Household and climate factors influence Aedes aegypti presence in the arid city of Huaquillas, Ecuador

Arboviruses transmitted by Aedes aegypti (e.g., dengue, chikungunya, Zika) are of major public health concern on the arid coastal border of Ecuador and Peru. This high transit border is a critical disease surveillance site due to human movement-associated risk of transmission. Local level studies are thus integral to capturing the dynamics and distribution of vector populations and social-ecological drivers of risk, to inform targeted public health interventions. Our study examines factors associated with household-level Ae. aegypti presence in Huaquillas, Ecuador, while accounting for spatial and temporal effects. From January to May of 2017, adult mosquitoes were collected from a cohort of households (n = 63) in clusters (n = 10), across the city of Huaquillas, using aspirator backpacks. Household surveys describing housing conditions, demographics, economics, travel, disease prevention, and city services were conducted by local enumerators. This study was conducted during the normal arbovirus transmission season (January—May), but during an exceptionally dry year. Household level Ae. aegypti presence peaked in February, and counts were highest in weeks with high temperatures and a week after increased rainfall. Univariate analyses with proportional odds logistic regression were used to explore household social-ecological variables and female Ae. aegypti presence. We found that homes were more likely to have Ae. aegypti when households had interruptions in piped water service. Ae. aegypti presence was less likely in households with septic systems. Based on our findings, infrastructure access and seasonal climate are important considerations for vector control in this city, and even in dry years, the arid environment of Huaquillas supports Ae. aegypti breeding habitat.

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Household and climate factors influence Aedes aegypti risk in the arid city of Huaquillas, Ecuador

10.1101/2020.05.19.104372 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

James L. Martin ◽

Anna M. Stewart-Ibarra ◽

Efraín Beltrán Ayala ◽

Erin A. Mordecai ◽

Rachel Sippy ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Aedes Aegypti ◽

High Temperatures ◽

Health Concern ◽

Septic Systems ◽

Mosquito Vector ◽

Household Level ◽

Social Ecological ◽

Heads Of Household ◽

Water Tanks

AbstractArboviruses transmitted by Aedes aegypti (e.g., dengue, chikungunya, Zika) are of major public health concern on the arid coastal border of Ecuador and Peru. This high transit border is a critical disease surveillance site due to human movement-associated risk of transmission. Local level studies are thus integral to capturing the dynamics and distribution of vector populations and social-ecological drivers of risk, to inform targeted public health interventions. Our study examines factors associated with household-level Ae. aegypti presence in Huaquillas, Ecuador, while accounting for spatial and temporal effects. From January to May of 2017, adult mosquitoes were collected from a cohort of households (n = 63) in clusters (n = 10), across the city of Huaquillas, using aspirator backpacks. Household surveys describing housing conditions, demographics, economics, travel, disease prevention, and city services were conducted by local enumerators. This study was conducted during the normal arbovirus transmission season (January - May), but during an exceptionally dry year. Household level Ae. aegypti presence peaked in February, and counts were highest in weeks with high temperatures and a week after increased rainfall. Presence of Ae. aegypti was highly variable between clusters. Hierarchical generalized linear models were used to explore household social-ecological variables and female Ae. aegypti presence. Houses with Ae. aegypti used larvicide in water tanks and had high awareness of dengue transmission. We found that homes were more likely to have Ae. aegypti when heads of household had lived in the neighborhoods for longer than average (>22 years), when households had more occupants than average (>4.5), had a female head of household, and received more frequent garbage collection. Ae. aegypti presence was less likely in households with reliable water supply and septic systems. Based on our findings, infrastructure access, urban occupancy patterns, and seasonal climate are important considerations for vector control in this city, and even in dry years, this arid environment supports Ae. aegypti breeding habitat.Author summaryMosquito transmitted infectious diseases are a growing concern around the world. The yellow fever mosquito (Aedes aegypti) has been responsible for recent major outbreaks of disease, including dengue fever and Zika. This mosquito prefers to bite humans and lay its eggs in artificial containers such as water tanks and planters. This makes Ae. aegypti well suited to become established in growing urban areas. Controlling these mosquitoes has been an important way to reduce the risk of disease transmission. Studies that are undertaken to understand local factors that contribute to the continued survival of the mosquito can be used to inform control practices. We conducted a study in the largest city on the border of Ecuador and Peru where we collected adult mosquitoes from houses and surveyed household members about their behaviors, perceptions, and housing infrastructure associated with the mosquito vector. Mosquitoes were most numerous in weeks with high temperatures and a week after increased rainfall. Larvicide was a commonly used control strategy in homes where Ae. aegypti was present. We found that houses that had more people, female heads of household, heads of household that had lived in the neighborhood for a long time, and had unreliable water service, were more likely have mosquitoes present, while houses that used septic systems were less likely to have mosquitoes present.

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COVID-19 Contact Tracing

International Journal of E-Planning Research ◽

10.4018/ijepr.20210401.oa4 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (2) ◽

pp. 45-58

Author(s):

Teresa Scassa

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Human Rights ◽

Disease Surveillance ◽

Local Governance ◽

Local Level ◽

Health Agency ◽

Contact Tracing ◽

Local Public Health ◽

Health Initiatives ◽

Rights Issues

This article surveys the rise of contact tracing technologies during the COVID-19 pandemic and some of the privacy, ethical, and human rights issues they raise. It examines the relationship of these technologies to local public health initiatives, and how the privacy debate over these apps made the technology in some cases less responsive to public health agency needs. The article suggests that as countries enter the return to normal phase, the more important and more invasive contact tracing and disease surveillance technologies will be deployed at the local level in the context of employment, transit, retail services, and other activities. The smart city may be co-opted for COVID-19 surveillance, and individuals will experience tracking and monitoring as they go to work, shop, dine, and commute. The author questions whether the attention given to national contact tracing apps has overshadowed more local contexts where privacy, ethical, and human rights issues remain deeply important but relatively unexamined. This raises issues for city local governance and urban e-planning.

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Dengue fever and Aedes aegypti risk in the Galápagos Islands, Ecuador

10.1101/113829 ◽

2017 ◽

Author(s):

Ryan Nightingale ◽

Catherine Lippi ◽

Sadie J. Ryan ◽

Mercy J. Borbor-Cordova ◽

Marilyn Cruz B ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Aedes Aegypti ◽

Dengue Fever ◽

Mosquito Control ◽

Dengue Infection ◽

Human Movement ◽

Galapagos Islands ◽

Housing Conditions ◽

Galápagos Islands ◽

Household Level ◽

Attitudes And Practices

AbstractIntroductionDengue fever is an emerging infectious disease in the Galápagos Islands of Ecuador, with the first cases reported in 2002 and periodic outbreaks since then. Here we report the results of a pilot study conducted in two cities in 2014: Puerto Ayora (PA) on Santa Cruz Island, and Puerto Baquerizo Moreno (PB) on Santa Cristobal Island. The aims of this study were to assess the social-ecological risk factors associated with dengue and mosquito presence at the household-level.MethodsIn 2014 we conducted 100 household surveys (50 on each island) in neighborhoods with prior reported dengue. Adult mosquitoes were collected inside and outside the home, larval indices were determined through container surveys, and heads of households were interviewed to determine demographics, prior dengue infections, housing conditions, and knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding dengue. Multimodel selection methods were used to derive best-fit generalized linear regression (GLM) models of prior dengue infection, and the presence of Ae. aegypti in the home.ResultsWe found that 24% of PB and 14% of PA respondents self-reported a prior dengue infection, and more PB homes than PA homes had Ae. aegypti. The top-ranked model for prior dengue infection included human movement – travel between neighborhoods, between islands, and to the mainland; demographics including salary level and education of the head of household, and increase with more people per room in a house, house condition, access to water quality issues, and dengue awareness. The top-ranked model for the presence of Ae. aegypti included housing conditions, including the presence of window screens and air conditioners, mosquito control actions, and dengue risk perception.Discussion/conclusionTo our knowledge, this is the first study of dengue risk and Aedes aegypti in the Galápagos Islands. The findings that human movement within and between islands, and to and from the mainland, were important to reported dengue cases confirms concerns of this route of introduction and repeated transmission.

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Loneliness in young people: A multilevel exploration of social ecological influences and geographic variation

10.31235/osf.io/ns2te ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Jose Marquez ◽

Claire Goodfellow ◽

Deborah Hardoon ◽

Joanna Inchley ◽

Alastair Leyland ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Young People ◽

Local Level ◽

Ecological Factors ◽

Geographic Region ◽

Mental Wellbeing ◽

Health Concern ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Community Factors ◽

Social Ecological ◽

Geographic Regions

Background: Loneliness is a growing public health concern, yet little is known about loneliness in young people. The current study aimed to identify social ecological factors related to loneliness and examine the extent to which geographic region accounts for differences in loneliness.Methods: The data come from a cross-sectional sample of 6503 young people living in the United Kingdom. Loneliness was measured using the UCLA 3-item scale. Bivariate analyses were used to test associations between each predictor and loneliness. Multilevel models were used to identify key social ecological factors related to loneliness, and the extent to which loneliness varied across geographic regions. Results: Socio-demographic, social, health and wellbeing, and community factors were found to be associated with loneliness. Geographic region accounted for 5-8% of the variation in loneliness. The effect of gender, sexual orientation, and minority ethnic background on loneliness differed across geographic regions. Conclusions: This is the first study to highlight modifiable social and community factors related to youth loneliness, and individual vulnerabilities, such as poor mental wellbeing. Results related to geographic differences suggest that local-level initiatives may be most appropriate in tackling loneliness, rather than wider, less contextualized national efforts.

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COVID-19 Lockdown, Food Systems and Urban–Rural Partnership: Case of Nagpur, India

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph17165710 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (16) ◽

pp. 5710

Author(s):

Vibhas Sukhwani ◽

Sameer Deshkar ◽

Rajib Shaw

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Food Supply ◽

Food Systems ◽

Local Level ◽

Government Officials ◽

Household Level ◽

Food Supply Chains ◽

Urban Rural ◽

Research Findings ◽

Novel Coronavirus

The globally fast-spreading novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is now testing the abilities of all countries to manage its widespread implications on public health. To effectively contain its impacts, a nation-wide temporary lockdown was enforced in India. The resultant panic buying and stockpiling incidents together with spread of misinformation created a sense of food insecurity at local level. This paper discusses a specific case of Nagpur from the worst affected Maharashtra state of India, wherein the urban–rural food supply chains were reportedly disrupted. Based on formal interviews with local government officials, a month-long timeline of COVID-19 outbreak in Nagpur was studied along with the consequent government initiatives for maintaining public health and food supply. While the city residents were confined to their homes, this study then assessed their perceived food security at household level, along with their “Immediate Concerns” and “Key Information Sources”. Through online surveys at two different time intervals, the concerns of “Food and Grocery” were found to be rising, and “Government Apps and Websites” were identified as the most reliable source of information. Based on the research findings, the authors further suggest specific policy recommendations for addressing the immediate and long-term concerns related to food systems in Nagpur.

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Incidence of dengue in the Islands

International Journal of Community Medicine and Public Health ◽

10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20203891 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 7 (9) ◽

pp. 3367

Author(s):

Shivani Rao ◽

Ajay Raj Sethuraman ◽

Pandurang Vithal Thatkar

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Aedes Aegypti ◽

Prospective Study ◽

Aedes Albopictus ◽

Gradual Increase ◽

Health Concern ◽

Aedes Mosquito ◽

Public Health Concern ◽

Blood Samples ◽

Health Centres

Background: Dengue is transmitted mainly by bite of Aedes mosquito namely Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus posing major public health concern. The objective of the study is to study incidence of dengue in Andaman and Nicobar Islands.Methods: Prospective study from January 2012 to December 2018 from all primary, community and tertiary health centres of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.Results: Out of a total of 5255 blood samples tested from 2012 to 2018 the total dengue positive cases were 525 (9.99%).Conclusions: There has been gradual increase in number of dengue cases from 2012 to 2016 thereafter there has been reduction of cases.

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Social-ecological factors and preventive actions decrease the risk of dengue infection at the household-level: results from a prospective dengue surveillance study in Machala, Ecuador

10.1101/136382 ◽

2017 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Aileen Kenneson ◽

Efraín Beltrán-Ayala ◽

Mercy J. Borbor-Cordova ◽

Mark E. Polhemus ◽

Sadie J. Ryan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Risk Factors ◽

Vector Control ◽

Disease Outbreaks ◽

Ecological Factors ◽

Bed Nets ◽

Household Level ◽

Social Ecological ◽

Piped Water ◽

Abandoned Properties

ABSTRACTBackgroundIn Ecuador, dengue virus (DENV) infections transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito are among the greatest public health concerns in urban coastal communities. Community- and household-level vector control is the principal means of controlling disease outbreaks. This study aimed to assess the impact of knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAPs) and social-ecological factors on the presence or absence of DENV infections in the household..MethodsIn 2014 and 2015, individuals with DENV infections from sentinel clinics were invited to participate in the study, as well as members of their household and members of four neighboring households located within 200 meters. We conducted diagnostic testing for DENV on all study participants; we surveyed heads of households (HOHs) regarding demographics, housing conditions and KAPs. We compared KAPs and social-ecological factors between households with (n=139) versus without (n=80) DENV infections, using bivariate analyses and multivariate logistic regression models with and without interactions.ResultsSignificant risk factors in multivariate models included proximity to abandoned properties, interruptions in piped water, and shaded patios (p<0.05). Significant protective factors included use of mosquito bed nets, fumigation inside the home, piped water inside the home (p<0.05). In bivariate analyses (but not multivariate modeling), DENV infections was positively associated with HOHs who were male, employed, and of younger age than households without infections (p<0.05). DENV infections were not associated with knowledgeattitude, or reported barriers to prevention activities.DiscussionSpecific actions that can be considered to decrease the risk of DENV infections in the household include targeting vector control in highly shaded properties, fumigating inside the home, and use of mosquito bed nets. Community-level interventions include clean-up of abandoned properties, daily trash pick-up, and reliable piped water inside houses. These findings can inform interventions to reduce the risk of other diseases transmitted by the Ae. aegypti mosquito, such as chikungunya and Zika fever.Author summaryDengue, chikungunya and Zika viruses are transmitted to people primarily by the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes in tropical and subtropical regions. Diseases transmitted by the Ae. aegypti mosquito are a growing public health concern. Mosquito control is the principal means of preventing and controlling disease outbreaks. In this study, we compared the characteristics of households with and without DENV infections in the city of Machala, Ecuador. We found that risk factors for DENV infection included proximity to abandoned properties, interruptions in the piped water supply, and a highly shaded patio. Protective factors included the use of mosquito bed nets, fumigation inside the home, and piped water inside the home. These findings can be used to inform targeted vector control interventions by the public health sector at the household and community levels.

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Lessons Learnt from Cerebrospinal Meningitis Outbreak Surveillance Data-A Case for Public Health Action

Global Journal of Health Science ◽

10.5539/gjhs.v9n2p76 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 9 (2) ◽

pp. 76 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Semeeh Akinwale Omoleke ◽

Olatunji Alabi ◽

Yakubu Bashar Usman ◽

Kunle Ijaya ◽

Abubakar Abubakar Koko

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Neisseria Meningitidis ◽

Disease Surveillance ◽

Surveillance Data ◽

World Health ◽

Health Concern ◽

Effective Control ◽

Standard Case ◽

Lessons Learnt ◽

Type C

BACKGROUND: Outbreak of cerebrospinal meningitis (CSM) remains a major public health concern in Nigeria, particularly in northern Nigeria. The paper evaluates the effect of mass vaccination against cerebrospinal meningitis outbreak in 2013 on the incidence rate in 2014 and 2015, and to document lessons learnt from field experiences of the meningitis epidemic surveillance in Kebbi State, North-west, Nigeria.METHODS: The authors analysed cerebrospinal meningitis surveillance data generated from the routine integrated disease surveillance and response (IDSR) programme executed by the Ministry of Health with support from the World Health Organisation (WHO). Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples via lumbar puncture procedures from a small proportion of all suspected cases that met the standard case definitions were collected, and then tested using the rapid agglutination test kits (Pastorex) at the state public health laboratory. The WHO supported the trained Local Government Areas Disease Surveillance and Notification Officers to ensure data quality.RESULTS: A total of 544 and 1,992 cases were analysed in 2014 and 2015 respectively. In 2014, 14% CSF samples were taken and 55.1% tested positive to Neisseria meningitidis type C. Of all the cases in 2014, 14% were reported dead. Further, in 2015, 4% CSF samples were tested and 83% were positive to Neisseria meningitidis type C. Of the total 1,992 cases in 2015, 4% were reported dead. Gender and CSF sample testing significantly predicts survival in 2014 (p<0.05).CONCLUSION: Desired political will and comprehensive epidemic prevention and control strategies are needed for effective control of seasonal outbreaks of CSM and other epidemic-prone diseases. Need for infrastructural and capacity development of hospital and state public health laboratories for adequate surveillance, testing of samples collected and effective case management cannot be over-emphasized.

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Exploring the utility of social-ecological and entomological risk factors for dengue infection as surveillance indicators in the dengue hyper-endemic city of Machala, Ecuador

10.1101/2020.08.31.20185355 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Catherine Lippi ◽

Anna M. Stewart-Ibarra ◽

Timothy P. Endy ◽

Mark Abbott ◽

Cinthya Cueva ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Aedes Aegypti ◽

Dengue Infection ◽

Good Condition ◽

Ecological Factors ◽

Dengue Case ◽

Infection Status ◽

Household Level ◽

Targeted Interventions ◽

Social Ecological

The management of mosquito-borne diseases is a challenge in southern coastal Ecuador, where dengue is hyper-endemic and co-circulates with other arboviral diseases. Prior work in the region has explored social-ecological factors, dengue case data, and entomological indices. In this study, we bring together entomological and epidemiological data to describe links between social-ecological factors associated with risk of dengue transmission at the household level in Machala, Ecuador. Households surveys were conducted from 2014-2016 to assess the presence of adult Aedes aegypti (collected via aspiration) and to enumerate housing conditions, demographics, and mosquito prevention behaviors. Household-level dengue infection status was determined by laboratory diagnostics in 2014-2015. Logistic models and multimodel selection were used to identify social-ecological variables associated with household presence of female Ae. aegypti and household dengue infection status, respectively. We identified significant risk factors for household-level dengue infection reflecting household condition, including bamboo cane construction material, shaded patios, and adjacency to abandoned properties, while housing structures in good condition were identified as protective against dengue infection. Aedes aegypti presence was associated with a greater than average number people per household and interrupted water supply, but was not associated with household level dengue infections. Models of Ae. aegypti presence were unstable, and not well resolved in ranking of competing models, suggesting that highly localized entomological surveillance indicators may not be indicative of risk in communities with hyperendemic dengue fever. These findings add to our understanding of the systems of mosquito-borne disease transmission in Machala, and in the larger region of southern Ecuador, aiding in the development of improved vector surveillance efforts, and targeted interventions.

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Exploring the utility of social-ecological and entomological risk factors for dengue infection as surveillance indicators in the dengue hyper-endemic city of Machala, Ecuador

PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases ◽

10.1371/journal.pntd.0009257 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 15 (3) ◽

pp. e0009257

Author(s):

Catherine A. Lippi ◽

Anna M. Stewart-Ibarra ◽

Timothy P. Endy ◽

Mark Abbott ◽

Cinthya Cueva ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Aedes Aegypti ◽

Dengue Infection ◽

Good Condition ◽

Ecological Factors ◽

Dengue Case ◽

Infection Status ◽

Household Level ◽

Targeted Interventions ◽

Social Ecological

The management of mosquito-borne diseases is a challenge in southern coastal Ecuador, where dengue is hyper-endemic and co-circulates with other arboviral diseases. Prior work in the region has explored social-ecological factors, dengue case data, and entomological indices. In this study, we bring together entomological and epidemiological data to describe links between social-ecological factors associated with risk of dengue transmission at the household level in Machala, Ecuador. Households surveys were conducted from 2014–2017 to assess the presence of adult Aedes aegypti (collected via aspiration) and to enumerate housing conditions, demographics, and mosquito prevention behaviors. Household-level dengue infection status was determined by laboratory diagnostics in 2014–2015. Bivariate analyses and multivariate logistic regression models were used to identify social-ecological variables associated with household presence of female Ae. aegypti and household dengue infection status, respectively. Aedes aegypti presence was associated with interruptions in water service and weekly trash collection, and household air conditioning was protective against mosquito presence. Presence of female Ae. aegypti was not associated with household dengue infections. We identified shaded patios and head of household employment status as risk factors for household-level dengue infection, while window screening in good condition was identified as protective against dengue infection. These findings add to our understanding of the systems of mosquito-borne disease transmission in Machala, and in the larger region of southern Ecuador, aiding in the development of improved vector surveillance efforts, and targeted interventions.

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