Role of Tactical EMS in Support of Public Safety and the Public Health Response to a Hostile Mass Casualty Incident

2007 ◽  
Vol 1 (S1) ◽  
pp. S55-S56 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nelson Tang ◽  
Gabor D. Kelen
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Public Safety ◽  
Mass Casualty Incident ◽  
Mass Casualty ◽  
Public Health Response ◽  
The Public ◽  
Health Response

New decade, new response: Altering the public health response to toxigenic cutaneous diphtheria

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
N C Marshall ◽  
M Baxi ◽  
C MacDonald ◽  
C Sikora ◽  
G J Tyrrell
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Respiratory Disease ◽  
Diphtheria Toxin ◽  
Laboratory Testing ◽  
Asymptomatic Carrier ◽  
Public Health Response ◽  
Vaccination Rates ◽  
The Public ◽  
Health Response

Abstract Background Classical diphtheria is a potentially fatal respiratory disease mediated by the diphtheria toxin of Corynebacterium diphtheriae. Due to high vaccination rates against this toxin in Canada, the national incidence of respiratory diphtheria is near zero, and the toxin plays no recognized role in cutaneous diphtheria. Therefore, in this study, we assessed the diagnostic and public health benefits of diphtheria toxin testing and cutaneous diphtheria investigations in a highly vaccinated population. Methods Over the last 10 years, we retrospectively determined: the number of C. diphtheriae isolates identified in the province of Alberta, Canada; the disease state of each individual tested (disease vs asymptomatic carrier); the source (cutaneous vs respiratory); and the number of toxin tests performed. Results In 10 years, zero cases of respiratory diphtheria and three cases of toxigenic cutaneous diphtheria were identified. Despite zero cases of respiratory disease, diphtheria toxin testing significantly increased (p = 0.0001), with 86% of toxin tests performed on cutaneous isolates. Subsequent public health investigations of each case of toxigenic cutaneous diphtheria mandated the collection of 315 total specimens from 92 individuals, revealing low rates of C. diphtheriae colonization among contacts and no further cases. Conclusions This study challenges the value of reflexive diphtheria toxin testing in uncomplicated cutaneous diphtheria among highly vaccinated populations. Cutaneous diphtheria investigations demanded disproportionate public health and laboratory resources and demonstrated a discrepancy between toxin pathophysiology and disease. Therefore, we recommend stewarding diphtheria toxin tests for toxin-mediated disease forms and ensuring adequate vaccination. This approach would spare public health and laboratory resources by customizing responses around the role of the diphtheria toxin in each form of disease. Key messages Investigations for cutaneous diphtheria increased demand for toxin testing in Alberta, Canada, though the toxin plays no role in this form of disease. In populations with high vaccination rates against diphtheria toxoid, cutaneous diphtheria cases do not require additional laboratory testing for the presence of the diphtheria toxin.

Quarantine in Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and other Emerging Infectious Diseases

2003 ◽  
Vol 31 (S4) ◽  
pp. 63-64 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jane Speakman ◽  
Fernando González-Martin ◽  
Tony Perez
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Communicable Disease ◽  
Emerging Infectious Diseases ◽  
Public Health Response ◽  
The Public ◽  
Health Community ◽  
Health Response ◽  
Legislative Framework ◽  
Public Health Officials

SARS and monkeypox have given the public health community a unique opportunity to examine the use of quarantine measures. Until recently, the word “quarantine”was not used in polite conversation, and evoked unsavory images. The recent SARS epidemic illustrated the important role of quarantine and isolation as a public health response to communicable disease.As public health officials in Toronto began to take control of the SARS epidemic, a second wave of the disease (SARS II) emerged. In the first SARS epidemic, approximately 8,200 individuals were isolated. There were approximately 82 probable cases, 66 suspect cases, and 24 deaths. On May 22, 2003, SARS II emerged. In total, approximately 13,000 people were quarantined. SARS II saw the onset of difficult questions being asked about the control and spread of SARS.The province of Ontario establishes the public health policies and legislative framework for the entire province.

scholarly journals Effect of COVID-19 on childhood Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection in Chengdu, China

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ying Zhang ◽  
Yijie Huang ◽  
Tao Ai ◽  
Jun Luo ◽  
Hanmin Liu
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Mycoplasma Pneumoniae ◽  
Close Contact ◽  
Serum Antibody ◽  
Pathogen Transmission ◽  
Western China ◽  
Public Health Response ◽  
The Public ◽  
Health Response ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, a change in the incidence and transmission of respiratory pathogens was observed. Here, we retrospectively analyzed the impact of COVID-19 on the epidemiologic characteristics of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection among children in Chengdu, one of the largest cities of western China. Method M. pneumoniae infection was diagnosed in 33,345 pediatric patients with respiratory symptoms at the Chengdu Women’s & Children’s Central Hospital between January 2017 and December 2020, based on a serum antibody titer of ≥1:160 measured by the passive agglutination assay. Differences in infection rates were examined by sex, age, and temporal distribution. Results Two epidemic outbreaks occurred between October-December 2017 and April-December 2019, and two infection peaks were detected in the second and fourth quarters of 2017, 2018, and 2019. Due to the public health response to COVID-19, the number of positive M. pneumoniae cases significantly decreased in the second quarter of 2020. The number of M. pneumoniae infection among children aged 3–6 years was higher than that in other age groups. Conclusions Preschool children are more susceptible to M. pneumoniae infection and close contact appears to be the predominant factor favoring pathogen transmission. The public health response to COVID-19 can effectively control the transmission of M. pneumoniae.

Survey on the Populationʼs Needs and the Public Health Response During Floods in Germany 2002

2007 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 461-464 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johannes Schnitzler ◽  
Justus Benzler ◽  
Doris Altmann ◽  
Inge Mücke ◽  
Gérard Krause
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Public Health Response ◽  
The Public ◽  
Health Response
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