Vaccination in the face of disease outbreaks

2018 ◽  
Vol 23 (7) ◽  
pp. 418-418
Author(s):  
Olivia Walter
Keyword(s):  
Disease Outbreaks ◽  
The Face

scholarly journals Are Artificial Intelligence (AI) And Machine Learning (ML) Having An Effective Role In Helping Humanity Address The New Coronavirus Pandemic?

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Artificial Intelligence ◽  
Machine Learning ◽  
Disease Outbreaks ◽  
Hospital Capacity ◽  
Data Engineering ◽  
Clinical Presentations ◽  
The Face ◽  
Effective Role ◽  
Using Data ◽  
The Right

COVID-19 has become a pandemic affecting the most of countries in the world. One of the most difficult decisions doctors face during the Covid-19 epidemic is determining which patients will stay in hospital, and which are safe to recover at home. In the face of overcrowded hospital capacity and an entirely new disease with little data-based evidence for diagnosis and treatment, the old rules for determining which patients should be admitted have proven ineffective. But machine learning can help make the right decision early, save lives and lower healthcare costs. So, there is therefore an urgent and imperative need to collect data describing clinical presentations, risks, epidemiology and outcomes. On the other side, artificial intelligence(AI) and machine learning(ML) are considered a strong firewall against outbreaks of diseases and epidemics due to its ability to quickly detect, examine and diagnose these diseases and epidemics.AI is being used as a tool to support the fight against the epidemic that swept the entire world since the beginning of 2020.. This paper presents the potential for using data engineering, ML and AI to confront the Coronavirus, predict the evolution of disease outbreaks, and conduct research in order to develop a vaccine or effective treatment that protects humanity from these deadly diseases.

scholarly journals Illness Behavior in the Face of COVID-19 Infection: A Qualitative Study on Homecare in Afghanistan

2021 ◽  
Vol In Press (In Press) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmad Kalateh Sadati ◽  
Kimia Mohammadi
Keyword(s):  
Social Stigma ◽  
Disease Outbreaks ◽  
Illness Behavior ◽  
Infected People ◽  
Telephone Interviews ◽  
Medical Needs ◽  
Seeking Behavior ◽  
The Face ◽  
Political Dimensions ◽  
Specific Symptoms

Background: Illness behavior refers to the ways of perceiving, assessing, and managing specific symptoms by an individual. Objectives: The present study aims to investigate illness behavior during the COVID-19 outbreak among Afghan people. Methods: The study is a thematic analysis conducted between May and September 2020. Data were collected purposefully through semi-structured telephone interviews with 17 infected people from the cities of Kabul, Bamian, and Balkh in Afghanistan. Results: As the participants believed, the COVID-19 outbreak in their country was a socio-political rather than a medical phenomenon. In this situation, the health system is unable to meet medical needs, and patients creatively take care of themselves at home with exercise, local soups, and oxygen therapy if needed. There were four themes explored, including de-hospitalization, healthcare-seeking behavior, social stigma, and the role of media. Conclusions: The illness behavior regarding disease outbreaks is a social rather than a clinical phenomenon. It includes de-pharmaceuticalization perceptions and activities. Therefore, healthcare systems are recommended to pay attention to the socio-political dimensions of illness behavior during such outbreaks.

scholarly journals Optimizing spatial and seasonal deployment of vaccination campaigns to eliminate wildlife rabies

2019 ◽  
Vol 374 (1776) ◽  
pp. 20180280 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laurie Baker ◽  
Jason Matthiopoulos ◽  
Thomas Müller ◽  
Conrad Freuling ◽  
Katie Hampson
Keyword(s):  
Infectious Disease ◽  
Plant Pathogens ◽  
Herd Immunity ◽  
Disease Outbreaks ◽  
Vaccination Strategy ◽  
Theme Issue ◽  
Infectious Disease Outbreaks ◽  
Control Programmes ◽  
The Face ◽  
And Control

Understanding how the spatial deployment of interventions affects elimination time horizons and potential for disease re-emergence has broad application to control programmes targeting human, animal and plant pathogens. We previously developed an epidemiological model that captures the main features of rabies spread and the impacts of vaccination based on detailed records of fox rabies in eastern Germany during the implementation of an oral rabies vaccination (ORV) programme. Here, we use simulations from this fitted model to determine the best vaccination strategy, in terms of spatial placement and timing of ORV efforts, for three epidemiological scenarios representative of current situations in Europe. We found that consecutive and comprehensive twice-yearly vaccinations across all regions rapidly controlled and eliminated rabies and that the autumn campaigns had the greater impact on increasing the probability of elimination. This appears to result from the need to maintain sufficient herd immunity in the face of large birth pulses, as autumn vaccinations reach susceptible juveniles and therefore a larger proportion of the population than spring vaccinations. Incomplete vaccination compromised time to elimination requiring the same or more vaccination effort to meet similar timelines. Our results have important practical implications that could inform policies for rabies containment and elimination in Europe and elsewhere. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Modelling infectious disease outbreaks in humans, animals and plants: epidemic forecasting and control’. This theme issue is linked with the earlier issue ‘Modelling infectious disease outbreaks in humans, animals and plants: approaches and important themes’.

scholarly journals High mortality in aquatic predators of mosquito larvae caused by exposure to insect repellent

2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (10) ◽  
pp. 20180526 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rafael M. Almeida ◽  
Barbara A. Han ◽  
Alexander J. Reisinger ◽  
Catherine Kagemann ◽  
Emma J. Rosi
Keyword(s):  
Surface Waters ◽  
Mosquito Control ◽  
Sewage Treatment ◽  
Disease Outbreaks ◽  
Mosquito Larvae ◽  
Insect Repellents ◽  
Naturally Occurring ◽  
The Face ◽  
Aquatic Predators ◽  
Salamander Larvae

In the face of mosquito-borne disease outbreaks, effective mosquito control is a primary goal for public health. Insect repellents, containing active compounds such as DEET and picaridin, are a first defence against biting insects. Owing to widespread use and incomplete sewage treatment, these compounds are frequently detected in surface waters, but their effects on aquatic taxa such as mosquito larvae or their naturally occurring aquatic predators are poorly understood. We investigated the effects of environmentally realistic concentrations of commercial products containing DEET and picaridin on survivorship of mosquito larvae, and their potential indirect effects on survival of larval salamanders, a major predator of mosquito larvae. Larval mosquitos were not affected by exposure to repellents containing DEET or picaridin. We found no larval salamander mortality in control and DEET treatments, but mortality rates in picaridin treatments ranged from 45 to 65% after 25 days of exposure. Salamander larvae exposed to repellents containing picaridin began to display tail deformities and impaired development four days after the experiment began. Our findings suggest the possibility that environmentally realistic concentrations of picaridin-containing repellents in surface waters may increase the abundance of adult mosquitos owing to decreased predation pressure.

Gastrointestinal disease outbreaks in cycling events: are preventive measures effective?

2012 ◽  
Vol 141 (3) ◽  
pp. 517-523 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. MEXIA ◽  
L. VOLD ◽  
B. T. HEIER ◽  
K. NYGÅRD
Keyword(s):  
Cohort Study ◽  
Attack Rate ◽  
Preventive Measures ◽  
Environmental Control ◽  
Gastrointestinal Disease ◽  
Disease Outbreaks ◽  
Case Definition ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Gastrointestinal Illness ◽  
The Face

SUMMARYIn 2009, following a bike race, a gastrointestinal illness outbreak affected many participants. A cohort study showed an attack rate of 16·3% with the main risk factor being mud splashes to the face. Considering these findings, in 2010 recommendations to participants in the bike race were issued and environmental control measures were implemented. In 2010, a retrospective cohort study using web-based questionnaires was conducted to measure the use of preventive measures and to assess risk factors associated with gastrointestinal illness. A 69% response rate was achieved and 11721 records analysed, with 572 (attack rate 4·9%) matching the case definition, i.e. participants reporting diarrhoea within 10 days of race. There was a clear increase in the use of mudguards (96·7% reported access to/receiving information on preventive measures) and a significant decrease in gastrointestinal illness. This may indicate that the measures have been effective and should be considered, both in terms of environmental control measures as well as individual measures.

The Dynamics of Cooperative Bacterial Virulence in the Field

Science ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 337 (6090) ◽  
pp. 85-88 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ben Raymond ◽  
Stuart A. West ◽  
Ashleigh S. Griffin ◽  
Michael B. Bonsall
Keyword(s):  
Social Interactions ◽  
Laboratory Experiments ◽  
Diamondback Moth ◽  
Natural Populations ◽  
Disease Outbreaks ◽  
Toxin Production ◽  
Microbial Life ◽  
The Face ◽  
Crystal Toxins ◽  
Density Dependent Selection

Laboratory experiments have shown that the fitness of microorganisms can depend on cooperation between cells. Although this insight has revolutionized our understanding of microbial life, results from artificial microcosms have not been validated in complex natural populations. We investigated the sociality of essential virulence factors (crystal toxins) in the pathogenBacillus thuringiensisusing diamondback moth larvae (Plutella xylostella) as hosts. We show that toxin production is cooperative, and in a manipulative field experiment, we observed persistent high relatedness and frequency- and density-dependent selection, which favor stable cooperation. Conditions favoring social virulence can therefore persist in the face of natural population processes, and social interactions (rapid cheat invasion) may account for the rarity of natural disease outbreaks caused byB. thuringiensis.

scholarly journals Electoral Governance and Human Rights Amid Pandemics in Africa: Key lessons from the Early COVID-19 Experience

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-28
Author(s):  
Mansha Mohee
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
Disease Outbreaks ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Initial State ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
The Rule Of Law ◽  
Infectious Disease Outbreaks ◽  
The Face ◽  
State Responses

Abstract Over 25 African countries had planned elections for 2020. In the face of the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March, states resorted to one of two courses of action: adherence to planned electoral timelines in the shadow of the outbreak, which largely led to record low voter turnouts and hastened the spread of the virus; or adjourning elections with ill-defined election programming, constitutional tensions and unrest over delayed polls. The global health crisis not only frustrated the organization of the electoral process but set severe challenges to democracy, the rule of law and human rights in the region at a time of landmark elections, notably in Ethiopia, Burundi and Malawi. This article analyses initial state responses in electoral administration in light of international electoral norms, and interrogates the role of national and regional mechanisms in securing safe, inclusive, timely, free and fair elections amid new infectious disease outbreaks.

scholarly journals A Narrative Review of Stigma Related to Infectious Disease Outbreaks: What Can Be Learned in the Face of the Covid-19 Pandemic?

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fahimeh Saeed ◽  
Ronak Mihan ◽  
S. Zeinab Mousavi ◽  
Renate LEP Reniers ◽  
Fatemeh Sadat Bateni ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Infectious Disease ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Disease Outbreaks ◽  
Important Variable ◽  
Social Consequences ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Infectious Disease Outbreaks ◽  
Appropriate Treatment ◽  
Health Related ◽  
The Face

Infectious disease pandemics are associated with social consequences and stigma that are noticeably similar in various health conditions, health systems, and cultures. Stigma impacts health-related outcomes, not only as a barrier to receiving the timely diagnosis and appropriate treatment but also as an important variable that increases mental health issues such as anxiety and depression. The COVID-19 outbreak has been associated with stigma too. Studying similarities as well as differences in the features of stigma observed in each outbreak can provide us with the knowledge and deeper understanding of the situation, which is necessary for approaching the issue comprehensively. The stigma needs to be addressed rigorously by professionals and health care providers as well as authorities. Here, we narratively review stigma due to some well-known infectious diseases and how it parallels to the current COVID-19 situation. After discussing its effects on both individuals and societies, we provide solutions to manage this important issue.

Barriers to Dermatopilus dermatonomus infection on the skin of sheep

1963 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 492 ◽  
Author(s):  
DS Roberts
Keyword(s):  
Stratum Corneum ◽  
Disease Outbreaks ◽  
Severe Infection ◽  
Atmospheric Temperature ◽  
Infected Sheep ◽  
Protective Film ◽  
Merino Sheep ◽  
Moderate Reduction ◽  
The Face ◽  
Natural Variations

In adult Merino sheep, but not in coarser-woolled breeds, the greasy fleece and the film of sebaceous wax on the underlying skin were found to be efficient barriers to infection with Dermatophilus dermatonomus. Severe infection resulted from the application of liquid cultures after the removal of wax with light petroleum. On several non-woolled regions resistance was shown to depend on the thickness and integrity of the stratum corneum. A study was made of the development of the sebaceous film and of its properties. It was shown that the rate of formation of the protective film was not affected by differences in atmospheric temperature, or by the moderate reduction in wax output observed both in pregnant ewes and in wethers given large doses of oestrogen. It was found that variations in the bacteriostatic action and melting point of sebum did not affect the protectiveness of the film or the ability of naturally infected sheep to overcome the disease. Outbreaks of body infection commonly commence in Merinos soon after birth or shearing, and between the ages of about 3 and 12 months. These were shown to be times when the fleece, and the wax film on the skin, provide inadequate protection. Pronounced fluctuations in susceptibility were observed on the face and ears, which are important reservoirs of infection, and were shown to be associated with natural variations in the integrity of the wax film on the face and of the stratum corneum on the ears.

scholarly journals Novel Vaccine Adjuvants as Key Tools for Improving Pandemic Preparedness

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (11) ◽  
pp. 155
Author(s):  
Brett H. Pogostin ◽  
Kevin J. McHugh
Keyword(s):  
Disease Outbreaks ◽  
Vaccine Adjuvants ◽  
Safety Testing ◽  
Public Health Policies ◽  
Infectious Disease Outbreaks ◽  
Current State ◽  
The Face ◽  
Human Use ◽  
Vaccine Testing ◽  
Effective Public Health

Future infectious disease outbreaks are inevitable; therefore, it is critical that we maximize our readiness for these events by preparing effective public health policies and healthcare innovations. Although we do not know the nature of future pathogens, antigen-agnostic platforms have the potential to be broadly useful in the rapid response to an emerging infection—particularly in the case of vaccines. During the current COVID-19 pandemic, recent advances in mRNA engineering have proven paramount in the rapid design and production of effective vaccines. Comparatively, however, the development of new adjuvants capable of enhancing vaccine efficacy has been lagging. Despite massive improvements in our understanding of immunology, fewer than ten adjuvants have been approved for human use in the century since the discovery of the first adjuvant. Modern adjuvants can improve vaccines against future pathogens by reducing cost, improving antigen immunogenicity, and increasing antigen stability. In this perspective, we survey the current state of adjuvant use, highlight potentially impactful preclinical adjuvants, and propose new measures to accelerate adjuvant safety testing and technology sharing to enable the use of “off-the-shelf” adjuvant platforms for rapid vaccine testing and deployment in the face of future pandemics.

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