COVID-19 Among African Americans: From Preliminary Epidemiological Surveillance Data to Public Health Action

2020 ◽  
Vol 110 (8) ◽  
pp. 1157-1159 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven S. Coughlin ◽  
Justin Xavier Moore ◽  
Varghese George ◽  
J. Aaron Johnson ◽  
Joseph Hobbs
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
African Americans ◽  
Surveillance Data ◽  
Epidemiological Surveillance ◽  
Public Health Action ◽  
Health Action

FluHMM: A simple and flexible Bayesian algorithm for sentinel influenza surveillance and outbreak detection

2018 ◽  
Vol 28 (6) ◽  
pp. 1826-1840 ◽  
Author(s):  
Theodore Lytras ◽  
Kassiani Gkolfinopoulou ◽  
Stefanos Bonovas ◽  
Baltazar Nunes
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Public Health Practice ◽  
R Package ◽  
Sentinel Surveillance ◽  
Surveillance Data ◽  
Outbreak Detection ◽  
Influenza Surveillance ◽  
Bayesian Algorithm ◽  
Public Health Action ◽  
Health Action

Timely detection of the seasonal influenza epidemic is important for public health action. We introduce FluHMM, a simple but flexible Bayesian algorithm to detect and monitor the seasonal epidemic on sentinel surveillance data. No comparable historical data are required for its use. FluHMM segments a typical influenza surveillance season into five distinct phases with clear interpretation (pre-epidemic, epidemic growth, epidemic plateau, epidemic decline and post-epidemic) and provides the posterior probability of being at each phase for every week in the period under surveillance, given the available data. An alert can be raised when the probability that the epidemic has started exceeds a given threshold. An accompanying R package facilitates the application of this method in public health practice. We apply FluHMM on 12 seasons of sentinel surveillance data from Greece, and show that it achieves very good sensitivity, timeliness and perfect specificity, thereby demonstrating its usefulness. We further discuss advantages and limitations of the method, providing suggestions on how to apply it and highlighting potential future extensions such as with integrating multiple surveillance data streams.

scholarly journals Improving HIV Surveillance Data for Public Health Action in Washington, DC: A Novel Multiorganizational Data-Sharing Method

2016 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. e3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joanne Michelle F Ocampo ◽  
JC Smart ◽  
Adam Allston ◽  
Reshma Bhattacharjee ◽  
Sahithi Boggavarapu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Data Sharing ◽  
Surveillance Data ◽  
Washington Dc ◽  
Public Health Action ◽  
Hiv Surveillance ◽  
Health Action

The Burden of Antimicrobial Resistant Infections in Wales: a population-level modelling analysis

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
H Wang ◽  
P P M Thomas
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Relative Deprivation ◽  
Infection Type ◽  
Surveillance Data ◽  
Health Board ◽  
Local Health ◽  
Public Health Response ◽  
Public Health Action ◽  
Public Health Burden ◽  
Health Action

Abstract Background Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) threatens the sustainability of an effective, global public health response to infectious disease. This study uses routine surveillance data to estimate the public health burden (PHB) of AMR infections in Wales for the period 2017-19, with further stratification by Age, Sex, local Health Board (HB) area and relative deprivation, to guide public health action. Methods Welsh AMR Surveillance data, collected as part of the European AMR Surveillance Network (EARS-Net), was collated for the period 2017-19. Adapting the methodology of the European Centres for Disease Control Burden of Communicable Diseases in Europe (BCoDE), we modelled the PHB of five types of antibiotic-resistant infection (invasive and non-invasive), and 7 pathogens which associated with AMR, using the Burden of Healthcare-Acquire Infection (BHAI) R package. Postcodes were used to assign patients' resident health board, as well as their relative socio-economic deprivation, using the Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation (WIMD). Results Preliminary results (median estimation with 95% confidence interval (CI)) were calculated for: number of infections with AMRnumber of deaths attributable to AMRnumber of DALYs attributable to AMR Estimates were stratified by age; sex; HB; relative deprivation; and pathogen and infection type. Conclusions This is the first study of its kind to study the relationship between AMR incidence and relative deprivation. It offers a clear picture of the epidemiology of AMR within Wales to support public health action. Key messages Infections from AMR bacteria represent a major PHB in Wales, and the modelling PHB of AMR by socioeconomic group and local area can inform effective public health action. The results of this study are valuable for guiding public health action to address AMR at the national and international level.

Estimating the number of cases during COVID-19 pandemics using a web-based tool: first week results of “COVID-19 TRENDS” social media project in the Araba-Alava province in Basque country, Spain. (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ignacio Garitano ◽  
Manuel Linares ◽  
Laura Santos ◽  
Ruth Gil ◽  
Elena Lapuente ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Response Rate ◽  
Basque Country ◽  
Case Definition ◽  
Public Health Action ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Health Action ◽  
Estimate Number ◽  
Media Project

UNSTRUCTURED On 28th February a case of COVID-19 was declared in Araba-Álava province, Spain. In Spain, a confinement and movement restrictions were established by Spanish Government at 14th March 2020. We implemented a web-based tool to estimate number of cases during the pandemic. We present the results in Áraba-Álava province. We reached a response rate of 10,3% out a 331.549 population. We found that 22,4 % fulfilled the case definition. This tool rendered useful to inform public health action.

scholarly journals Reconciling Epidemiology’s Aspirations and Capabilities

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
David A Savitz
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Epidemiologic Studies ◽  
Public Health Importance ◽  
Public Health Action ◽  
Action Current ◽  
Current Trends ◽  
The Face ◽  
Health Action ◽  
New Challenges ◽  
Health Applications

Abstract Interpreting the results of epidemiologic studies calls for objectivity and rigorous scrutiny, acknowledging the limitations that temper the applicability of the findings to public health action. Current trends have posed new challenges to balancing goal of scientific objectivity and validity with public health applications. The ongoing tension between epidemiology’s aspirations and capability has several sources: the need to overpromise in research proposals, compromising methodologic rigor because of public health importance, defending findings in the face of hostile critics, and appealing to core constituencies who have specific expectations from the research.

scholarly journals Risk factors, symptom reporting, healthcare-seeking behaviour and adherence to public health guidance: protocol for Virus Watch, a prospective community cohort study

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. e048042
Author(s):  
Andrew Hayward ◽  
Ellen Fragaszy ◽  
Jana Kovar ◽  
Vincent Nguyen ◽  
Sarah Beale ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Cohort Study ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Respiratory Infections ◽  
Advisory Group ◽  
Antibody Testing ◽  
Public Health Action ◽  
Nasal Swabs ◽  
Health Action ◽  
Minority Ethnic

IntroductionThe coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has caused significant global mortality and impacted lives around the world. Virus Watch aims to provide evidence on which public health approaches are most likely to be effective in reducing transmission and impact of the virus, and will investigate community incidence, symptom profiles and transmission of COVID-19 in relation to population movement and behaviours.Methods and analysisVirus Watch is a household community cohort study of acute respiratory infections in England and Wales and will run from June 2020 to August 2021. The study aims to recruit 50 000 people, including 12 500 from minority ethnic backgrounds, for an online survey cohort and monthly antibody testing using home fingerprick test kits. Nested within this larger study will be a subcohort of 10 000 individuals, including 3000 people from minority ethnic backgrounds. This cohort of 10 000 people will have full blood serology taken between October 2020 and January 2021 and repeat serology between May 2021 and August 2021. Participants will also post self-administered nasal swabs for PCR assays of SARS-CoV-2 and will follow one of three different PCR testing schedules based on symptoms.Ethics and disseminationThis study has been approved by the Hampstead National Health Service (NHS) Health Research Authority Ethics Committee (ethics approval number 20/HRA/2320). We are monitoring participant queries and using these to refine methodology where necessary, and are providing summaries and policy briefings of our preliminary findings to inform public health action by working through our partnerships with our study advisory group, Public Health England, NHS and government scientific advisory panels.

scholarly journals Time to dismiss the idea of a structural fix within government? An analysis of intersectoral action for health in Danish municipalities

2018 ◽  
Vol 46 (22_suppl) ◽  
pp. 48-57 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ditte H. Holt ◽  
Gemma Carey ◽  
Morten H. Rod
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Boundary Spanning ◽  
Governance Structures ◽  
Intersectoral Action ◽  
Structural Reorganization ◽  
Organizational Boundaries ◽  
Public Health Action ◽  
Process Consulting ◽  
Health Action

Aims: This paper examines the role of organizational structure within government(s) in attempts to implement intersectoral action for health in Danish municipalities. We discuss the implications of structural reorganization and the governance structures that are established in order to ensure coordination and integration between policy sectors. Methods: The paper is based on 49 interviews with civil servants from health and non-health sectors of 10 municipalities. Based on participants’ experiences, cases have been described and analyzed in an iterative process consulting the literature on Health in All Policies and joined-up government. Results: Continuous and frequent processes of reorganizing were widespread in the municipalities. However, they appeared to have little effect on policy change. The two most common governance structures established to transcend organizational boundaries were the central unit and the intersectoral committee. According to the experiences of participants, paradoxically both of these organizational solutions tend to reproduce the organizational problems they are intended to overcome. Even if structural reorganization may succeed in dissolving some sector boundaries, it will inevitably create new ones. Conclusions: It is time to dismiss the idea that intersectoral action for health can be achieved by means of a structural fix. Rather than rearranging organizational boundaries it may be more useful to seek to manage the silos which exist in any organization, e.g. by promoting awareness of their implications for public health action and by enhancing the boundary spanning skills of public health officers.

Compelling Evidence for Public Health Action to Reduce Salt Intake

2010 ◽  
Vol 362 (7) ◽  
pp. 650-652 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lawrence J. Appel ◽  
Cheryl A.M. Anderson
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Salt Intake ◽  
Compelling Evidence ◽  
Public Health Action ◽  
Health Action
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