scholarly journals Public Health Response to the Initiation and Spread of Pandemic COVID-19 in the United States, February 24–April 21, 2020

2020 ◽  
Vol 69 (18) ◽  
pp. 551-556 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne Schuchat ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
United States ◽  
The United States ◽  
Public Health Response ◽  
Health Response

scholarly journals A collaborative multiyear, multimodel assessment of seasonal influenza forecasting in the United States

2019 ◽  
Vol 116 (8) ◽  
pp. 3146-3154 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas G. Reich ◽  
Logan C. Brooks ◽  
Spencer J. Fox ◽  
Sasikiran Kandula ◽  
Craig J. McGowan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
United States ◽  
Real Time ◽  
Forecast Accuracy ◽  
The United States ◽  
Public Health Response ◽  
Public Health Decision ◽  
Health Decision Making ◽  
Health Response ◽  
Health Decision

Influenza infects an estimated 9–35 million individuals each year in the United States and is a contributing cause for between 12,000 and 56,000 deaths annually. Seasonal outbreaks of influenza are common in temperate regions of the world, with highest incidence typically occurring in colder and drier months of the year. Real-time forecasts of influenza transmission can inform public health response to outbreaks. We present the results of a multiinstitution collaborative effort to standardize the collection and evaluation of forecasting models for influenza in the United States for the 2010/2011 through 2016/2017 influenza seasons. For these seven seasons, we assembled weekly real-time forecasts of seven targets of public health interest from 22 different models. We compared forecast accuracy of each model relative to a historical baseline seasonal average. Across all regions of the United States, over half of the models showed consistently better performance than the historical baseline when forecasting incidence of influenza-like illness 1 wk, 2 wk, and 3 wk ahead of available data and when forecasting the timing and magnitude of the seasonal peak. In some regions, delays in data reporting were strongly and negatively associated with forecast accuracy. More timely reporting and an improved overall accessibility to novel and traditional data sources are needed to improve forecasting accuracy and its integration with real-time public health decision making.

scholarly journals Clinical Response, Outbreak Investigation, and Epidemiology of the Fungal Meningitis Epidemic in the United States: Systematic Review

2015 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 145-151 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kaja M. Abbas ◽  
Nargesalsadat Dorratoltaj ◽  
Margaret L. O’Dell ◽  
Paige Bordwine ◽  
Thomas M. Kerkering ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
United States ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Clinical Response ◽  
Policy Development ◽  
The United States ◽  
Outbreak Investigation ◽  
Public Health Response ◽  
Fungal Meningitis ◽  
Health Response

AbstractWe conducted a systematic review of the 2012–2013 multistate fungal meningitis epidemic in the United States from the perspectives of clinical response, outbreak investigation, and epidemiology. Articles focused on clinical response, outbreak investigation, and epidemiology were included, whereas articles focused on compounding pharmacies, legislation and litigation, diagnostics, microbiology, and pathogenesis were excluded. We reviewed 19 articles by use of the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) framework. The source of the fungal meningitis outbreak was traced to the New England Compounding Center in Massachusetts, where injectable methylprednisolone acetate products were contaminated with the predominant pathogen, Exserohilum rostratum. As of October 23, 2013, the final case count stood at 751 patients and 64 deaths, and no additional cases are anticipated. The multisectoral public health response to the fungal meningitis epidemic from the hospitals, clinics, pharmacies, and the public health system at the local, state, and federal levels led to an efficient epidemiological investigation to trace the outbreak source and rapid implementation of multiple response plans. This systematic review reaffirms the effective execution of a multisectoral public health response and efficient delivery of the core functions of public health assessment, policy development, and service assurances to improve population health.(Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2016;10:145–151)

scholarly journals A Collaborative Multi-Model Ensemble for Real-Time Influenza Season Forecasting in the U.S

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas G Reich ◽  
Craig J McGowan ◽  
Teresa K Yamana ◽  
Abhinav Tushar ◽  
Evan L Ray ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
United States ◽  
Seasonal Influenza ◽  
Influenza Season ◽  
Forecast Accuracy ◽  
The United States ◽  
Model Ensemble ◽  
Public Health Response ◽  
Health Response ◽  
Component Models

AbstractSeasonal influenza results in substantial annual morbidity and mortality in the United States and worldwide. Accurate forecasts of key features of influenza epidemics, such as the timing and severity of the peak incidence in a given season, can inform public health response to outbreaks. As part of ongoing efforts to incorporate data and advanced analytical methods into public health decision-making, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has organized seasonal influenza forecasting challenges since the 2013/2014 season. In the 2017/2018 season, 22 teams participated. A subset of four teams created a research consortium called the FluSight Network in early 2017. During the 2017/2018 season they worked together to produce a collaborative multi-model ensemble that combined 21 separate component models into a single model using a machine learning technique called stacking. This approach creates a weighted average of predictive densities where the weight for each component is based on that component’s forecast accuracy in past seasons. In the 2017/2018 influenza season, one of the largest seasonal outbreaks in the last 15 years, this multi-model ensemble performed better on average than all individual component models and placed second overall in the CDC challenge. It also outperformed the baseline multi-model ensemble created by the CDC that took a simple average of all models submitted to the forecasting challenge. This project shows that collaborative efforts between research teams to develop ensemble forecasting approaches can bring measurable improvements in forecast accuracy and important reductions in the variability of performance from year to year. Efforts such as this, that emphasize real-time testing and evaluation of forecasting models and facilitate the close collaboration between public health officials and modeling researchers, are essential to improving our understanding of how best to use forecasts to improve public health response to seasonal and emerging epidemic threats.

scholarly journals Quantifying Public Interest in Police Reforms by Mining Internet Search Data Following George Floyd’s Death (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
John W Ayers ◽  
Benjamin M Althouse ◽  
Adam Poliak ◽  
Eric C Leas ◽  
Alicia L Nobles ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
United States ◽  
Police Training ◽  
The United States ◽  
Policy Reforms ◽  
Police Reform ◽  
Public Health Response ◽  
Health Response ◽  
2016 Election ◽  
Search Data

BACKGROUND The death of George Floyd while in police custody has resurfaced serious questions about police conduct that result in the deaths of unarmed persons. OBJECTIVE Data-driven strategies that identify and prioritize the public’s needs may engender a public health response to improve policing. We assessed how internet searches indicative of interest in police reform changed after Mr Floyd’s death. METHODS We monitored daily Google searches (per 10 million total searches) that included the terms “police” and “reform(s)” (eg, “reform the police,” “best police reforms,” etc) originating from the United States between January 1, 2010, through July 5, 2020. We also monitored searches containing the term “police” with “training,” “union(s),” “militarization,” or “immunity” as markers of interest in the corresponding reform topics. RESULTS The 41 days following Mr Floyd’s death corresponded with the greatest number of police “reform(s)” searches ever recorded, with 1,350,000 total searches nationally. Searches increased significantly in all 50 states and Washington DC. By reform topic, nationally there were 1,220,000 total searches for “police” and “union(s)”; 820,000 for “training”; 360,000 for “immunity”; and 72,000 for “militarization.” In terms of searches for all policy topics by state, 33 states searched the most for “training,” 16 for “union(s),” and 2 for “immunity.” States typically in the southeast had fewer queries related to any police reform topic than other states. States that had a greater percentage of votes for President Donald Trump during the 2016 election searched more often for police “union(s)” while states favoring Secretary Hillary Clinton searched more for police “training.” CONCLUSIONS The United States is at a historical juncture, with record interest in topics related to police reform with variability in search terms across states. Policy makers can respond to searches by considering the policies their constituencies are searching for online, notably police training and unions. Public health leaders can respond by engaging in the subject of policing and advocating for evidence-based policy reforms.

scholarly journals Quantifying Public Interest in Police Reforms by Mining Internet Search Data Following George Floyd’s Death

10.2196/22574 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (10) ◽  
pp. e22574
Author(s):  
John W Ayers ◽  
Benjamin M Althouse ◽  
Adam Poliak ◽  
Eric C Leas ◽  
Alicia L Nobles ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
United States ◽  
Police Training ◽  
The United States ◽  
Policy Reforms ◽  
Police Reform ◽  
Public Health Response ◽  
Health Response ◽  
2016 Election ◽  
Search Data

Background The death of George Floyd while in police custody has resurfaced serious questions about police conduct that result in the deaths of unarmed persons. Objective Data-driven strategies that identify and prioritize the public’s needs may engender a public health response to improve policing. We assessed how internet searches indicative of interest in police reform changed after Mr Floyd’s death. Methods We monitored daily Google searches (per 10 million total searches) that included the terms “police” and “reform(s)” (eg, “reform the police,” “best police reforms,” etc) originating from the United States between January 1, 2010, through July 5, 2020. We also monitored searches containing the term “police” with “training,” “union(s),” “militarization,” or “immunity” as markers of interest in the corresponding reform topics. Results The 41 days following Mr Floyd’s death corresponded with the greatest number of police “reform(s)” searches ever recorded, with 1,350,000 total searches nationally. Searches increased significantly in all 50 states and Washington DC. By reform topic, nationally there were 1,220,000 total searches for “police” and “union(s)”; 820,000 for “training”; 360,000 for “immunity”; and 72,000 for “militarization.” In terms of searches for all policy topics by state, 33 states searched the most for “training,” 16 for “union(s),” and 2 for “immunity.” States typically in the southeast had fewer queries related to any police reform topic than other states. States that had a greater percentage of votes for President Donald Trump during the 2016 election searched more often for police “union(s)” while states favoring Secretary Hillary Clinton searched more for police “training.” Conclusions The United States is at a historical juncture, with record interest in topics related to police reform with variability in search terms across states. Policy makers can respond to searches by considering the policies their constituencies are searching for online, notably police training and unions. Public health leaders can respond by engaging in the subject of policing and advocating for evidence-based policy reforms.

scholarly journals 2462. Public Health Response to Contain the First Outbreak of New Delhi Metallo-β-Lactamase-Producing Klebsiella pneumoniae in Minnesota

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. S852-S852
Author(s):  
Brittany VonBank ◽  
Sean O’Malley ◽  
Paula Snippes Vagnone ◽  
Mary Ellen Bennett ◽  
Tammy Hale ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
United States ◽  
Infection Control ◽  
Care Facility ◽  
The United States ◽  
New Delhi ◽  
Surveillance Culture ◽  
Public Health Response ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Health Response

Abstract Background Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) producing the New Delhi-metallo-β-lactamase (NDM) carbapenemase are uncommon in the United States but are a serious threat for untreatable antibiotic-resistant infections. In Minnesota (MN), NDM-CRE is typically associated with receipt of healthcare abroad. We describe the public health response to contain the first outbreak of NDM-CRE in MN. Methods CRE is reportable, with isolate submission to the MN Department of Health (MDH) for MALDI-TOF identification, phenotypic carbapenemase production testing, and PCR for carbapenemase genes. On December 24, 2018, MDH identified a case of NDM-K. pneumoniae in a long-term care facility (LTCF) without travel. MDH initiated an investigation. We defined a case as having NDM-K. pneumoniae matching the outbreak PFGE pattern from a clinical or surveillance culture. Cases were identified through surveillance, point prevalence survey (PPS) rectal swab colonization testing, and PFGE at MDH. MDH collected a healthcare exposure history for all cases. A containment response occurred in any facility where a case received healthcare in the 30 days prior. Results Nine cases of clonal NDM-K. pneumoniae with specimen collection dates between December 24, 2018 and March 26, 2019 were identified; 8 were residents of LTCF A and 1 was a roommate in LTCF B of a former LTCF A resident. PPS testing of 260 healthcare contacts occurred in 6 facilities, including LTCF A, LTCF B, and 4 acute care hospitals (ACH) that accepted LTCF A transfers; 7/9 cases were identified through PPS and 2/9 cases were identified through CRE surveillance. One case from LTCF A was identified in an ACH, but PPS did not identify transmission in ACHs. MDH conducted on-site infection control assessments in 2 LTCFs, identified numerous infection control (IC) lapses at LTCF A, and provided telephone IC consultation to 4 ACHs. Conclusion Surveillance and PPS uncovered an outbreak of NDM CRE in 2 LTCFs. Patient transfers led to a regional public health response lasting several months that included IC consultation and additional PPS. Intervention to coordinate containment responses among interconnected healthcare facilities is critical to containing the spread of novel resistance mechanisms in the United States. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.

scholarly journals Early COVID-19 Interventions Failed to Replicate 1918 St. Louis vs. Philadelphia Outcomes in the United States

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aliea M. Jalali ◽  
Brent M. Peterson ◽  
Thushara Galbadage
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
United States ◽  
State Level ◽  
The United States ◽  
The State ◽  
Health Interventions ◽  
Public Health Interventions ◽  
Public Health Response ◽  
Health Response ◽  
The Us

The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has elicited an abrupt pause in the United States in multiple sectors of commerce and social activity. As the US faces this health crisis, the magnitude, and rigor of their initial public health response was unprecedented. As a response, the entire nation shutdown at the state-level for the duration of approximately one to three months. These public health interventions, however, were not arbitrarily decided, but rather, implemented as a result of evidence-based practices. These practices were a result of lessons learned during the 1918 influenza pandemic and the city-level non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) taken across the US. During the 1918 pandemic, two model cities, St. Louis, MO, and Philadelphia, PA, carried out two different approaches to address the spreading disease, which resulted in two distinctly different outcomes. Our group has evaluated the state-level public health response adopted by states across the US, with a focus on New York, California, Florida, and Texas, and compared the effectiveness of reducing the spread of COVID-19. Our assessments show that while the states mentioned above benefited from the implementations of early preventative measures, they inadequately replicated the desired outcomes observed in St. Louis during the 1918 crisis. Our study indicates that there are other factors, including health disparities that may influence the effectiveness of public health interventions applied. Identifying more specific health determinants may help implement targeted interventions aimed at preventing the spread of COVID-19 and improving health equity.

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