Dispersal of the Mosquito Aedes vigilax (Diptera: Culicidae) From Urban Estuarine Wetlands in Sydney, Australia

2019 ◽  
Vol 56 (5) ◽  
pp. 1290-1295 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cameron E Webb ◽  
Richard C Russell
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Coastal Wetlands ◽  
Mosquito Control ◽  
Health Impacts ◽  
Buffer Zones ◽  
Release Point ◽  
Estuarine Wetlands ◽  
Aedes Vigilax ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Sydney Australia

Abstract Aedes vigilax (Skuse) is a pest and vector species associated with coastal wetlands and the abundance of this mosquito has been identified as contributing to increased risk of mosquito-borne disease outbreaks. As urban development continues to encroach on these coastal wetlands, pest and public health impacts are becoming of increasing concern and in the absence of broadscale mosquito control. Urban planners are looking to buffer zones and other land use planning options to minimize contact between mosquitoes and humans but gaps in the understanding of dispersal ranges of mosquitoes hamper the adoption of these strategies. A mark-release-recapture experiment was conducted to measure the dispersal of this mosquito from an urban estuarine wetland in Sydney, Australia. An estimated total of over 150,000 wild caught female mosquitoes were marked with fluorescent dust and then released. A network of 38 traps was then operated for 5 d within an area of 28 km2. A total of 280 marked mosquitoes was recaptured, representing less than 1% of the estimate 250,000 marked mosquitoes released. Marked mosquitoes were recaptured up to 3 km from the release point, providing an insight into the dispersal range of these mosquitoes. The mean distance traveled by marked mosquitoes was 0.83 km, a result reflecting the greater proportion of marked mosquitoes recaptured near release point. The findings of this study indicate that effective buffer zones between estuarine wetlands and high-density urban developments would be an impractical approach to minimizing pest and public health impacts associated with this mosquito.

scholarly journals Public health impacts of an imminent Red Sea oil spill

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin Q. Huynh ◽  
Laura H. Kwong ◽  
Mathew V. Kiang ◽  
Elizabeth T. Chin ◽  
Amir M. Mohareb ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Red Sea ◽  
Oil Spill ◽  
Health Impacts ◽  
Clean Water ◽  
Humanitarian Crisis ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Sea Ports ◽  
Oil Tanker ◽  
Urgent Action

AbstractThe possibility of a massive oil spill in the Red Sea is increasingly likely. The Safer, a deteriorating oil tanker containing 1.1 million barrels of oil, has been deserted near the coast of Yemen since 2015 and threatens environmental catastrophe to a country presently in a humanitarian crisis. Here, we model the immediate public health impacts of a simulated spill. We estimate that all of Yemen’s imported fuel through its key Red Sea ports would be disrupted and that the anticipated spill could disrupt clean-water supply equivalent to the daily use of 9.0–9.9 million people, food supply for 5.7–8.4 million people and 93–100% of Yemen’s Red Sea fisheries. We also estimate an increased risk of cardiovascular hospitalization from pollution ranging from 5.8 to 42.0% over the duration of the spill. The spill and its potentially disastrous impacts remain entirely preventable through offloading the oil. Our results stress the need for urgent action to avert this looming disaster.

scholarly journals Study protocol for the COVID-19 Pandemic Adjustment Survey (CPAS): A longitudinal study of Australian parents of a child 0-18 years

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Westrupp ◽  
Gery Karantzas ◽  
Jacqui A Macdonald ◽  
Lisa Olive ◽  
George Joseph Youssef ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Mental Health ◽  
At Risk ◽  
Representative Sample ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Health Impacts ◽  
Parents And Children ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Reduce Risk

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic presents significant risks to the mental health and wellbeing of Australian families. Employment and economic uncertainty, chronic stress, anxiety, and social isolation are likely to have negative impacts on parent mental health, couple and family relationships, as well as child health and development. Objective: This study aims to: (1) provide timely information on the mental health impacts of the emerging COVID-19 crisis in a close to representative sample of Australian parents and children (0-18 years); (2) identify adults and families most at risk of poor mental health outcomes; and, (3) identify factors to target through clinical and public health intervention to reduce risk. Specifically, this study will investigate the extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic is associated with increased risk for parents’ mental health, lower wellbeing, loneliness, and alcohol use; parent-parent and parent-child relationships (both verbal and physical); and child and adolescent mental health problems. Methods: The study aims to recruit a close to representative sample of at least 2,000 adults aged 18 years and over living in Australia who are parents of a child 0-4 years (early childhood, N=400); 5-12 years (primary school N=800); and 13-18 years (secondary school, N=800). The design will be a longitudinal cohort study using an online recruitment methodology. Participants will be invited to complete an online baseline self-report survey (20 minutes) followed by a series of shorter online surveys (10 minutes) scheduled every two weeks for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic (i.e., estimated to be 14 surveys over 6 months). Results: The study will employ post stratification weights to address differences between the final sample and the national population in geographic communities across Australia. Associations will be analyzed using multilevel modeling with time-variant and time-invariant predictors of change in trajectory over the testing period. Conclusions: This study will provide timely information on the mental health impacts of the COVID-19 crisis on parents and children in Australia; identify communities, parents, families, and children most at risk of poor outcomes; and, identify potential factors to address in clinical and public health interventions to reduce risk.

scholarly journals 1.E. Workshop: Addressing vulnerability within climate change related health impacts

2021 ◽  
Vol 31 (Supplement_3) ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Climate Change ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Vulnerable Population ◽  
Electrolyte Imbalance ◽  
Health Impacts ◽  
Adaptation Measures ◽  
Health Vulnerability ◽  
Increased Risk

Abstract   Climate change (CCh) is having an impact on people's health and health systems, directly and indirectly. Drastic and sudden changes in climatic conditions with heat waves and rapid temperature variations, an increased risk of floods, droughts and forest fires are some of the direct impacts related to CCh, with important consequences on health (e.g. heatstroke, electrolyte imbalance, kidney, respiratory as well as infectious related diseases) and mental well-being (e.g. stress and anxiety for an uncertain future). Some indirect effects include the alteration of natural ecosystems, changing vector patterns, air pollution and aeroallergens, or increased food insecurity. For certain sectors of the population and some regions, these direct and indirect impacts overlap with many other environmental and socioeconomic stressors (e.g. overcrowded megacities, poverty and poor nutrition, living in highly contaminated sites, increased dependence on a remote global market, growing gender and class inequalities), increasing the already large vulnerability of those affected populations. Low- and middle-income countries are under greater threat, but more developed economies can be- and in fact are- severely affected as well. This is of particular concern in relation to children together with the elderly, both considered the most vulnerable population groups affected by CCh as highlighted by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Adverse effects of altered environments during fetal or child developmental stages can result in irreversible and long-lasting health sequelae; uncertainty and loss of control in the face of CCh can have mental health consequences. Gathering best scientific evidence-based information on current and future health threats related to CCh from the perspective of the most vulnerable population subgroups is essential for an effective preparedness of the public health system, and therefore for lessening or avoiding many of those health impacts by applying well-designed and innovative adaptation measures. Health vulnerability and adaptation assessments to CCh requires establishing partnerships among different scientific domains (e.g. public health experts, environmentalists, meteorologists, social scientists), and stakeholders, including community representatives and policy makers. Present workshop, with 3 presenters and one panellist, aims at analysing and sharing expertise on the following aspects: Approaches for characterising health and well-being vulnerability and adaptation measures in the context of CCh by integrating future climatic and socio-economic drivers. Analysis of children's health vulnerability in a CCh context. European initiatives for promoting multidisciplinary scientific evidence analysis, and the interconnection with the decision-making process for the development of innovative and effective adaptation programs that enables diminishing health vulnerability against CCh. Key messages Expanded efforts in the health impact assessment of vulnerable groups against growing risks from climate change is needed for developing effective public health adaptation and preparedness programs. Addressing climate change health vulnerability requires of gathering scientific evidence and collaboration from multiple sectors and stakeholders adapted to regional/local context.

A critical review of environmental and public health impacts from the activities of evaporation ponds

2021 ◽  
pp. 149065
Author(s):  
Patrick Amoatey ◽  
Azizallah Izady ◽  
Ali Al-Maktoumi ◽  
Mingjie Chen ◽  
Issa Al-Harthy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Critical Review ◽  
Health Impacts ◽  
Evaporation Ponds

scholarly journals Global Health Impacts of Dust Storms: A Systematic Review

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
pp. 117863022110183
Author(s):  
Hamidreza Aghababaeian ◽  
Abbas Ostadtaghizadeh ◽  
Ali Ardalan ◽  
Ali Asgary ◽  
Mehry Akbary ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Respiratory Health ◽  
Dust Storms ◽  
Health Impacts ◽  
Public Health Issue ◽  
Emergency Medical Dispatch ◽  
Significant Public Health ◽  
English Articles

Background: Dust storms and their impacts on health are becoming a major public health issue. The current study examines the health impacts of dust storms around the world to provide an overview of this issue. Method: In this systematic review, 140 relevant and authoritative English articles on the impacts of dust storms on health (up to September 2019) were identified and extracted from 28 968 articles using valid keywords from various databases (PubMed, WOS, EMBASE, and Scopus) and multiple screening steps. Selected papers were then qualitatively examined and evaluated. Evaluation results were summarized using an Extraction Table. Results: The results of the study are divided into two parts: short and long-term impacts of dust storms. Short-term impacts include mortality, visitation, emergency medical dispatch, hospitalization, increased symptoms, and decreased pulmonary function. Long-term impacts include pregnancy, cognitive difficulties, and birth problems. Additionally, this study shows that dust storms have devastating impacts on health, affecting cardiovascular and respiratory health in particular. Conclusion: The findings of this study show that dust storms have significant public health impacts. More attention should be paid to these natural hazards to prepare for, respond to, and mitigate these hazardous events to reduce their negative health impacts. Registration: PROSPERO registration number CRD42018093325

Expanding the concept of the professional integrity of obstetrics during a public health emergency

2020 ◽  
Vol 48 (5) ◽  
pp. 435-437 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frank A. Chervenak ◽  
Amos Grünebaum ◽  
Eran Bornstein ◽  
Shane Wasden ◽  
Adi Katz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
New York ◽  
Clinical Judgment ◽  
Ethical Judgment ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Public Health Emergency ◽  
Ethical Challenge ◽  
Professional Integrity ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Obstetric Services

AbstractThe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has placed great demands on many hospitals to maximize their capacity to care for affected patients. The requirement to reassign space has created challenges for obstetric services. We describe the nature of that challenge for an obstetric service in New York City. This experience raised an ethical challenge: whether it would be consistent with professional integrity to respond to a public health emergency with a plan for obstetric services that would create an increased risk of rare maternal mortality. We answered this question using the conceptual tools of professional ethics in obstetrics, especially the professional virtue of integrity. A public health emergency requires frameshifting from an individual-patient perspective to a population-based perspective. We show that an individual-patient-based, beneficence-based deliberative clinical judgment is not an adequate basis for organizational policy in response to a public health emergency. Instead, physicians, especially those in leadership positions, must frameshift to population-based clinical ethical judgment that focuses on reduction of mortality as much as possible in the entire population of patients served by a healthcare organization.

scholarly journals Health Impacts of Urban Bicycling in Mexico

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (5) ◽  
pp. 2300
Author(s):  
David Rojas-Rueda
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Physical Activity ◽  
Air Pollution ◽  
Health Risks ◽  
Health Benefits ◽  
Health Impacts ◽  
Traffic Fatalities ◽  
Premature Deaths ◽  
Air Pollution Exposure ◽  
Pollution Exposure

Background: Bicycling has been associated with health benefits. Local and national authorities have been promoting bicycling as a tool to improve public health and the environment. Mexico is one of the largest Latin American countries, with high levels of sedentarism and non-communicable diseases. No previous studies have estimated the health impacts of Mexico’s national bicycling scenarios. Aim: Quantify the health impacts of Mexico urban bicycling scenarios. Methodology: Quantitative Health Impact Assessment, estimating health risks and benefits of bicycling scenarios in 51,718,756 adult urban inhabitants in Mexico (between 20 and 64 years old). Five bike scenarios were created based on current bike trends in Mexico. The number of premature deaths (increased or reduced) was estimated in relation to physical activity, road traffic fatalities, and air pollution. Input data were collected from national publicly available data sources from transport, environment, health and population reports, and surveys, in addition to scientific literature. Results: We estimated that nine premature deaths are prevented each year among urban populations in Mexico on the current car-bike substitution and trip levels (1% of bike trips), with an annual health economic benefit of US $1,897,920. If Mexico achieves similar trip levels to those reported in The Netherlands (27% of bike trips), 217 premature deaths could be saved annually, with an economic impact of US $45,760,960. In all bicycling scenarios assessed in Mexico, physical activity’s health benefits outweighed the health risks related to traffic fatalities and air pollution exposure. Conclusion: The study found that bicycling promotion in Mexico would provide important health benefits. The benefits of physical activity outweigh the risk from traffic fatalities and air pollution exposure in bicyclists. At the national level, Mexico could consider using sustainable transport policies as a tool to promote public health. Specifically, the support of active transportation through bicycling and urban design improvements could encourage physical activity and its health co-benefits.

scholarly journals Assessing the Risk of Exotic Mosquito Incursion through an International Seaport, Newcastle, NSW, Australia

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 25
Author(s):  
Cameron E. Webb ◽  
Philippe G. Porigneaux ◽  
David N. Durrheim
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Mosquito Control ◽  
Economic Costs ◽  
Considerable Effort ◽  
Local Authorities ◽  
Health And Wellbeing ◽  
Residential Properties ◽  
Surveillance Programs ◽  
Water Holding ◽  
Pot Plant

Exotic mosquitoes, especially container-inhabiting species such as Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus, pose a risk to Australia as they bring with them potentially significant pest and public health concerns. Notwithstanding the threat to public health and wellbeing, significant economic costs associated with the burden of mosquito control would fall to local authorities. Detection of these mosquitoes at airports and seaports has highlighted pathways of introduction but surveillance programs outside these first ports of entry are not routinely conducted in the majority of Australian cities. To assist local authorities to better prepare response plans for exotic mosquito incursions, an investigation was undertaken to determine the extent of habitats suitable for container-inhabiting mosquitoes in over 300 residential properties adjacent to the Port of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW. More than 1500 water-holding containers were recorded, most commonly pot plant saucers, roof gutters, and water-holding plants (e.g., bromeliads). There were significantly more containers identified for properties classified as untidy but there was no evidence visible that property characteristics could be used to prioritise property surveys in a strategic eradication response. The results demonstrate that there is potential for local establishment of exotic mosquitoes and that considerable effort would be required to adequately survey these environments for the purpose of surveillance and eradication programs.

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