hospital, Northern Territory
| | - Anthony Draper
- Northern Territory Centre for Disease Control, Northern Territory
| | - Deborah Holt
- Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Northern Territory
| | - Vicki Krause
- Northern Territory Centre for Disease Control, Northern Territory
| | - Kate Hardie
- Northern Territory Centre for Disease Control, Northern Territory
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Mikulski MA, Wichman MD, Simmons DL, Pham AN, Clottey V, Fuortes LJ. Toxic metals in ayurvedic preparations from a public health lead poisoning cluster investigation. Int J Occup Environ Health 2018. [PMID: 29528276 DOI: 10.1080/10773525.2018.1447880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
Background Herbal formulations, traditional medicine, and complementary and alternative medicine are used by the majority of the world's population. Toxicity associated with use of Ayurvedic products due to metal content is an increasingly recognized potential public health problem. Objectives Report on toxic metals content of Ayurvedic products obtained during an investigation of lead poisoning among users of Ayurvedic medicine. Methods Samples of Ayurvedic formulations were analyzed for metals and metalloids following established US. Environmental Protection Agency methods. Results Lead was found in 65% of 252 Ayurvedic medicine samples with mercury and arsenic found in 38 and 32% of samples, respectively. Almost half of samples containing mercury, 36% of samples containing lead and 39% of samples containing arsenic had concentrations of those metals per pill that exceeded, up to several thousand times, the recommended daily intake values for pharmaceutical impurities. Conclusions Lack of regulations regarding manufacturing and content or purity of Ayurvedic and other herbal formulations poses a significant global public health problem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marek A Mikulski
- a Department of Occupational and Environmental Health , College of Public Health, The University of Iowa , Iowa City , IA , USA
| | - Michael D Wichman
- b State Hygienic Laboratory at the University of Iowa , Coralville , IA , USA
| | - Donald L Simmons
- c State Hygienic Laboratory at the University of Iowa , Ankeny , IA , USA
| | - Anthony N Pham
- a Department of Occupational and Environmental Health , College of Public Health, The University of Iowa , Iowa City , IA , USA
| | - Valentina Clottey
- a Department of Occupational and Environmental Health , College of Public Health, The University of Iowa , Iowa City , IA , USA
| | - Laurence J Fuortes
- a Department of Occupational and Environmental Health , College of Public Health, The University of Iowa , Iowa City , IA , USA
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Abstract
Epidemiological (Epi) team is a team of diverse and multidisciplinary public health professionals who provide support and strength to the capacity of an agency during an event where the need for resources is beyond the routine capability. The Epi teams consist of a staff with skills ranging from specialty areas such as epidemiology, environmental health, health preparedness, nursing, health education, laboratory technology, etc. Establishment of Epi teams could be a very useful addition to a public health department and could lead to the early, efficient, and effective response to public health emergencies.
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Stefanelli P, Miglietta A, Pezzotti P, Fazio C, Neri A, Vacca P, Voller F, D'Ancona FP, Guerra R, Iannazzo S, Pompa MG, Rezza G. Increased incidence of invasive meningococcal disease of serogroup C / clonal complex 11, Tuscany, Italy, 2015 to 2016. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2016; 21:30176. [PMID: 27035155 DOI: 10.2807/1560-7917.es.2016.21.12.30176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2016] [Accepted: 03/24/2016] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
We report an increase of serogroup C Neisseria meningitidis invasive meningococcal disease in Tuscany. From January 2015 to end February 2016, 43 cases were reported, among which 10 were fatal, compared to two cases caused by serogroup C recorded in 2014 and three in 2013. No secondary cases occurred. Thirty-five strains belonged to C:P1.5-1,10-8:F3-6:ST-11(cc11). Control measures have been adopted and immunisation campaigns implemented. Studies on risk factors and carriage are ongoing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Stefanelli
- Department of Infectious, Parasitic & Immuno-mediated Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
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Porse CC, Kramer V, Yoshimizu MH, Metzger M, Hu R, Padgett K, Vugia DJ. Public Health Response to Aedes aegypti and Ae. albopictus Mosquitoes Invading California, USA. Emerg Infect Dis 2016. [PMID: 26401891 PMCID: PMC4593441 DOI: 10.3201/eid2110.150494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Aedes aegypti and Ae. albopictus mosquitoes, primary vectors of dengue and chikungunya viruses, were recently detected in California, USA. The threat of potential local transmission of these viruses increases as more infected travelers arrive from affected areas. Public health response has included enhanced human and mosquito surveillance, education, and intensive mosquito control.
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Porse CC, Kramer V, Yoshimizu MH, Metzger M, Hu R, Padgett K, Vugia DJ. Public Health Response to Aedes aegypti and Ae. albopictus Mosquitoes Invading California, USA. Emerg Infect Dis 2016; 21:1827-9. [PMID: 26401891 DOI: 10.3201/3210.150494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Aedes aegypti and Ae. albopictus mosquitoes, primary vectors of dengue and chikungunya viruses, were recently detected in California, USA. The threat of potential local transmission of these viruses increases as more infected travelers arrive from affected areas. Public health response has included enhanced human and mosquito surveillance, education, and intensive mosquito control.
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Smith RM, Derado G, Wise M, Harris JR, Chiller T, Meltzer MI, Park BJ. Estimated deaths and illnesses averted during fungal meningitis outbreak associated with contaminated steroid injections, United States, 2012-2013. Emerg Infect Dis 2015; 21:933-40. [PMID: 25989264 PMCID: PMC4451895 DOI: 10.3201/eid2106.141558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Public health response to the outbreak likely resulted fewer injections, cases, and deaths. Deaths, Illnesses Averted in Meningitis Outbreak During 2012–2013, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and partners responded to a multistate outbreak of fungal infections linked to methylprednisolone acetate (MPA) injections produced by a compounding pharmacy. We evaluated the effects of public health actions on the scope of this outbreak. A comparison of 60-day case-fatality rates and clinical characteristics of patients given a diagnosis on or before October 4, the date the outbreak was widely publicized, with those of patients given a diagnosis after October 4 showed that an estimated 3,150 MPA injections, 153 cases of meningitis or stroke, and 124 deaths were averted. Compared with diagnosis after October 4, diagnosis on or before October 4 was significantly associated with a higher 60-day case-fatality rate (28% vs. 5%; p<0.0001). Aggressive public health action resulted in a substantially reduced estimated number of persons affected by this outbreak and improved survival of affected patients.
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Paterson BJ, Durrheim DN, Hardie K. Pandemic response in low-resource settings requires effective syndromic surveillance. Influenza Other Respir Viruses 2013; 7:887-8. [PMID: 23462032 PMCID: PMC4634271 DOI: 10.1111/irv.12098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/16/2013] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
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Laurie KL, Huston P, Riley S, Katz JM, Willison DJ, Tam JS, Mounts AW, Hoschler K, Miller E, Vandemaele K, Broberg E, Van Kerkhove MD, Nicoll A. Influenza serological studies to inform public health action: best practices to optimise timing, quality and reporting. Influenza Other Respir Viruses 2013; 7:211-24. [PMID: 22548725 PMCID: PMC5855149 DOI: 10.1111/j.1750-2659.2012.0370a.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Serological studies can detect infection with a novel influenza virus in the absence of symptoms or positive virology, providing useful information on infection that goes beyond the estimates from epidemiological, clinical and virological data. During the 2009 A(H1N1) pandemic, an impressive number of detailed serological studies were performed, yet the majority of serological data were available only after the first wave of infection. This limited the ability to estimate the transmissibility and severity of this novel infection, and the variability in methodology and reporting limited the ability to compare and combine the serological data. OBJECTIVES To identify best practices for conduct and standardisation of serological studies on outbreak and pandemic influenza to inform public policy. METHODS/SETTING An international meeting was held in February 2011 in Ottawa, Canada, to foster the consensus for greater standardisation of influenza serological studies. RESULTS Best practices for serological investigations of influenza epidemiology include the following: classification of studies as pre-pandemic, outbreak, pandemic or inter-pandemic with a clearly identified objective; use of international serum standards for laboratory assays; cohort and cross-sectional study designs with common standards for data collection; use of serum banks to improve sampling capacity; and potential for linkage of serological, clinical and epidemiological data. Advance planning for outbreak studies would enable a rapid and coordinated response; inclusion of serological studies in pandemic plans should be considered. CONCLUSIONS Optimising the quality, comparability and combinability of influenza serological studies will provide important data upon emergence of a novel or variant influenza virus to inform public health action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen L Laurie
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza, VIDRL, North Melbourne, Vic. 3051, Australia.
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