Newly discovered viruses

2020 ◽  
pp. 951-957
Author(s):  
Susannah J.A. Froude ◽  
Harriet C. Hughes
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Global Public Health ◽  
Emerging Pathogens ◽  
Emerging Viruses ◽  
Public Health Importance ◽  
Viral Pathogens ◽  
New Hosts ◽  
Vector Borne ◽  
Almost All ◽  
Severe Fever

Although humans are affected by an enormous range of microorganisms, almost all newly discovered emerging pathogens are viruses that are often zoonotic or vector-borne. These emerging viruses often have high baseline mutation rates, allowing them to adapt relatively easily to new hosts and enabling them to take advantage of new epidemiological opportunities provided by the changing environment. A range of apparently new human viral pathogens has been reported increasingly in international outbreak information over the last few years, most recently SARS-CoV-2 as the cause of the COVID-19 pandemic that started in Wuhan (China) in December 2019 and has now spread worldwide with devastating consequences. In addition to respiratory coronaviruses, emerging viruses that might be of particular global public health importance includeZika virus and severe fever and thrombocytopenia syndrome virus. Other emerging viruses of importance include bocavirus, Bufavirus, PARV4, human parechovirus, Itaya, Heartland, and Bourbon virus. The human pathogenicity of other emerging viruses is less certain.

scholarly journals Newly discovered viruses

2020 ◽  
pp. 951-957
Author(s):  
Susannah J.A. Froude ◽  
Harriet C. Hughes
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Global Public Health ◽  
Emerging Pathogens ◽  
Emerging Viruses ◽  
Public Health Importance ◽  
Viral Pathogens ◽  
New Hosts ◽  
Vector Borne ◽  
Almost All ◽  
Severe Fever

Although humans are affected by an enormous range of microorganisms, almost all newly discovered emerging pathogens are viruses that are often zoonotic or vector-borne. These emerging viruses often have high baseline mutation rates, allowing them to adapt relatively easily to new hosts and enabling them to take advantage of new epidemiological opportunities provided by the changing environment. A range of apparently new human viral pathogens has been reported increasingly in international outbreak information over the last few years. How they will influence global public health remains to be seen. Emerging viruses that might be of particular global public health importance include, respiratory coronaviruses, Zika virus, and severe fever and thrombocytopenia syndrome virus. Other emerging viruses of importance include bocavirus, Bufavirus, PARV4, human parechovirus, Itaya, Heartland, and Bourbon virus. The human pathogenicity of other emerging viruses is less certain.

scholarly journals Dengue fever and chikungunya virus infections: identification in travelers in Uganda – 2017

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
John T. Kayiwa ◽  
Annet M. Nankya ◽  
Irene Ataliba ◽  
Charity A. Nassuna ◽  
Isaac E. Omara ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Dengue Fever ◽  
Chikungunya Virus ◽  
Clinical Manifestations ◽  
Febrile Illness ◽  
Final Diagnosis ◽  
Differential Diagnoses ◽  
Global Public Health ◽  
Emerging Viruses ◽  
Public Health Importance

AbstractArboviruses are (re-) emerging viruses that cause significant morbidity globally. Clinical manifestations usually consist of a non-specific febrile illness that may be accompanied by rash, arthralgia and arthritis and/or with neurological or hemorrhagic syndromes. The broad range of differential diagnoses of other infectious and non-infectious etiologies presents a challenge for clinicians. While knowledge of the geographic distribution of pathogens and the current epidemiological situation, incubation periods, exposure risk factors and vaccination history can help guide the diagnostic approach, the non-specific and variable clinical presentation can delay final diagnosis. This case report summarizes the laboratory-based findings of three travel-related cases of arbovirus infections in Uganda. These include a patient from Bangladesh with chikungunya virus infection and two cases of dengue fever from Ethiopia. Early detection of travel-imported cases by public health laboratories is important to reduce the risk of localized outbreaks of arboviruses such as dengue virus and chikungunya virus. Because of the global public health importance and the continued risk of (re-) emerging arbovirus infections, specific recommendations following diagnosis by clinicians should include obtaining travel histories from persons with arbovirus-compatible illness and include differential diagnoses when appropriate.

scholarly journals Fast Evaluation of Viral Emerging Risks (FEVER): A computational tool for biosurveillance, diagnostics, and mutation typing of emerging viral pathogens

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zachary R Stromberg ◽  
James Theiler ◽  
Brian T Foley ◽  
Adán Myers y Gutiérrez ◽  
Attelia Hollander ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Samples ◽  
Computational Tool ◽  
Emerging Viruses ◽  
Public Health Importance ◽  
Outbreak Strain ◽  
Viral Pathogens ◽  
Fast Evaluation ◽  
Single Nucleotide ◽  
Viral Pathogen ◽  
Human Immunity

Viral pathogen can rapidly evolve, adapt to novel hosts and evade human immunity. The early detection of emerging viral pathogens through biosurveillance coupled with rapid and accurate diagnostics are required to mitigate global pandemics. However, RNA viruses can mutate rapidly, hampering biosurveillance and diagnostic efforts. Here, we present a novel computational approach called FEVER (Fast Evaluation of Viral Emerging Risks) to design assays that simultaneously accomplish: 1) broad-coverage biosurveillance of an entire class of viruses, 2) accurate diagnosis of an outbreak strain, and 3) mutation typing to detect variants of public health importance. We demonstrate the application of FEVER to generate assays to simultaneously 1) detect sarbecoviruses for biosurveillance; 2) diagnose infections specifically caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2); and 3) perform rapid mutation typing of the D614G SARS-CoV-2 spike variant associated with increased pathogen transmissibility. These FEVER assays had a high in silico recall (predicted positive) up to 99.7% of 525,708 SARS-CoV-2 sequences analyzed and displayed sensitivities and specificities as high as 92.4% and 100% respectively when validated in 100 clinical samples. The D614G SARS-CoV-2 spike mutation PCR test was able to identify the single nucleotide identity at position 23,403 in the viral genome of 96.6% SARS-CoV-2 positive samples without the need for sequencing. This study demonstrates the utility of FEVER to design assays for biosurveillance, diagnostics, and mutation typing to rapidly detect, track, and mitigate future outbreaks and pandemics caused by emerging viruses.

scholarly journals Vectors and vector-borne diseases in Qatar: current status, key challenges and future prospects

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
F. Schaffner ◽  
D. Bansal ◽  
K. Mardini ◽  
S.A. Al-Marri ◽  
M.H.J. Al-Thani ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Vector Control ◽  
Disease Transmission ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Global Public Health ◽  
Future Prospects ◽  
Vector Borne Diseases ◽  
Sustainable Solutions ◽  
Vector Borne

Vector-borne diseases (VBDs) have re-emerged worldwide due to urbanisation, increase in travel and climate change, becoming a major and serious threat to global public health. In Qatar, the concern has recently risen because of the attribution of the soccer 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar™, which necessitates fulfilling requirements in terms of prevention and preparedness for disease transmission, including VBDs. This review presents a general overview about current status of vectors and VBDs in Qatar and addresses key challenges and future prospects of control programmes and strategies. It is based on a vector control situation analysis and needs assessment performed during an expert mission in Qatar, November 2017, organised by the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office and achieved in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Health of Qatar and other local stakeholders. The situation of vectors and VBDs of public health importance in Qatar was analysed based on a systematic literature review by December 31, 2019. The literature reveals that no locally transmitted VBD cases have been recorded in Qatar, but cases were recorded among expatriate workers and travellers who returned from an endemic country. However, data on VBD cases remain scarce except for malaria. The presence of native arthropod vectors is under-recorded to date. A compilation of literature data revealed reports of 30 vector species, including 20 mosquitoes, 2 fleas, 1 louse, 1 fly, and 6 ticks. Overall, Qatar benefits currently from a good surveillance of some VBDs (malaria) and has some capacities in vector control, but no national plan exists, and vector surveillance is in its infancy. In Qatar, clear needs exist in capacity in epidemiology and vector entomology, as well as on the organisational level, and a number of measures are suggested to mitigate and improve VBD risk assessment and management. There is an urgent need to define sustainable solutions for VBD control, management and prevention, and a number of recommendations are suggested.

scholarly journals European Brown hare ( Lepus europaeus ) as a source of emerging and re‐emerging pathogens of Public Health importance: A review

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 550-564 ◽  
Author(s):  
Constantina N. Tsokana ◽  
Christos Sokos ◽  
Alexios Giannakopoulos ◽  
Periklis Birtsas ◽  
George Valiakos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Lepus Europaeus ◽  
Brown Hare ◽  
Emerging Pathogens ◽  
Public Health Importance ◽  
European Brown Hare

scholarly journals Studies on the Vertical Distribution of Ticks of Domestic Animals and Their Public Health Importance in Nilgiri Hills and Adjoining Areas of Tamil Nadu State (India)

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kaushal Kumar ◽  
N. Balakrishnan ◽  
Abhay Kumar Sharma
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Tick Species ◽  
Tamil Nadu ◽  
Rhipicephalus Sanguineus ◽  
Domestic Animals ◽  
Boophilus Microplus ◽  
Public Health Importance ◽  
Tamil Nadu State ◽  
The Nilgiris ◽  
Almost All

The Nilgiri hills and adjoining downhill areas provide favourable ecological conditions for the propagation of haematophagous arthropods owing to richness in vegetation and animal activities. A study has been undertaken during 2008–2010 on the distribution and abundance of ticks of domestic animals in seven different biotopes. A total of 3,008 domestic animals were examined in areas ranging from an altitude of 300 to 2200 meters above mean sea level (MSL) of which 1,335 (44.5%) animals were having tick infestation. A total of 6,012 adult and immature ticks belonging to 12 species (11 ixodid and one argasid) were collected. Eleven tick species were collected from Kallar area situated downhill eastern slopes of the Nilgiris followed by Burliar area (7 species) located at higher altitudes. From Masinagudi area near to dense forests and scrub jungles, five species were recorded. However, at higher elevations on the hills, Udhagamandalam area, only one species was recorded. Among various tick species recorded in the study,Boophilus micropluswas distributed in almost all areas surveyed followed byHaemaphysalis spinigeraandRhipicephalus sanguineus. The factors governing their distribution and epidemiological significance in the transmission of various tick-borne diseases of public health importance are discussed.

scholarly journals Computer-Assisted and Data Driven Approaches for Surveillance, Drug Discovery, and Vaccine Design for the Zika Virus

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 157 ◽  
Author(s):  
Subhash C. Basak ◽  
Subhabrata Majumdar ◽  
Ashesh Nandy ◽  
Proyasha Roy ◽  
Tathagata Dutta ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Zika Virus ◽  
Human Life ◽  
Peptide Vaccine ◽  
Vaccine Design ◽  
New Drugs ◽  
Computer Assisted ◽  
Global Public Health ◽  
Emerging Pathogens ◽  
Therapeutic Molecules

Human life has been at the edge of catastrophe for millennia due diseases which emerge and reemerge at random. The recent outbreak of the Zika virus (ZIKV) is one such menace that shook the global public health community abruptly. Modern technologies, including computational tools as well as experimental approaches, need to be harnessed fast and effectively in a coordinated manner in order to properly address such challenges. In this paper, based on our earlier research, we have proposed a four-pronged approach to tackle the emerging pathogens like ZIKV: (a) Epidemiological modelling of spread mechanisms of ZIKV; (b) assessment of the public health risk of newly emerging strains of the pathogens by comparing them with existing strains/pathogens using fast computational sequence comparison methods; (c) implementation of vaccine design methods in order to produce a set of probable peptide vaccine candidates for quick synthesis/production and testing in the laboratory; and (d) designing of novel therapeutic molecules and their laboratory testing as well as validation of new drugs or repurposing of drugs for use against ZIKV. For each of these stages, we provide an extensive review of the technical challenges and current state-of-the-art. Further, we outline the future areas of research and discuss how they can work together to proactively combat ZIKV or future emerging pathogens.

scholarly journals Title: COVID-19Predict - Predicting Pandemic Trends.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jurgen Bosch ◽  
Austin Wilson ◽  
Karthik O'Neil ◽  
Pater A Zimmerman
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
County Level ◽  
Global Public Health ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Time Data ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Mortality Trends ◽  
Public Health Importance ◽  
National State

Background Given the global public health importance of the COVID-19 pandemic, data comparisons that predict on-going infection and mortality trends across national, state and county-level administrative jurisdictions are vitally important. We have designed a COVID-19 dashboard with the goal of providing concise sets of summarized data presentations to simplify interpretation of basic statistics and location-specific current and short-term future risks of infection. Methods We perform continuous collection and analyses of publicly available data accessible through the COVID-19 dashboard hosted at Johns Hopkins University (JHU github). Additionally, we utilize the accumulation of cases and deaths to provide dynamic 7-day short-term predictions on these outcomes across these national, state and county administrative levels. Findings COVID-19Predict produces 2,100 daily predictions [or calculations] on the state level (50 States x3 models x7 days x2 cases and deaths) and 131,964 (3,142 Counties x3 models x7 days x2 cases and deaths) on the county level. To assess how robust our models have performed in making short-term predictions over the course of the pandemic, we used available case data for all 50 U.S. states spanning the period January 20 - August 16 2020 in a retrospective analysis. Results showed a 3.7% to -0.2% mean error of deviation from the actual case predictions to date. Interpretation Our transparent methods and admin-level visualizations provide real-time data reporting and forecasts related to on-going COVID-19 transmission allowing viewers (individuals, health care providers, public health practitioners and policy makers) to develop their own perspectives and expectations regarding public life activity decisions.

scholarly journals A Sensitive, Rapid, and Portable CasRx-based Diagnostic Assay for SARS-CoV-2

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel J Brogan ◽  
Duverney Chaverra-Rodriguez ◽  
Calvin P Lin ◽  
Andrea L Smidler ◽  
Ting Yang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Nucleic Acid ◽  
Point Of Care ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Molecular Diagnostic ◽  
Emerging Pathogens ◽  
Public Health Importance ◽  
Point Of Care Diagnostics ◽  
Effective Diagnosis ◽  
Critical Public Health

AbstractSince its first emergence from China in late 2019, the SARS-CoV-2 virus has spread globally despite unprecedented containment efforts, resulting in a catastrophic worldwide pandemic. Successful identification and isolation of infected individuals can drastically curtail virus spread and limit outbreaks. However, during the early stages of global transmission, point-of-care diagnostics were largely unavailable and continue to remain difficult to procure, greatly inhibiting public health efforts to mitigate spread. Furthermore, the most prevalent testing kits rely on reagent- and time-intensive protocols to detect viral RNA, preventing rapid and cost-effective diagnosis. Therefore the development of an extensive toolkit for point-of-care diagnostics that is expeditiously adaptable to new emerging pathogens is of critical public health importance. Recently, a number of novel CRISPR-based diagnostics have been developed to detect COVID-19. Herein, we outline the development of a CRISPR-based nucleic acid molecular diagnostic utilizing a Cas13d ribonuclease derived from Ruminococcus flavefaciens (CasRx) to detect SARS-CoV-2, an approach we term SENSR (Sensitive Enzymatic Nucleic-acid Sequence Reporter). We demonstrate SENSR robustly detects SARS-CoV-2 sequences in both synthetic and patient-derived samples by lateral flow and fluorescence, thus expanding the available point-of-care diagnostics to combat current and future pandemics.

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