The Threat of Biological Terrorism: A Public Health and Infection Control Reality

2000 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 53-56 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert J. Leggiadro

AbstractBioterrorism is an emerging public health and infection control threat. Potential biological agents include smallpox, anthrax, plague, tularemia, botulinum toxin, brucellosis, Q fever, viral encephalitis, hemorrhagic fever, and staphylococcal enterotoxin B. An understanding of the epidemiology, clinical manifestations, and management of the more likely candidate agents is critical to limiting morbidity and mortality from a biological event. Effective response requires an increased index of suspicion for unusual diseases or syndromes, with prompt reporting to health authorities to facilitate recognition of an outbreak and subsequent intervention. Hospital epidemiology programs will play a crucial role in this effort.

Author(s):  
Rita Cruz ◽  
Carmen Vasconcelos-Nobrega ◽  
Fernando Esteves ◽  
Catarina Coelho ◽  
Ana Sofia Ferreira ◽  
...  

Q fever, a widespread zoonotic disease caused by Coxiella burnetiid, produces a complex and polymorphic disease in humans. As a zoonotic disease, control in animals will influence the level of disease seen in humans, thus resulting in interesting one health perspectives for disease control. Here the authors describe the clinical manifestations in animals and humans, as well as the current diagnostic methods available and the strategies for disease control. A review on the published information regarding Q fever as a disease with impact for veterinary public health and public health is presented.


2020 ◽  
Vol 46 (9) ◽  
pp. 531-541
Author(s):  
Barbara I. Braun ◽  
Salome O. Chitavi ◽  
Kiran M. Perkins ◽  
Joseph F. Perz ◽  
Ruth Link-Gelles ◽  
...  

2006 ◽  
Vol 11 (34) ◽  
Author(s):  
M Donaghy ◽  
H Prempeh ◽  
N. Macdonald

On 9 July 2006, local public health authorities became aware of an increase of influenza-like illness in people who worked at a meat processing plant where cattle and sheep were slaughtered


2011 ◽  
Vol 51 (3) ◽  
pp. 157 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mulya Rahma Karyanti

Background Dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) is endemic to Indonesia and remains a public health problem, with its highest incidence in children. There have been few reports on the clinical, hematological and serological data in children \\lith dengue.Objective To assess the clinical and laboratory profiles of children \\lith dengue infection in Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital, Jakarta, Indonesia.Methods Clinical, hematological and serological infonnation from children diagnosed v.ith dengue infection in Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital were collected from 2007 to 2009.Results Of611 children admitted with dengue, 143 (23.4%) had dengue fever (DF), 252 (41.2%) had DHF grades I and II; and 216 (35.4%) had DHF grades III and IV. Of the 81 cases where dengue serotypes were identified, 12.3% were DENV1, 35.8% were DENV-2, 48.2% were DENV-3 and 3.7% were DENV-4. Mean age of subjects was 8.9 years (SD 4.4), and 48.4% of cases were boys. The mean length of fever before hospital admission was 4.2 days (SD 1.1) and mean length of stay in the hospital was 4 days (SD 2.7). Common symptoms observed were petechiae, hepatomegaly and epistaxis. Complications found mostly in those with dengue shock syndrome (DSS) were hematemesis (30 cases, 4.9% of all patients), encephalopathy (19 cases, 3.1 %) and melena (17 cases, 2.8%).Conclusion Signs and symptoms of fever, bleeding manifestations and thrombocytopenia were present in children 'With DF and DHF, while signs of increased vascular permeability were found only in those 'With DHF. Encephalopathy and gastrointestinal bleeding were found mostly in DSS cases. At admission, leukopenia was found in more DF patients than in DHF patients. Absence of leukopenia may be a sign of more severe dengue infection. 


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 137-140 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matheus Hoffmann Pfrimer ◽  
Ricardo Barbosa

This commentary first documents the ways in which President Jair Bolsonaro’s administration has evoked securitized discursive strategies that frame Brazil’s national response to COVID-19 as a matter of defense instead of public health. We then ask: What does it mean to talk about the virus and the ways to address it through war-framings? We argue that the Bolsonaro administration has framed the COVID-19 pandemic as an extra-territorial threat in an effort to create internal stability while failing to handle the matter effectively. Such politically motivated spatial framings inhibit an effective response in Brazil and pose a severe threat to public health. Once COVID-19 becomes securitized, the response is framed by the military bureaucracy rather than public health authorities, resulting in dangerous consequences.


2021 ◽  
Vol 47 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-58
Author(s):  
Ariane Adam-Poupart ◽  
Laurie-Maude Drapeau ◽  
Sadjia Bekal ◽  
Geneviève Germain ◽  
Alejandra Irace-Cima ◽  
...  

Introduction: Climate change plays an important role in the geographic spread of zoonotic diseases. Knowing which populations are at risk of contracting these diseases is critical to informing public health policies and practices. In Québec, 14 zoonoses have been identified as important for public health to guide the climate change adaptation efforts of decision-makers and researchers. A great deal has been learned about these diseases in recent years, but information on at-risk workplaces remains incomplete. The objective of this study is to paint a portrait of the occupations and sectors of economic activity at risk for the acquisition of these zoonoses. Methods: A rapid review of the scientific literature was conducted. Databases on the Ovid and EBSCO research platforms were searched for articles published between 1995 and 2018, in English and French, on 14 zoonoses (campylobacteriosis, cryptosporidiosis, verocytotoxigenic Escherichia coli, giardiasis, listeriosis, salmonellosis, Eastern equine encephalitis, Lyme disease, West Nile virus, food botulism, Q fever, avian and swine influenza, rabies, hantavirus pulmonary syndrome) and occupational health. The literature search retrieved 12,558 articles and, after elimination of duplicates, 6,838 articles were evaluated based on the title and the abstract. Eligible articles had to address both concepts of the research issue (prioritized zoonoses and worker health). Of the 621 articles deemed eligible, 110 were selected following their full reading. Results: Of the diseases under study, enteric zoonoses were the most frequently reported. Agriculture, including veterinary services, public administration services and medical and social services were the sectors most frequently identified in the literature. Conclusion: The results of our study will support public health authorities and decision-makers in targeting those sectors and occupations that are particularly at risk for the acquisition of zoonoses. Doing so will ultimately optimize the public health practices of those responsible for the health of workers.


2005 ◽  
Author(s):  
William Hogg ◽  
Patricia Houston ◽  
Carmel Martin ◽  
Raphael Saginur ◽  
Adriana Newbury ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Nurul Qamila ◽  
Agel Vidian Krama

Dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) is a contagious disease caused by the dengue virus and is transmitted by the mosquito Aedes aegypti (Aa.aegypti). The population is still a public health problem that increases the number of sufferers and also widespread, with population and education. This study aims to reveal the spatial pattern and distribution of Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF) with the spatial pattern and the spread of Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF) can result in different locations of these allegations. From the map that can be used for the prevention of Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DBD) in Bandar Lampung City. This study aims to reveal the spatial pattern and distribution of Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF) with the descriptive method and spatial pattern of Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF) can result in different locations of these allegations. From the map that can be used for the prevention of Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DBD) in Bandar Lampung City. Keywords: DHF, Spatial Analysis


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