scholarly journals The Challenge of Controlling Urban Mosquito-Borne Diseases in a Changing Urban Climate

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonio Ligsay ◽  
Olivier Telle ◽  
Richard Paul
Keyword(s):  
Rural Areas ◽  
Urban Climate ◽  
Physical Nature ◽  
Mitigation Strategies ◽  
World Health ◽  
Vector Borne Diseases ◽  
The World ◽  
Urban Heat ◽  
Vector Borne ◽  
Health Organization

Cities worldwide are facing ever-increasing pressure to develop mitigation strategies for all sectors to deal with the impacts of climate change. Cities are expected to house 70% of the world’s population by 2050 and developing related resilient health systems is a significant challenge. Because of their physical nature, cities’ surface temperatures are often substantially higher than that of the surrounding rural areas, generating the so-called Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect. Whilst considerable emphasis has been placed on strategies to mitigate against the UHI-associated negative health effects of heat and pollution, the World Health Organization estimates that one of the main consequences of global warming will be an increased burden of such vector-borne diseases. Many of the major mosquito-borne diseases are urban and thus the global population exposed to these pathogens will steadily increase. Mitigation strategies beneficial for one sector may, however, be detrimental for another. Implementation of inter-sectoral strategies that can benefit many sectors (such as water, labour and health) do exist and would enable optimal use of the meagre resources available. Discussion among inter-sectoral stakeholders should be actively encouraged.

scholarly journals From the Field to the Laboratory: Quantifying Outdoor Mosquito Landing Rate to Better Evaluate Topical Repellents

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mara Moreno-Gómez ◽  
Rubén Bueno-Marí ◽  
Andrea Drago ◽  
Miguel A Miranda
Keyword(s):  
World Health ◽  
Asian Tiger Mosquito ◽  
Personal Protection ◽  
Evaluation Standards ◽  
Testing Conditions ◽  
Vector Borne Diseases ◽  
Asian Tiger ◽  
The World ◽  
Vector Borne ◽  
Health Organization

Abstract Vector-borne diseases are a worldwide threat to human health. Often, no vaccines or treatments exist. Thus, personal protection products play an essential role in limiting transmission. The World Health Organization (WHO) arm-in-cage (AIC) test is the most common method for evaluating the efficacy of topical repellents, but it remains unclear whether AIC testing conditions recreate the mosquito landing rates in the field. This study aimed to estimate the landing rate outdoors, in an area of Europe highly infested with the Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus (Skuse, 1894, Diptera: Culididae)), and to determine how to replicate this rate in the laboratory. To assess the landing rate in the field, 16 individuals were exposed to mosquitoes in a highly infested region of Italy. These field results were then compared to results obtained in the laboratory: 1) in a 30 m3 room where nine volunteers were exposed to different mosquito abundances (ranges: 15–20, 25–30, and 45–50) and 2) in a 0.064 m3 AIC test cage where 10 individuals exposed their arms to 200 mosquitoes (as per WHO requirements). The highest mosquito landing rate in the field was 26.8 landings/min. In the room test, a similar landing rate was achieved using 15–20 mosquitoes (density: 0.50–0.66 mosquitoes/m3) and an exposure time of 3 min. In the AIC test using 200 mosquitoes (density: 3,125 mosquitoes/m3), the landing rate was 229 ± 48 landings/min. This study provides useful reference values that can be employed to design new evaluation standards for topical repellents that better simulate field conditions.

scholarly journals Physical Activity Patterns in India Stratified by Zones, Age, Region, BMI and Implications for COVID-19: A Nationwide Study

2021 ◽  
pp. 097275312199850
Author(s):  
Vivek Podder ◽  
Raghuram Nagarathna ◽  
Akshay Anand ◽  
Patil S. Suchitra ◽  
Amit Kumar Singh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
World Health Organization ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
World Health ◽  
Noncommunicable Diseases ◽  
Home Work ◽  
The World ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Physically Inactive ◽  
At Home

Rationale: India has a high prevalence of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), which can be lowered by regular physical activity. To understand this association, recent population data is required which is representative of all the states and union territories of the country. Objective: We aimed to investigate the patterns of physical activity in India, stratified by zones, body mass index (BMI), urban, rural areas, and gender. Method: We present the analysis of physical activity status from the data collected during the phase 1 of a pan-India study. This ( Niyantrita Madhumeha Bharata 2017) was a multicenter pan-India cluster sampled trial with dual objectives. A survey to identify all individuals at a high risk for diabetes, using a validated instrument called the Indian Diabetes Risk Score (IDRS), was followed by a two-armed randomized yoga-based lifestyle intervention for the primary prevention of diabetes. The physical activity was scored as per IDRS (vigorous exercise or strenuous at work = 0, moderate exercise at home/work = 10, mild exercise at home/work = 20, no exercise = 30). This was done in a selected cluster using a mobile application. A weighted prevalence was calculated based on the nonresponse rate and design weight. Results: We analyzed the data from 2,33,805 individuals; the mean age was 41.4 years (SD 13.4). Of these, 50.6% were females and 49.4% were males; 45.8% were from rural areas and 54% from urban areas. The BMI was 24.7 ± 4.6 kg/m 2 . Briefly, 20% were physically inactive and 57% of the people were either inactive or mildly active. 21.2% of females were found physically inactive, whereas 19.2% of males were inactive. Individuals living in urban localities were proportionately more inactive (21.7% vs. 18.8%) or mildly active (38.9% vs. 34.8%) than the rural people. Individuals from the central (29.6%) and south zones (28.6%) of the country were also relatively inactive, in contrast to those from the northwest zone (14.2%). The known diabetics were found to be physically inactive (28.3% vs. 19.8%) when compared with those unaware of their diabetic status. Conclusion: 20% and 37% of the population in India are not active or mildly active, respectively, and thus 57% of the surveyed population do not meet the physical activity regimen recommended by the World Health Organization. This puts a large Indian population at risk of developing various NCDs, which are being increasingly reported to be vulnerable to COVID-19 infections. India needs to adopt the four strategic objectives recommended by the World Health Organization for reducing the prevalence of physical inactivity.

scholarly journals Iodization of table salt and attitudes and habits in relation to the use of salt in general population

2010 ◽  
Vol 138 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 225-229
Author(s):  
Gorica Sbutega-Milosevic ◽  
Zorica Djordjevic ◽  
Zoran Marmut ◽  
Boban Mugosa
Keyword(s):  
Rural Areas ◽  
Iodine Content ◽  
World Health ◽  
Nutritional Deficiencies ◽  
World Population ◽  
Table Salt ◽  
Salt Iodization ◽  
The World ◽  
Domestic Use ◽  
Health Organization

Introduction. Combating nutritional deficiencies of micronutrients, such as iodine, represents a priority task of health care organizations. In 2003, the World Health Organization (WHO) published the publication: Global Prevalence of Iodine Deficiency Disorders (IDD), according to which some 2,2 billion people live in areas poor in naturally occurring iodine. Approximately 13% of the world population suffer from goitre - one of the IDD. The recommended iodine content in table salt is 20-40 mg/kg, which should satisfy the daily iodine requirements of an adult. Objective. The authors sought to ascertain whether iodization of table salt in Montenegro was carried out in accordance with the existing legislature. An assessment was also carried out of the attitudes and habits of the population regarding the use of salt in nutrition and the level of awareness in relation to the relevance of table salt iodization. Methods. The research was carried out in 2004 and was sponsored by UNICEF. A sample of 594 homes from the municipalities of Bar and Podgorica was chosen: 354 homes from urban and 240 from rural areas. The participants completed a questionnaire related to the daily use and intake of salt, as well as their understanding of the relevance of table salt iodization. Iodine content was tested in 15 samples of table salt at production level, 170 samples at retail level and 126 samples taken from domestic use. Results. The analysis of table salt samples showed an optimal iodine level in 73.3% of samples from production, in 81.2% from retail, and in 73.0% from domestic use. A lower level of iodine was found in 8.8% retail samples and 15.1% samples from home use. A greater concentration of iodine was found in 26.7% production, 10.0% retail and 11.9% samples from domestic use. Conclusion. Although the application of the WHO programme has led to an improvement in iodization of table salt in Montenegro, both at production and retail levels, this still falls short of the standards recommended by WHO to combat IDD. The levels of iodine in table salt in domestic use also fail to comply with the WHO criteria for elimination of IDD.

scholarly journals Narrative Review on Health-EDRM Primary Prevention Measures for Vector-Borne Diseases

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (16) ◽  
pp. 5981 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily Chan ◽  
Tiffany Sham ◽  
Tayyab Shahzada ◽  
Caroline Dubois ◽  
Zhe Huang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Primary Prevention ◽  
Keyword Search ◽  
Risk Mitigation ◽  
World Health ◽  
Limiting Factors ◽  
Prevention Measures ◽  
Vector Borne Diseases ◽  
Vector Borne ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
The Impact

Climate change is expanding the global at-risk population for vector-borne diseases (VBDs). The World Health Organization (WHO) health emergency and disaster risk management (health-EDRM) framework emphasises the importance of primary prevention of biological hazards and its value in protecting against VBDs. The framework encourages stakeholder coordination and information sharing, though there is still a need to reinforce prevention and recovery within disaster management. This keyword-search based narrative literature review searched databases PubMed, Google Scholar, Embase and Medline between January 2000 and May 2020, and identified 134 publications. In total, 10 health-EDRM primary prevention measures are summarised at three levels (personal, environmental and household). Enabling factor, limiting factors, co-benefits and strength of evidence were identified. Current studies on primary prevention measures for VBDs focus on health risk-reduction, with minimal evaluation of actual disease reduction. Although prevention against mosquito-borne diseases, notably malaria, has been well-studied, research on other vectors and VBDs remains limited. Other gaps included the limited evidence pertaining to prevention in resource-poor settings and the efficacy of alternatives, discrepancies amongst agencies’ recommendations, and limited studies on the impact of technological advancements and habitat change on VBD prevalence. Health-EDRM primary prevention measures for VBDs require high-priority research to facilitate multifaceted, multi-sectoral, coordinated responses that will enable effective risk mitigation.

scholarly journals Climate change and vector-borne diseases: what are the implications for public health research and policy?

2015 ◽  
Vol 370 (1665) ◽  
pp. 20130552 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diarmid Campbell-Lendrum ◽  
Lucien Manga ◽  
Magaran Bagayoko ◽  
Johannes Sommerfeld
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Climate Change ◽  
Political Support ◽  
World Health ◽  
Health Determinants ◽  
Financial Investment ◽  
Vector Borne Diseases ◽  
Disease Rates ◽  
The World ◽  
Vector Borne

Vector-borne diseases continue to contribute significantly to the global burden of disease, and cause epidemics that disrupt health security and cause wider socioeconomic impacts around the world. All are sensitive in different ways to weather and climate conditions, so that the ongoing trends of increasing temperature and more variable weather threaten to undermine recent global progress against these diseases. Here, we review the current state of the global public health effort to address this challenge, and outline related initiatives by the World Health Organization (WHO) and its partners. Much of the debate to date has centred on attribution of past changes in disease rates to climate change, and the use of scenario-based models to project future changes in risk for specific diseases. While these can give useful indications, the unavoidable uncertainty in such analyses, and contingency on other socioeconomic and public health determinants in the past or future, limit their utility as decision-support tools. For operational health agencies, the most pressing need is the strengthening of current disease control efforts to bring down current disease rates and manage short-term climate risks, which will, in turn, increase resilience to long-term climate change. The WHO and partner agencies are working through a range of programmes to (i) ensure political support and financial investment in preventive and curative interventions to bring down current disease burdens; (ii) promote a comprehensive approach to climate risk management; (iii) support applied research, through definition of global and regional research agendas, and targeted research initiatives on priority diseases and population groups.

scholarly journals Trends in snakebite mortality in India from 2000 to 2019 in a nationally representative mortality study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wilson Suraweera ◽  
David Warrell ◽  
Romulus Whitaker ◽  
Geetha R Menon ◽  
Rashmi Rodrigues ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Literature Review ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Treatment Strategies ◽  
World Health ◽  
The World ◽  
Prevention And Treatment ◽  
Substantial Progress ◽  
Low Altitude ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
Health Organization

The World Health Organization call to halve global snakebite deaths by 2030 will requires substantial progress in India. We analyzed 2,833 snakebite deaths from 611,483 verbal autopsies in the nationally representative Indian Million Death Study from 2001-14, and conducted a systematic literature review from 2000-19 covering 87,590 snakebites. We estimate that India had 1.2 million snakebite deaths (average 58,000/year) from 2000-19. Nearly half occurred at ages 30-69 years and over a quarter in children <15 years. Most occurred at home in rural areas. About 70% occurred in eight higher-burden states and half during the rainy season and at low altitude. The risk of an Indian dying from snakebite before age 70 is about 1 in 250, but notably higher in some areas. More crudely, we estimate 1.11-1.77 million bites occurred in 2015, of which 70% showed symptoms of envenomation. Prevention and treatment strategies might substantially reduce snakebite mortality in India.

scholarly journals INCREASED DEMANDS FOR NATURAL IMMUNO- BOOSTERS IN SELECTED TOURISM AREAS

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Milica Luković ◽  
◽  
Jovan Nićiforović ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Rural Areas ◽  
Local Environment ◽  
World Health ◽  
Wild Edible Plants ◽  
Potential Contribution ◽  
Edible Plants ◽  
High Concentration ◽  
The World ◽  
The Republic ◽  
Health Organization

Rural areas have been facing distinctive challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. As in other parts of the world, in the Republic of Serbia noticed movement of people from places with high concentration of settlements, like cities, into less densely populated communities. Searching for rural, natural, wild areas far away from cities, tourists made different pressures on local environment (sound, litter, pressure on natural resources, pollution) but also increased demands for healthier way of living in accordance with World Health Organization recommendation during the Covid 19 period. Besides a clear environment, they would like to enjoy locally produced food and wild edible plants as a source of minerals, vitamins and other functional substances for strengthening immunity. Using standard botanical questionnaire, the research was conducted in selected rural areas with the aim to create a list of the most wanted wild edible plants by tourists and to overview their potential contribution to immune system strengthening in the COVID-19 pandemic period.

scholarly journals Trends in snakebite deaths in India from 2000 to 2019 in a nationally representative mortality study

eLife ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wilson Suraweera ◽  
David Warrell ◽  
Romulus Whitaker ◽  
Geetha Menon ◽  
Rashmi Rodrigues ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Literature Review ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Treatment Strategies ◽  
World Health ◽  
The World ◽  
Prevention And Treatment ◽  
Substantial Progress ◽  
Low Altitude ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
Health Organization

The World Health Organization call to halve global snakebite deaths by 2030 will require substantial progress in India. We analyzed 2833 snakebite deaths from 611,483 verbal autopsies in the nationally representative Indian Million Death Study from 2001 to 2014, and conducted a systematic literature review from 2000 to 2019 covering 87,590 snakebites. We estimate that India had 1.2 million snakebite deaths (average 58,000/year) from 2000 to 2019. Nearly half occurred at ages 30–69 years and over a quarter in children < 15 years. Most occurred at home in the rural areas. About 70% occurred in eight higher burden states and half during the rainy season and at low altitude. The risk of an Indian dying from snakebite before age 70 is about 1 in 250, but notably higher in some areas. More crudely, we estimate 1.11–1.77 million bites in 2015, of which 70% showed symptoms of envenomation. Prevention and treatment strategies might substantially reduce snakebite mortality in India.

scholarly journals Social and administrative aspects of the “Healthy Cities” project: sociological analysis

2019 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Larisa Sergeevna Koval'zhina
Keyword(s):  
World Health Organization ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Healthy Lifestyle ◽  
World Health ◽  
Healthy Cities ◽  
Sociological Study ◽  
Healthy City ◽  
Health Maintenance ◽  
The World ◽  
Health Organization

This article presents the analysis of sociological discourse on the fundamental aspects of the &ldquo;Healthy Cities&rdquo; project; discusses the peculiarities of the World Health Organization &ldquo;Healthy Cities&rdquo; strategy; technologies of formation of the created on its basis programs on preservation of health of the urban population. The importance of the political and legislative factor impacting people&rsquo;s health and inequality with regards to health maintenance is revealed. The subject of this research is the projects aimed at preservation of health of the city dwellers and overcoming of inequality related to health, developed on the basis of the World Health Organization &ldquo;Healthy Cities&rdquo; concept. The author applies the theoretical-methodological analysis, secondary data analysis of the sociological study &ldquo;Moscow is a Healthy City&rdquo; (Russian Public Opinion Research Center, 2018)&rsquo;; as well as survey results, conducted by the author in 2013 and 2017 among the schoolers, university students, and their parents of Tyumen Region, on the questions of health maintenance. The main conclusion consists in consideration of the socio-biological gradient in formation of inequalities with regards to health among the representatives of different social groups. The author emphasizes the effectiveness of the &ldquo;Healthy Cities&rdquo; project in Moscow; as well as discusses the strategies on preservation of health among the population of Tyumen Region. The results of the conducted sociological study on living a healthy lifestyle demonstrate an accurate correlation between the increasing level of education and the number of those adopting a healthy lifestyle. Such project is relevant for not only large cities, but also rural areas with certain adjustment to the local specificities and tasks.

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