scholarly journals Impact of a public health intervention for active surveillance and mitigation of SARS-CoV-2 in a district from Buenos Aires province, Argentina: a descriptive epidemiological study

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. e053595
Author(s):  
Favio Crudo ◽  
Mariana Fernández ◽  
Marcelo Rodríguez Fermepín ◽  
Andrea Carolina Entrocassi ◽  
Karina Angela Cardone ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Buenos Aires ◽  
Infected Individual ◽  
Public Health Intervention ◽  
Turnaround Time ◽  
Buenos Aires Province ◽  
Viral Spread ◽  
First Case ◽  
Health Strategy ◽  
Epidemiological Risk

BackgroundThe first case of SARS-CoV-2 was reported in Argentina on 3 March 2020. Measures to limit the spread of the virus were implemented, including complete lockdown (26 March). Nonetheless, the virus spread throughout the country, with a first peak of almost a million cases in October. On 30 November, the government’s recommendation switched from social, preventive and compulsory isolation, to social, preventive and compulsory distancing.ObjectivesTo describe a tailored public health strategy to mitigate the spread of SARS-CoV-2 and determine its behaviour in San Antonio de Areco district from Buenos Aires province (Argentina) through a private–public association.Design, setting and participantsSurveillance of the virus was performed with the local healthcare system, through early identification of cases and the systematic study of each infected individual and contact, regardless of symptomatology, using telemedicine and a COVID-19-specific outpatient clinic. Real-time PCR was used for detection using both individual and pooled samples, with a 12-hour turnaround time.ResultsUp to 30 November, a total of 2426 suspected cases were analysed and 578 were confirmed. Surveillance of health personnel and at-risk populations proved effective, mitigating viral spread. Pooling samples allowed reduction of operator time, helped reduce costs, and allowed detection of both symptomatic and asymptomatic cases.ConclusionAfter 8 months of protocol implementation, the strategy to intensively survey groups at higher epidemiological risk and the systematic search for asymptomatic cases with the incorporation of pooled PCR for diagnosis, in combination with individual testing, is an efficient and viable option in populations with similar characteristics, in the frame of social isolation.

scholarly journals New host and distribution expansion for Pterygodermatites (Multipectines) affinis

2016 ◽  
Vol 53 (1) ◽  
pp. 81-86 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. P. Scioscia ◽  
P. M. Beldomenico ◽  
G. M. Denegri
Keyword(s):  
Buenos Aires ◽  
Buenos Aires Province ◽  
New Host ◽  
Fecal Samples ◽  
First Report ◽  
First Case ◽  
Small Intestines

SummaryThe present study reports the first case of infection by Pterygodermatites affinis in Lycalopex gymnocercus, and the first report of this nematode in Argentina. Examining 80 foxes from Buenos Aires province, specimens of this species were recovered from 21.25 % of the small intestines and eggs were found in 7.5 % of the fecal samples.

Yoga Kernels: A Public Health Model for Developing and Disseminating Evidence-Based Yoga Practices

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 119-126 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bradley H. Smith ◽  
Michael D. Lyons ◽  
Gulden Esat
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Public Health Intervention ◽  
Health Intervention ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Public Health Strategy ◽  
Potential Health ◽  
Public Health Model ◽  
Therapeutic Uses ◽  
Health Strategy ◽  
Health Model

Abstract Many people are drawn to yoga for its potential health benefits. With its rising popularity, yoga could become a widely used public health intervention, but its success depends on finding evidence-based yoga practices that are acceptable and feasible for a large segment of the population. Complexity and variability create barriers to the adoption and maintenance of yoga practices. In an effort to improve the study, adoption, and maintenance of therapeutic practices used in the context of public health interventions, we introduce the concept of “yoga kernels,” defined as discrete, evidence-based yoga practices that are amenable to scientific study and can be effectively disseminated as a public health intervention. Yoga is reviewed from the standpoint of a public health intervention using the Reach Effectiveness Adoption Implementation and Maintenance (RE-AIM) model. This model is designed to improve the successful adoption and maintenance of generalizable, evidence-based interventions. In response to the challenges to the adoption and maintenance of yoga practices, we propose that a potentially fruitful direction for yoga research is moving away from studying yoga classes to studying specific yoga practices that are simpler and easier for the general public to use. Yoga kernels could be a unifying concept to identify therapeutic uses of yoga and help people adopt and maintain these practices as part of a systematic public health strategy.

scholarly journals Community-level SARS-CoV-2 Seroprevalence Survey in urban slum dwellers of Buenos Aires City, Argentina: a participatory research.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Silvana Figar ◽  
Vanina Pagotto ◽  
Lorena Luna ◽  
Julieta Salto ◽  
Magdalena Wagner Manslau ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Buenos Aires ◽  
Urban Slum ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Risk Of Infection ◽  
High Seroprevalence ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Viral Spread ◽  
Population Immunity ◽  
First Case ◽  
Buenos Aires City

Background By July 1st, the incidence rate of RT-qPCR SARS-CoV-2 infection was 5.9% in Barrio Padre Mugica, one of the largest slums in Buenos Aires City. This study aimed to establish the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 three months after the first case was reported. Methods Between June 10th and July 1st, a cross-sectional design was carried out on people over 14 years old, selected from a probabilistic sample of households. A finger prick sample was tested by ELISA to detect IgG-class antibodies against SARS-CoV-2. Multilevel model was applied to understand sector, household and individual conditions associated with seroconvert. Results Prevalence based on IgG was 53.4% (95%IC 52.8% to 54.1%). Among the IgG positive cases, 15% reported having compatible symptoms at some point in the past two months. There is evidence of within-household clustering effect (rho=0.52; 95% IC 0.36-0.67); living with a PCR-confirmed case doubled the chance of being SARS-CoV2 IgG positive (OR 2.13; 95% IC 1.17-3.85). The highest risk of infection was found in one of the most deprived areas of the slum, the Bajo autopista sector. Discussion High seroprevalence is shown, for each symptomatic RT-qPCR-confirmed diagnosis, 9 people were IgG positive, indicating a high rate of undetected (probable asymptomatic) infections. Given that transmission among family members is a leading driver of the disease`s spread, it is unsurprising that crowded housing situations in slums are directly associated with higher risk of infection and consequently high seroprevalence levels. This study contributes to the understanding of population immunity against SARS-CoV2, its relation to living conditions and viral spread, for future decision making.

scholarly journals Knowledge, Attitude and Perception of West Africans Towards COVID-19: A Survey to Inform Public Health Intervention

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aniefiok John Udoakang ◽  
Alexandra Lindsey Djomkam Zune ◽  
Kesego Tapela ◽  
Owoicho Oloche ◽  
Ifeoluwa Kayode Fagbohun ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Preventive Measures ◽  
Public Health Intervention ◽  
Health Interventions ◽  
Basic Knowledge ◽  
Public Health Interventions ◽  
African Countries ◽  
First Case ◽  
West Africans

Abstract Background: The first case of the novel coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) in West Africa was first confirmed in Nigeria in February 2020. Since then, several public health interventions and preventive measures have been implemented to curtail transmission of the causative agent, the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Therefore, this study was performed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of West Africans towards COVID-19. Methods: An online survey was conducted between 29 September to 29 October 2020 among West Africans. Thirty-three survey questions were designed to collate demographics data and participants’ knowledge, attitude and perception towards COVID-19.Results: Overall, 1106 respondents from 16 West African countries, ranging from 1 to 548 with about 11.8% residing outside the subregion, participated in the survey. The respondents had an average COVID-19 knowledge score of 67.82 ± 8.31, with knowledge of the disease significantly associated with the country of residence (P = 0.00) and marginally so in settlement types (P = 0.05). Most respondents (93.4%) could identify the main COVID-19 symptoms, and 73.20% would consult a healthcare professional if infected with SARS-CoV-2. Also, 75.2% of the respondents are willing to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, whereas 10.40% and 14.40 % are unwilling and undecided, respectively. Perceptions of what constitute COVID-19 preventive measures were highly variable. Approximately, 8% of the respondents felt that their government responded excellently in managing the pandemic while a third felt that the response was just good. Also, more than half (54%) opined that isolation and treatment of COVID-19 patients is a way of curbing SARS-CoV-2 spread.Conclusions: Most West Africans have basic knowledge of COVID-19 and showed a positive attitude, with likely proactive practice towards the disease. However, results showed that these varied across countries and are influenced by the types of settlements. Therefore, the health and education authorities in various countries should develop focused measures capturing people in different settlements to improve their preventative measures when designing public health interventions for COVID-19 and any future epidemics or pandemics.

Fleas (Insecta: Siphonaptera) with public health relevance in domestic pigs (Artiodactyla: Suidae) from Argentina 

Zootaxa ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 4374 (1) ◽  
pp. 144 ◽  
Author(s):  
JULIANA PATRICIA SANCHEZ ◽  
MARÍA CECILIA EZQUIAGA ◽  
MELANIE RUIZ
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Buenos Aires ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Ctenocephalides Felis ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Buenos Aires Province ◽  
Domestic Pigs ◽  
Ctenocephalides Felis Felis ◽  
Health Relevance

The presence of fleas can have a great negative impact on the productivity and well-being of the animals, and can contribute towards propagation of causative pathogens of important diseases in animals and humans. Fleas and domestic pigs (Sus scrofa Linnaeus, 1758) are a known association. However, knowledge about fleas on pigs in Argentina is scarce. In this country, swine farming has become one of the main components of livestock production. This activity is primarily carried out by smallholder farmers, involving a potential risk to humans of acquiring pathogens. Our study was developed in Buenos Aires province, Argentina, in a region where there is strong swine livestock activity. We provide the first record for Argentina of Ctenocephalides felis felis (Bouché, 1835) and Pulex irritans Linnaeus, 1758 in domestic pigs, and the first data for the country of parasitological indexes of fleas in pigs. Ctenocephalides felis felis and P. irritans cause discomfort, nuisance, allergic reactions, and anaemia, and are known as vectors of several pathogens with importance for public health. The high prevalence and abundance of C. felis felis and P. irritans observed in pigs from Azul, Buenos Aires, are significant, and the absence of them in other studied localities could correspond to environmental characteristics. This paper expands the knowledge about the flea diversity associated with S. scrofa in Argentina and contributes to the knowledge of the ecology and biology of two cosmopolitan fleas and with public health relevance. This information is important for future epidemiological studies, as well as to establish prevention and control measures where appropriate. 

scholarly journals Use of a geographic information system to map cases of measles in real-time during an outbreak in Dublin, Ireland, 2011

2012 ◽  
Vol 17 (49) ◽  
Author(s):  
G Fitzpatrick ◽  
M Ward ◽  
O Ennis ◽  
H Johnson ◽  
S Cotter ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Information System ◽  
Geographic Information System ◽  
Real Time ◽  
Vaccination Campaign ◽  
Public Health Intervention ◽  
Geographic Information ◽  
Digital Mapping ◽  
First Case ◽  
Measles Outbreak

In 2011, there was a large measles outbreak in Dublin. Nationally 285 cases were notified to the end of December 2011, and 250 (88%) were located in the Dublin region. After the first case was notified in week 6, numbers gradually increased, with 25 notified in June and a peak of 53 cases in August. Following public health intervention including a measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccination campaign, no cases were reported in the Dublin region in December 2011. Most cases (82%) were children aged between 6 months and 14 years, and 46 cases (18%) were under 12 months-old. This is the first outbreak in Dublin to utilise a geographic information system for plotting measles cases on a digital map in real time. This approach, in combination with the analysis of case notifications, assisted the department of public health in demonstrating the extent of the outbreak. The digital mapping documented the evolution of two distinct clusters of 87 (35%) cases. These measles cases were infected with genotype D4-Manchester recently associated with large outbreaks across Europe. The two clusters occurred in socio-economically disadvantaged areas and were attributable to inadequate measles vaccination coverage due in part to the interruption of a school-based MMR2 vaccination programme.

scholarly journals Ebola, quarantine, and the need for a new ethical framework

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Corey Benjamin Moore
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
West Africa ◽  
Public Health Intervention ◽  
Ethical Framework ◽  
West Point ◽  
Ethical Frameworks ◽  
Health Strategy ◽  
African Context ◽  
Broad Public Health ◽  
Asymptomatic Individuals

Quarantine is a broad public health strategy used to control infectious diseases outbreaks. An arguably most aggressive public health intervention, quarantine limits the asymptomatic individuals’ liberty and can result in significant harm. Quarantine was used in an attempt to control several Ebola outbreaks during the Ebola epidemic in West Africa in 2014. The most concerning quarantine intervention occurred at West Point, a slum of 75,000 people in the capital Liberian capital, Monrovia. This work critically reviews present ethical frameworks in public health for the examination of outbreaks in West Africa. This work utilizes the nine public health ethical principles described by Kerridge, Lowe and Stewart to argue that the quarantine at West Point was not ethically justified; and, it concludes that a new ethical framework for quarantine is required to address future outbreaks in the West African context.

scholarly journals Phylodynamic insights on the early spread of the COVID-19 pandemic and the efficacy of intervention measures

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiansi Gao ◽  
Michael R. May ◽  
Bruce Rannala ◽  
Brian R. Moore
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Air Travel ◽  
Mitigation Measures ◽  
Viral Spread ◽  
Health Measures ◽  
Intervention Measures ◽  
Health Strategy ◽  
Containment Measures ◽  
Critical Components

We performed phylodynamic analyses of all available SARS-CoV-2 genomes from the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic---combined with a novel dataset on contemporary global air-travel volume---to assess the efficacy of public-health measures on viral geographic spread. Globally, viral dispersal rates are significantly correlated with air-travel volume, and widespread international air-travel bans imposed against China by early February coincide with a significant reduction in geographic viral spread. In North America, the efficacy of this travel ban was temporary, possibly due to the lack of both containment measures against other infected regions and domestic mitigation measures. By contrast, in China, domestic mitigation measures were correlated with a long-term reduction in viral spread, despite repeated international introductions. Our study supports a role for both targeted international containment and domestic mitigation measures as critical components of a more comprehensive public-health strategy to mitigate future outbreaks caused by the emergence of novel SARS-CoV-2 variants.

The Affective Politics of Karma among Buddhist Cancer Charities in Vietnam

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 33-62
Author(s):  
Sara Swenson
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Global Existence ◽  
Food Production ◽  
Public Health Intervention ◽  
Health Intervention ◽  
Moral Failure ◽  
Cancer Rates ◽  
Charity Work

In this article, I explore how Buddhist charity workers in Vietnam interpret rising cancer rates through understandings of karma. Rather than framing cancer as a primarily physical or medical phenomenon, volunteers state that cancer is a product of collective moral failure. Corruption in public food production is both caused by and perpetuates bad karma, which negatively impacts global existence. Conversely, charity work creates merit, which can improve collective karma and benefit all living beings. I argue that through such interpretations of karma, Buddhist volunteers understand their charity at cancer hospitals as an affective and ethical form of public health intervention.

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