The Case Against Compulsory Casefinding in Controlling AIDS—Testing, Screening and Reporting

1987 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 7-53
Author(s):  
Lawrence O. Gostin ◽  
William J. Curran ◽  
Mary E. Clark
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Effective Means ◽  
Immune Deficiency Syndrome ◽  
Deficiency Syndrome ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Public Health Response ◽  
Screening Programs ◽  
Infection Control Measures ◽  
Health Response ◽  
High Risk Populations

AbstractThe spread of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) demands a comprehensive and effective public health response. Because no treatment or vaccine is currently available, traditional infection control measures are being considered. Proposals include compulsory testing and screening of selected high risk populations. The fairness and accuracy of compulsory screening programs depend upon the reliability of medical technology and the balancing of public health and individual confidentiality interests. This Article proposes criteria for evaluating compulsory testing and screening programs. It concludes that voluntary identification, education, and counselling of infected persons is the most effective means of encouraging the behavioral changes that are necessary to halt the spread of AIDS.

scholarly journals Global Epidemiology of Tuberculosis

2018 ◽  
Vol 39 (03) ◽  
pp. 271-285 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katherine Floyd ◽  
Mario Raviglione ◽  
Philippe Glaziou
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Immune Deficiency Syndrome ◽  
Deficiency Syndrome ◽  
Public Health Response ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
The Public ◽  
Health Response ◽  
Global Epidemiology ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
Sustainable Investments

AbstractTuberculosis (TB) was the underlying cause of 1.3 million deaths among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-negative people in 2016, exceeding the global number of HIV/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) deaths. In addition, TB was a contributing cause of 374,000 HIV deaths. Despite the success of chemotherapy over the past seven decades, TB is the top infectious killer globally. In 2016, 10.4 million new cases arose, a number that has remained stable since the beginning of the 21th century, frustrating public health experts tasked to design and implement interventions to reduce the burden of TB disease worldwide. Ambitious targets for reductions in the epidemiological burden of TB have been set within the context of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the End TB Strategy. Achieving these targets is the focus of national and international efforts, and demonstrating whether or not they are achieved is of major importance to guide future and sustainable investments. This article reviews epidemiological facts about TB, trends in the magnitude of the burden of TB and factors contributing to it, and the effectiveness of the public health response.

scholarly journals Family cluster of three cases of monkeypox imported from Nigeria to the United Kingdom, May 2021

2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (32) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gemma Hobson ◽  
James Adamson ◽  
Hugh Adler ◽  
Richard Firth ◽  
Susan Gould ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
United Kingdom ◽  
Index Case ◽  
West African ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Public Health Response ◽  
Imported Case ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Health Response ◽  
The Family

Most reported cases of human monkeypox occur in Central and West Africa, where the causing virus is endemic. We describe the identification and public health response to an imported case of West African monkeypox from Nigeria to the United Kingdom (UK) in May 2021. Secondary transmission from the index case occurred within the family to another adult and a toddler. Concurrent COVID-19-related control measures upon arrival and at the hospital, facilitated detection and limited the number of potential contacts.

scholarly journals Averting an Outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 in a University Residence Hall through Wastewater Surveillance

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryland Corchis-Scott ◽  
Qiudi Geng ◽  
Rajesh Seth ◽  
Rajan Ray ◽  
Mohsan Beg ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
North America ◽  
Residence Hall ◽  
University Campus ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Public Health Response ◽  
Early Adopters ◽  
Screening Programs ◽  
Early Evidence ◽  
Health Response

Among early adopters of wastewater monitoring for SARS-CoV-2 have been colleges and universities throughout North America, many of whom are using this approach to monitor congregate living facilities for early evidence of COVID-19 infection as an integral component of campus screening programs. Yet, while there have been numerous examples where wastewater monitoring on a university campus has detected evidence for infection among community members, there are few examples where this monitoring triggered a public health response that may have averted an actual outbreak.

Readers' Forum: Public Health Implications Regarding the Epidemiology and Microbiology of Public Whirlpools

1985 ◽  
Vol 6 (10) ◽  
pp. 418-420 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stuart P. Castle
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Disease Transmission ◽  
Hot Water ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Medical Community ◽  
Public Health Response ◽  
Injury Death ◽  
Health Response ◽  
Public Health Officials ◽  
Severity Of The Disease

AbstractHigh temperature bathing in hot tubs, spas and whirlpools poses four potential public health concerns: injury/death, disease transmission, possible teratogenic effects, and congestive heart failure or dysrhythmias for individuals with cardiac problems. Health departments need criteria before initiating environmental and epidemiologic investigations. These criteria must include severity of the disease and number of individuals possibly exposed. In addition, public health officials are obligated to define the magnitude of the problem, inform affected individuals and institute appropriate control measures. Optional information should be collected during an environmental and epidemiologic investigation to clarify the mechanisms of disease transmission and design control measures. The public health response to improving hot water bathing safety and sanitation should be directed at primary prevention. Educational efforts would be directed toward whirlpool operators, users and the medical community. Included should be a review of regulations addressing the construction and operation of public spas and whirlpools.

scholarly journals Infection control measures in ophthalmology during the COVID-19 outbreak: A narrative review from an early experience in Italy

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 621-628 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniele Veritti ◽  
Valentina Sarao ◽  
Francesco Bandello ◽  
Paolo Lanzetta
Keyword(s):  
Control Measures ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Public Health Response ◽  
Healthcare Facilities ◽  
Infection Control Measures ◽  
Health Response ◽  
Close Proximity ◽  
Containment Measures ◽  
Eye Examination ◽  
Novel Coronavirus

Introduction The novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) is infecting people and spreading easily from person-to-person. Cases have been detected in most countries worldwide. Italy is one of the most affected countries as of 30 March 2020. Public health response includes a rapid reorganization of the Italian National Healthcare System in order to reduce transmission of COVID-19 within hospitals and healthcare facilities, while optimizing the assistance to patients with severe COVID-19 complications. Methods We analysed the actions that were taken in three ophthalmology centres in northern Italy during the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak and how these measures affected patient’s attendance. In addition, due to the rapidly evolving scenario, we reviewed the evidence available during the course of this pandemic. Results A full reorganization of ophthalmology services is mandatory according to current existing infection containment measures in order to continue dispensing urgent procedures without endangering the community with amplification of the diffusion chain. Ophthalmologists are considered at elevated risk of exposure when caring patients and vice versa, due to their close proximity during eye examination. High volumes of procedures typically generated by ophthalmologists with concurrent implications on the risk of infection are considered when re-assessing healthcare facilities reorganization. Conclusion Containment measures in the event of pandemic due to infective agents should be well known by healthcare professionals and promptly applied in order to mitigate the risk of nosocomial transmission and outbreak.

scholarly journals Public health response to disasters

2005 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 180
Author(s):  
Robert Handby
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Effective Means ◽  
Disease Outbreak ◽  
Medical Intervention ◽  
Public Health Response ◽  
Health Measures ◽  
Health Response ◽  
Medical Facilities ◽  
Causes Of Disease

The laboratory can often provide the essential link between environmental factors, disease and appropriate medical intervention. Laboratory processes have the capacity to identify causative organisms in samples which have been obtained from both humans (e.g. faeces) and the environment (e.g. water). Following any disaster, the potential for occurrence of disease is increased at a time when medical facilities may be damaged and the demands for medical services increased. The identification of the causes of disease are essential in any circumstances; often simple public health measures are the most effective means of controlling a potentially disastrous situation such as a disease outbreak.

scholarly journals COVID-19 Isolation and Contact Tracing with Country Samples: A Systematic Review

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cemal Koçak
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Contact Tracing ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
Public Health Response ◽  
Screening Programs ◽  
Modeling Studies ◽  
Health Response ◽  
High Level ◽  
Effective Public Health

Background: COVID-19 was first declared as an international public health emergency and then a pandemic by the WHO. In this systematic review, the importance of isolation and contact tracing has been explained, and what kinds of practices exist in different countries are mentioned. Methods: A systematic review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA and Cochrane guidelines by searching articles from major medical databases such as Google Scholar, PubMed/MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, CINAHL between Jan 1, 2020 and Apr 1, 2021. Observational and modeling studies written on contact tracing, screening, quarantine and isolation were included. Results: 27 observational and modeling studies were included. It was seen that rapid contact tracing to reduce the basic reproduction number (R0) from 3.11 to 0.21. Additionally, each new case requires an average of 36 people to be monitored. Since screening programs missed 75% of cases, high-level contact tracing should also be done simultaneously. Wide quarantine would prevent 79.27% deaths and 87.08% infections. Conclusion: Effective, rapid contact tracing is the cornerstone of an effective public health response in outbreaks. Its success depends on quickly identifying cases, gathering information from them about their last contacts, and tracing and isolating those contacts.

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