scholarly journals A ’Local-Global’ model for Seasonal Diseases: Influenza Subtypes Analysis Case Study

Author(s):  
gal almogy

Influenza epidemics in temperate regions display dynamics that are characterized by pronounced seasonal peaks during the winter. The general lack of influenza cases during the off-season may result from the virus physically disappearing at the end of the season, in which case it must be imported annually. Alternatively, it may result from persistent asymptomatic carriers or unnoticed local transmission chains that develop into local epidemics as conditions become conducive. Here I attempt to understand these differing explanations by analyzing the global distribution of the four major subtypes that comprise influenza over a period of 18 years based on FluNet data, the surveillance network and database compiled by the WHO, and the NCBI influenza data resource, a repository of relevant genetic information. Examining the annual proportion of each subtype, I find considerable variations in subtype annual proportions between the regions. Moreover, I find that seasonal influenza subtypes can remain confined to specific temperate regions, without showing measurable global presence. These results indicate that although largely undetected during the off-season, influenza is likely to persist locally, and imply a ‘local-global’ model where annual influenza epidemics are a mixture of local strains undergoing reactivation together with an influx of global variants.

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 97
Author(s):  
Li Li Pang

National leaders’ responses to the Covid-19 pandemic globally have shown that while the definition of leadership is still debatable in academia, in times of crisis, it is easily identifiable and seen. The world has seen different responses by national leaders to curb the spread of the virus, Covid-19, which has claimed more than a million lives, affecting 189 countries worldwide since January 2020. Developed countries’ successes in dealing with the pandemic are widely reported by international media, but the successes made by developing countries are not. One such country is Brunei Darussalam, where her success, even regionally in Southeast Asia, was downplayed. This paper is a qualitative case study, highlighting Brunei Darussalam’s success in handling the pandemic. Brunei Darussalam began to ‘flatten the curve’ since March 29, 2020 and there was no local transmission since May 7, 2020. The paper will show how leadership, effective crisis communication together with advances in telecommunication technologies, existing institutional practices, and a supportive public have helped Brunei Darussalam curb the spread of the virus within the country.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Narimane Nekkab ◽  
Pascal Crépey ◽  
Pascal Astagneau ◽  
Lulla Opatowski ◽  
Laura Temime

Abstract The spread of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) in healthcare settings is a major public health threat that has been associated with cross-border and local patient transfers between healthcare facilities. Since the impact of transfers on spread may vary, our study aimed to assess the contribution of a patient transfer network on CPE incidence and spread at a countrywide level, with a case study of France from 2012 to 2015. Our results suggest a transition in 2013 from a CPE epidemic sustained by internationally imported episodes to an epidemic sustained by local transmission events through patient transfers. Incident episodes tend to occur within close spatial distance of their potential infector. We also observe an increasing frequency of multiple spreading events, originating from a limited number of regional hubs. Consequently, coordinated prevention and infection control strategies should focus on transfers of carriers of CPE to reduce regional and inter-regional transmission.


Author(s):  
Anna Aminoff ◽  
Taru Hakanen

Purpose The ability to operate global distribution channels of products is commonly considered a critical determinant of a manufacturer’s competitiveness. Nowadays, many products are often complemented with value-added services challenging the efficacy of the status quo of distribution channels. Investigating this rather new phenomenon, the purpose of this paper is to provide an initial understanding of the implications of servitization for manufacturers’ global business-to-business (B2B) distribution. Design/methodology/approach The aim is to elaborate service-dominant logic (SDL) in the context of global B2B distribution. The study builds on case study data collected from a medium-sized European manufacturing company offering production equipment and solutions, and three of its global distributors. Findings The results indicate that the co-producing customer value, the increasing role of operant resources of both a distributor and a manufacturer, and triadic co-creation between a manufacturer, a distributor and an end customer have increasing importance in the indirect distribution network. Research limitations/implications Data are limited to data collected from a single in-depth case study. The results of this study should be investigated by collecting more data in a broader context in the form of surveys. Practical implications Several guidelines related to global distribution are developed for managers, and current distributor selection criteria are completed to meet the needs of this servitization approach. Originality/value Empirical research on servitizing manufacturers with global B2B distribution is scarce. This paper employs SDL to provide an in-depth understanding of the implications of servitization for distribution.


2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. S964-S965
Author(s):  
Julia C Haston ◽  
Shikha Garg ◽  
Angela P Campbell ◽  
Jill Ferdinands ◽  
Alissa O’Halloran ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Seasonal influenza vaccine may attenuate disease severity among people infected with influenza despite vaccination, but vaccine effectiveness may decrease with increasing time between vaccination and infection. Patient characteristics may play a role in the timing of vaccine receipt. Methods We used data from the Influenza Hospitalization Surveillance Network (FluSurv-NET) and included patients ≥ 9 years hospitalized with laboratory-confirmed influenza during October 1–April 30 of influenza seasons 2013–2014 through 2016–2017 who received seasonal influenza vaccine ≥ 14 days prior to admission. Vaccine history was obtained from vaccine registries, medical charts, and patient interviews. We defined “early vaccination” as vaccine receipt before October 15 and “late vaccination” as receipt after (date selected using typical season onset and median vaccination dates). Early and late groups were compared using Chi-square or Fisher exact tests. Results Among 21,751 vaccinated patients, 61% received vaccine before October 15, and distribution of vaccination date was similar across seasons (figure). Vaccination occurred earlier with increasing age (45% were vaccinated early among those 9–17 years but 65% in those ≥ 80 years, P < 0.01). White non-Hispanic patients were more likely to receive vaccine early compared with black non-Hispanic and Hispanic patients (63% vs. 55% and 54%; P < 0.01). Those with metabolic disorders, cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, and cancer were vaccinated earlier whereas those with HIV and liver disease were vaccinated later. Vaccine timing also varied by state (P < 0.01) but not by sex. Conclusion Among influenza-vaccinated older children and adults hospitalized with influenza, older age, white race, and certain medical conditions were associated with early receipt of influenza vaccination in unadjusted analysis. This may be due to frequent healthcare encounters and targeted public health strategies in high-risk groups. Understanding how timing of vaccine receipt varies among populations can provide insights into variables that must be controlled for in studying possible vaccine effectiveness waning and attenuation of disease among those who are infected despite vaccination. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.


2016 ◽  
Vol 40 (3) ◽  
pp. 198-205
Author(s):  
Hee Sun (Sunny) Choi

This paper explores what it means for a public space to embody the city within rapid urban change in contemporary urban development and how a space can accomplish this by embracing the culture of the city, its people and its places, using the particular case of Putuo, Shanghai in China. The paper employs mapping and empirical surveys to learn how the local community use the act of communal dance in everyday public spaces of this neighborhood, and seeks not to find generalizable rules for how humans comprehend a city, but instead to better understand how local inhabitants and their chosen activities can influence their built environment. The findings from this emphasize the importance to identify how public spaces can help to define cities with China’s emerging global presence, whilst addressing the ways in which local needs and perspectives can be preserved.


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