Novel Respiratory Viruses in the Context of Mass-Gathering Events: A Systematic Review to Inform Event Planning from a Health Perspective

Author(s):  
Jamie Ranse ◽  
Deborah Beckwith ◽  
Anas Khan ◽  
Saber Yezli ◽  
Attila J. Hertelendy ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Mass-gathering events (MGEs) occur regularly throughout the world. As people congregate at MGEs, there is an increased risk of transmission of communicable diseases. Novel respiratory viruses, such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-1 (SARS-CoV-1), Influenza A Virus Subtype H1N1 Strain 2009 (H1N1pdm09), Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV), and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), or Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), may require specific infection prevention and control strategies to minimize the risk of transmission when planning MGEs. This literature review aimed to identify and analyze papers relating to novel respiratory viruses with pandemic potential and to inform MGE planning. Method: This paper used a systematic literature review method. Various health care databases were searched using keywords relating to MGEs and novel respiratory viruses. Information was extracted from identified papers into various tables for analysis. The analysis identified infection prevention and control strategies used at MGEs to inform planning before, during, and following events. Results: In total, 27 papers met the criteria for inclusion. No papers were identified regarding SARS-CoV-1, while the remainder reported on H1N1pdm09 (n = 9), MERS-CoV (n = 15), and SARS-CoV-2 (n = 3). Various before, during, and after event mitigation strategies were identified that can be implemented for future events. Conclusions: This literature review provided an overview of the novel respiratory virus epidemiology at MGEs alongside related public health mitigation strategies that have been implemented at these events. This paper also discusses the health security of event participants and host communities in the context of cancelling, postponing, and modifying events due to a novel respiratory virus. In particular, ways to recommence events incorporating various mitigation strategies are outlined.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Poremski ◽  
Sandra Henrietta Subner ◽  
Grace Lam Fong Kin ◽  
Raveen Dev Ram Dev ◽  
Mok Yee Ming ◽  
...  

The Institute of Mental Health in Singapore continues to attempt to prevent the introduction of COVID-19, despite community transmission. Essential services are maintained and quarantine measures are currently unnecessary. To help similar organizations, strategies are listed along three themes: sustaining essential services, preventing infection, and managing human and consumable resources.


2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (10) ◽  
pp. 1238-1240 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Poremski ◽  
Sandra H. Subner ◽  
Grace F.K. Lam ◽  
Raveen Dev ◽  
Yee Ming Mok ◽  
...  

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tjibbe Donker ◽  
Katie L. Hopkins ◽  
Susan Hopkins ◽  
Berit Muller-Pebody ◽  
Tim E.A. Peto ◽  
...  

AbstractInfection prevention and control strategies aimed at reducing the occurrence of Carbapenemase-Producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) and other antimicrobial-resistant organisms often include advice about screening patients coming from hospitals with a known resistance problem, to prevent introductions into new hospitals by shared patients. We argue that, despite being an efficient method of identifying cases, admission screening for introduction prevention is only effective if the absolute number of imported cases from other hospitals outnumbers the cases coming from the hospital’s own patient population, and therefore is only a feasible control strategy during the start of an epidemic. When determining whether import screening is still advisable, we therefore need to be continuously reminded of how Father Ted so eloquently summarised the principles of perspective: “These are small, but the ones out there are far away”.


Author(s):  
Okechukwu B. Anozie ◽  
Arinze C. Ikeotuonye ◽  
Ephraim I. Nwokporo ◽  
Chidi U. Esike ◽  
Richard L. Ewah ◽  
...  

Background: COVID-19 is a major Public Health challenge that has affected the world’s economy. Assessment of the knowledge, attitude and practices of Healthcare workers (HCWs) towards COVID-19 can improve or sustain the successes recorded by relevant agencies in the fight against COVID-19.Methods: a cross-sectional survey was done using semi-structured questionnaires and simple sampling technique. Data collected were analyzed using SPSS version 22.Results: Out of the 368 respondents, 205 were doctors while 150 were nurses. Others were clerical workers, administrative officers and maintenance workers. Knowledge of COVID-19 was generally high amongst respondents recording a correct response to questions about knowledge of COVID-19 in more than 90% of the case. However, the attitude and practice of COVID-19 infection, prevention and control protocols were poor. Out of the respondents, 41.8% would not stay at home if they had minor COVID-19 like symptoms; only 39.4% would take responsibility to ensure people around them follow good respiratory hygiene. Respondents who would keep social distancing while talking with co-workers, ensure safe disposal of personal protective equipment (PPEs) and safe waste management of PPEs were 56%, 39.9% and 53.8% respectively.Conclusions: Knowledge of COVID-19 prevention protocols is high but attitude/practice of these laid out protocols still desires a lot of effort from HCWs. There is need for training/retraining of HCWs on COVID-19 infection, prevention and control strategies to ensure the success being recorded against the disease is sustained while preventing the possibility of a second wave of infection.


2020 ◽  
Vol 24 (Supp-1) ◽  
pp. 92-98
Author(s):  
Fazal Ghani

During the past few months, our understanding of the transmission, epidemiology, clinical symptoms, and management of Covid-19 has considerably improved. This had made the dental healthcare personnel confident enough and ready to provide safely by implementing efficient prevention and cross-infection control strategies in the dental clinical setting. , At the same time, it is necessary that we must be constantly aware of the continuation of such infectious threats challenging our infection control regimen and preparedness to provide dental treatments and teaching and education. Good infection prevention and control strategies need to be evidence-based and in line with the recommendations of the local and international public health agencies. The disruption in dental services and dental education all over the world resulted in this pandemic has emphasized and resulted in new, innovative and improved infection prevention and control strategies and adoption of alternative teaching, learning and assessment strategies for students. It further reinforces the need for continued research exploring ways for responding better to future contagious disease threats.  


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