Book Reviews : Nuclear Power — Accidental releases - principles of public health action by World Health Organisation. Published by WHO/ Copenhagen, 1984. Price Sw.Fr. 12. Paperback. Pp 47. ISBN: 92 890 1107 6

Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) has been described as the first major emerging infectious disease of the twenty–first century. Having initially emerged, almost unnoticed, in southern China, it rapidly spread across the globe. It severely tested national public health and health systems. However, it also resulted in rapid, intensive international collaboration, led by the World Health Organization, to elucidate its characteristics and cause and to contain its spread. The UK mounted a vigorous public health response. Some particular issues concerned: the practicalities of implementing exit screening had this been required; the likely efficacy of this and other control measures; the legal base for public health action; and the surge capacity in all systems should the disease have taken hold in the UK. We have used this experience of 2003 to inform our preparation of a framework for an integrated, escalating response to a future re–emergence of SARS according to the levels of disease activity worldwide. Recent cases confirm that SARS has not ‘gone away’. We cannot be complacent about our contingency planning.

Download Full-text

Der „Public Health Action Cycle“ als Basis für eine datengestützte Arbeit im Kinder- und Jugend-Gesundheitsdienst

10.1055/s-0039-1679327 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

C Korebrits

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Public Health Action ◽

Public Health Action Cycle ◽

Health Action

Download Full-text

Estimating the number of cases during COVID-19 pandemics using a web-based tool: first week results of “COVID-19 TRENDS” social media project in the Araba-Alava province in Basque country, Spain. (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.20885 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Ignacio Garitano ◽

Manuel Linares ◽

Laura Santos ◽

Ruth Gil ◽

Elena Lapuente ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Social Media ◽

Response Rate ◽

Basque Country ◽

Case Definition ◽

Public Health Action ◽

Web Based ◽

Health Action ◽

Estimate Number ◽

Media Project

UNSTRUCTURED On 28th February a case of COVID-19 was declared in Araba-Álava province, Spain. In Spain, a confinement and movement restrictions were established by Spanish Government at 14th March 2020. We implemented a web-based tool to estimate number of cases during the pandemic. We present the results in Áraba-Álava province. We reached a response rate of 10,3% out a 331.549 population. We found that 22,4 % fulfilled the case definition. This tool rendered useful to inform public health action.

Download Full-text

Reconciling Epidemiology’s Aspirations and Capabilities

American Journal of Epidemiology ◽

10.1093/aje/kwaa271 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

David A Savitz

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Epidemiologic Studies ◽

Public Health Importance ◽

Public Health Action ◽

Action Current ◽

Current Trends ◽

The Face ◽

Health Action ◽

New Challenges ◽

Health Applications

Abstract Interpreting the results of epidemiologic studies calls for objectivity and rigorous scrutiny, acknowledging the limitations that temper the applicability of the findings to public health action. Current trends have posed new challenges to balancing goal of scientific objectivity and validity with public health applications. The ongoing tension between epidemiology’s aspirations and capability has several sources: the need to overpromise in research proposals, compromising methodologic rigor because of public health importance, defending findings in the face of hostile critics, and appealing to core constituencies who have specific expectations from the research.

Download Full-text