scholarly journals Detection of the Novel SARS-CoV-2 European Lineage B.1.177 in Ontario, Canada

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer L. Guthrie ◽  
Sarah Teatero ◽  
Sandra Zittermann ◽  
Yao Chen ◽  
Ashleigh Sullivan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Genomic Analysis ◽  
Epidemiological Data ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
Time Period ◽  
Disease Case ◽  
Novel Variants ◽  
Eastern Ontario ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Global And Local

ABSTRACTBackgroundTravel-related dissemination of SARS-CoV-2 continues to contribute to the global pandemic. A novel SARS-CoV-2 lineage (B.1.177) reportedly arose in Spain in the summer of 2020, with subsequent spread across Europe linked to travel by infected individuals. Surveillance and monitoring through the use of whole genome sequencing (WGS) offers insights into the global and local movement of pathogens such as SARS-CoV-2 and can detect introductions of novel variants.MethodsWe analyzed the genomes of SARS-CoV-2 sequenced for surveillance purposes from specimens received by Public Health Ontario (Sept 6 – Oct 10, 2020), collected from individuals in eastern Ontario. Taxonomic lineages were identified using pangolin (v2.08) and phylogenetic analysis incorporated publicly available genomes covering the same time period as the study sample. Epidemiological data collected from laboratory requisitions and standard reportable disease case investigation was integrated into the analysis.ResultsGenomic surveillance identified a COVID-19 case with SARS-CoV-2 lineage B.1.177 from an individual in eastern Ontario in late September, 2020. The individual had recently returned from Europe. Genomic analysis with publicly available data indicate the most closely related genomes to this specimen were from Southern Europe. Genomic surveillance did not identify further cases with this lineage.ConclusionsGenomic surveillance allowed for early detection of a novel SARS-CoV-2 lineage in Ontario which was deemed to be travel related. This type of genomic-based surveillance is a key tool to measure the effectiveness of public health measures such as mandatory self-isolation for returned travellers, aimed at preventing onward transmission of newly introduced lineages of SARS-CoV-2.

scholarly journals Identifying Synergistic Interventions to Address COVID-19 Using a Large Scale Agent-Based Model

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Junjiang Li ◽  
Philippe J. Giabbanelli
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Contact Tracing ◽  
Remote Work ◽  
Agent Based Model ◽  
Agent Based ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
Small Set ◽  
Factorial Design Of Experiments ◽  
The Individual

AbstractThere is a range of public health tools and interventions to address the global pandemic of COVID-19. Although it is essential for public health efforts to comprehensively identify which interventions have the largest impact on preventing new cases, most of the modeling studies that support such decision-making efforts have only considered a very small set of interventions. In addition, previous studies predominantly considered interventions as independent or examined a single scenario in which every possible intervention was applied. Reality has been more nuanced, as a subset of all possible interventions may be in effect for a given time period, in a given place. In this paper, we use cloud-based simulations and a previously published Agent-Based Model of COVID-19 (Covasim) to measure the individual and interacting contribution of interventions on reducing new infections in the US over 6 months. Simulated interventions include face masks, working remotely, stay-at-home orders, testing, contact tracing, and quarantining. Through a factorial design of experiments, we find that mask wearing together with transitioning to remote work/schooling has the largest impact. Having sufficient capacity to immediately and effectively perform contact tracing has a smaller contribution, primarily via interacting effects.

scholarly journals Compulsory Vaccination for Healthcare Workers in Italy for the Prevention of SARS-CoV-2 Infection

Vaccines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. 966
Author(s):  
Paola Frati ◽  
Raffaele La Russa ◽  
Nicola Di Fazio ◽  
Zoe Del Fante ◽  
Giuseppe Delogu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Epidemiological Data ◽  
Private Life ◽  
European Convention ◽  
Political Debate ◽  
Compulsory Vaccination ◽  
The Individual

The European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) judgement no. 116(2021) of 8 April 2021 establishes the principle of mandatory vaccination, indicating the criteria that national legislation must comply with, following the principle of non-interference in the private life of the individual. Vaccination for the prevention of SARS-CoV-2 infection appears to be an essential requirement for providing healthcare assistance. The European experience with compulsory vaccinations, offers a composite panorama, as the strategy of some European countries is to make vaccinations compulsory, including financial penalties for non-compliance. As in other countries, there is a clear need for Italy to impose compulsory vaccination for healthcare workers, in response to a pressing social need to protect individual and public health, and above all as a defense for vulnerable subjects or patients, for whom health workers have a specific position of guarantee and trust. The Italian Republic provided for mandatory vaccinations for health professionals by Decree-Law of 1 April 2021 no. 44, to guarantee public health and adequate safety conditions. As stated by ECHR, the Italian State, despite having initially opted for recommendation as regards to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination, had to adopt the mandatory system to achieve the highest possible degree of vaccination coverage among health professionals to guarantee the safety of treatments and protection of patients’ health. We present the Italian situation on vaccine hesitation in healthcare workers, with updated epidemiological data as well as the doctrinaire, social, and political debate that is raging in Italy and Europe.

scholarly journals Ultraprocessed Food: Addictive, Toxic, and Ready for Regulation

Nutrients ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 3401
Author(s):  
Robert H. Lustig
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Food Industry ◽  
Venereal Disease ◽  
Food Category ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
The Public ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
Health Community ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Necessary And Sufficient

Past public health crises (e.g., tobacco, alcohol, opioids, cholera, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), lead, pollution, venereal disease, even coronavirus (COVID-19) have been met with interventions targeted both at the individual and all of society. While the healthcare community is very aware that the global pandemic of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) has its origins in our Western ultraprocessed food diet, society has been slow to initiate any interventions other than public education, which has been ineffective, in part due to food industry interference. This article provides the rationale for such public health interventions, by compiling the evidence that added sugar, and by proxy the ultraprocessed food category, meets the four criteria set by the public health community as necessary and sufficient for regulation—abuse, toxicity, ubiquity, and externalities (How does your consumption affect me?). To their credit, some countries have recently heeded this science and have instituted sugar taxation policies to help ameliorate NCDs within their borders. This article also supplies scientific counters to food industry talking points, and sample intervention strategies, in order to guide both scientists and policy makers in instituting further appropriate public health measures to quell this pandemic.

scholarly journals Study of cocaine seizures through spatial analysis

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. e48610313571
Author(s):  
Mayrla Emília Dantas Vasconcelos ◽  
Sayonara Maria Lia Fook ◽  
Ricardo Alves de Olinda ◽  
Nícia Stellita da Cruz Soares ◽  
Ivana Maria Fechine ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Spatial Analysis ◽  
Drug Trafficking ◽  
Spatial Dependence ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Level Of Education ◽  
The Public ◽  
Cocaine Hydrochloride ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Global And Local

Cocaine trafficking and consumption continues to prosper despite the public policies that are in force in Brazil, despite its use for thousands of years, it is currently a public health problem. This study aimed to report the sociodemographic variables of individuals apprehended with cocaine and who were framed in Law n°. 11,343 of August 2006, in the municipality of Campina Grande, in 2017. It was a hybrid study, with a transversal, retrospective cut and ecological, with a quantitative approach. The neighborhood area variable was distributed in thematic maps and the spatial autocorrelation was measured by the Moran Global and Local indexes, which quantify the degree of autocorrelation. 210 cocaine seizures were recorded, of which 146 occurred in the municipality of Campina Grande, of these, only 94 presented all the data and were considered in this study. The months of September (n = 14) and October (n = 13) had the highest records of seizures. As for the pattern of use, crack in the yellowish stone form was predominant (n = 46), followed by cocaine hydrochloride in the form of white powder (n = 40). The profile of the individual apprehended with cocaine in the municipality was that of a young, single, unemployed and with low level of education. The predominant framework was drug trafficking (n = 75) according to Article nº. 33 of Law nº. 11,343 / 2006. The neighborhoods that registered the highest number of seizures were José Pinheiro (n = 15) and Pedregal (n = 8). The Moran General and Local indexis (p> 0.05), did not show spatial dependence between neighboring neighborhoods, that is, there is no autocorrelation for the analyzed variable.

scholarly journals Ultraprocessed Food: Addictive, Toxic, and Ready for Regulation

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert H. Lustig
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Food Industry ◽  
Venereal Disease ◽  
Food Category ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
The Public ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
Health Community ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Necessary And Sufficient

Past public health crises (e.g. tobacco, alcohol, opioids, cholera, HIV, lead, pollution, venereal disease, even COVID-19) have been met with interventions targeted both at the individual and all of society. While the healthcare community is very aware that the global pandemic of non-communicable diseases (NCD’s) has its origins in our Western ultraprocessed food diet, society has been slow to initiate any interventions other than public education, which has been ineffective, in part due to food industry interference. This article provides the rationale for such public health interventions, by compiling the evidence that added sugar, and by proxy the ultraprocessed food category, meets the four criteria set by the public health community as necessary and sufficient for regulation — addiction, toxicity, ubiquity, and externalities (how does your consumption affect me?). To its credit, some countries have recently heeded this science and have instituted sugar taxation policies to help ameliorate NCD’s within their borders. This article also supplies scientific counters to food industry talking points, in order to guide both scientists and policy makers in instituting further appropriate public health measures to quell this pandemic.

scholarly journals Genomic epidemiology reveals transmission patterns and dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 in Aotearoa New Zealand

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jemma L Geoghegan ◽  
Xiaoyun Ren ◽  
Matthew Storey ◽  
James Hadfield ◽  
Lauren Jelley ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Epidemiological Data ◽  
Genomic Diversity ◽  
Reproductive Number ◽  
Genomic Epidemiology ◽  
Aotearoa New Zealand ◽  
Time Period ◽  
Community Transmission ◽  
Health And Disease

New Zealand, a geographically remote Pacific island with easily sealable borders, implemented a nation-wide lockdown of all non-essential services to curb the spread of COVID-19. New Zealand experienced 102 days without community transmission before a new outbreak in August 2020. Here, we generated 649 SARS-CoV-2 genome sequences from infected patients in New Zealand with samples collected from the 'first wave' between 26 February and 22 May 2020, representing 56% of all confirmed cases in this time period. Despite its remoteness, the viruses imported into New Zealand represented nearly all of the genomic diversity sequenced from the global virus population. The proportion of D614G variants in the virus spike protein increased over time due to an increase in their importation frequency, rather than selection within New Zealand. These data also helped to quantify the effectiveness of public health interventions. For example, the effective reproductive number, Re, of New Zealand's largest cluster decreased from 7 to 0.2 within the first week of lockdown. Similarly, only 19% of virus introductions into New Zealand resulted in a transmission lineage of more than one additional case. Most of the cases that resulted in a transmission lineage originated from North America, rather than from Asia where the virus first emerged or from the nearest geographical neighbour, Australia. Genomic data also helped link more infections to a major transmission cluster than through epidemiological data alone, providing probable sources of infections for cases in which the source was unclear. Overall, these results demonstrate the utility of genomic pathogen surveillance to inform public health and disease mitigation.

Shoulder Pain at Work: Causation Analysis

2017 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-16
Author(s):  
Joel Weddington ◽  
Charles N. Brooks ◽  
Mark Melhorn ◽  
Christopher R. Brigham
Keyword(s):  
Epidemiological Data ◽  
Case Law ◽  
Individual Case ◽  
Shoulder Injury ◽  
Work Related ◽  
Clear Cut ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Causation Analysis ◽  
Injury Causation ◽  
Relevant Factors

Abstract In most cases of shoulder injury at work, causation analysis is not clear-cut and requires detailed, thoughtful, and time-consuming causation analysis; traditionally, physicians have approached this in a cursory manner, often presenting their findings as an opinion. An established method of causation analysis using six steps is outlined in the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine Guidelines and in the AMA Guides to the Evaluation of Disease and Injury Causation, Second Edition, as follows: 1) collect evidence of disease; 2) collect epidemiological data; 3) collect evidence of exposure; 4) collect other relevant factors; 5) evaluate the validity of the evidence; and 6) write a report with evaluation and conclusions. Evaluators also should recognize that thresholds for causation vary by state and are based on specific statutes or case law. Three cases illustrate evidence-based causation analysis using the six steps and illustrate how examiners can form well-founded opinions about whether a given condition is work related, nonoccupational, or some combination of these. An evaluator's causal conclusions should be rational, should be consistent with the facts of the individual case and medical literature, and should cite pertinent references. The opinion should be stated “to a reasonable degree of medical probability,” on a “more-probable-than-not” basis, or using a suitable phrase that meets the legal threshold in the applicable jurisdiction.

The relevance of dietetic approach of Ayurveda from the perspective of COVID-19 pandemic

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (SPL1) ◽  
pp. 748-752
Author(s):  
Swapnali Khabade ◽  
Bharat Rathi ◽  
Renu Rathi
Keyword(s):  
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ◽  
Healthy Person ◽  
World Health ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Leading Role ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
The People ◽  
The World ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
The Individual

A novel, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), causes severe acute respiratory syndrome and spread globally from Wuhan, China. In March 2020 the World Health Organization declared the SARS-Cov-2 virus as a COVID- 19, a global pandemic. This pandemic happened to be followed by some restrictions, and specially lockdown playing the leading role for the people to get disassociated with their personal and social schedules. And now the food is the most necessary thing to take care of. It seems the new challenge for the individual is self-isolation to maintain themselves on the health basis and fight against the pandemic situation by boosting their immunity. Food organised by proper diet may maintain the physical and mental health of the individual. Ayurveda aims to promote and preserve the health, strength and the longevity of the healthy person and to cure the disease by properly channelling with and without Ahara. In Ayurveda, diet (Ahara) is considered as one of the critical pillars of life, and Langhana plays an important role too. This article will review the relevance of dietetic approach described in Ayurveda with and without food (Asthavidhi visheshaytana & Lanhgan) during COVID-19 like a pandemic.

Forecast of COVID-19 Cases in Nigeria: An implementation of an ARIMA model (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sanyaolu Ameye ◽  
Michael Awoleye ◽  
Emmanuel Agogo ◽  
Ette Etuk
Keyword(s):  
Predictive Model ◽  
Time Series Data ◽  
Moving Average ◽  
Arima Model ◽  
Epidemiological Data ◽  
Series Data ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
First Case ◽  
Epidemiological Trend ◽  
Data Points

BACKGROUND The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-2019) is a global pandemic and Nigeria is not left out in being affected. Though, the disease is just over three months since first case was identified in the country, we present a predictive model to forecast the number of cases expected to be seen in the country in the next 100 days. OBJECTIVE To implement a predictive model in forecasting the near future number of positive cases expected in the country following the present trend METHODS We performed an Auto Regressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) model prediction on the epidemiological data obtained from Nigerian Centre for Disease Control to predict the epidemiological trend of the prevalence and incidence of COVID-2019. RESULTS There were 93 time series data points which lacked stationarity. From our ARIMA model, it is expected that the number of new cases declared per day will keep rising and towards the early September, 2020, Nigeria is expected to have well above sixty thousand confirmed cases. CONCLUSIONS We however believe that as we have more data points our model will be better fine-tuned.

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