The Texas Department of State Health Services is warning consumers to avoid consuming the traditional product 'Nzu'

ABSTRACT The Texas Department of State Health Services provides assistance to local health departments following severe weather events and other public health emergencies. Following the reports of large mosquito populations hindering recovery efforts after Hurricane Harvey, the Texas State Medical Operations Center created the Vector Control Task Force (VCTF) to organize the mosquito response requested through the State of Texas Assistance Requests. Since Hurricane Harvey, there have been other severe weather events that have activated the VCTF. The purpose of this developed document is to provide guidance to local jurisdictions requesting mosquito abatement assistance from the state level in response to a proliferation of nuisance mosquitoes that hinders governmental response and recovery efforts after a severe weather incident. The document also establishes criteria that the VCTF will evaluate to determine if and how resources should be allocated to programs requesting assistance for mosquito abatement. The guidance document provides background information on mosquito surveillance and control and identifies tasks, roles, and responsibilities for local jurisdictions, state, and federal partners.

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Epidemiology Surveillance and Capacity Improvement: A Characterization of Texas, 2017

Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness ◽

10.1017/dmp.2020.471 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-8

Author(s):

Kahler W. Stone ◽

Marilyn Felkner ◽

Eric Garza ◽

Maria Perez-Patron ◽

Cason Schmit ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Health Department ◽

Local Health ◽

State Health ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

State Health Department ◽

Department Of State ◽

Texas Department ◽

Funding Programs

Abstract Objectives: In response to increasing caseloads of foodborne illnesses and high consequence infectious disease investigations, the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) requested funding from the Texas Legislature in 2013 and 2015 for a new state-funded epidemiologist (SFE) program. Methods: Primary cross-sectional survey data were collected from 32 of 40 local health departments (LHDs) via an online instrument and analyzed to quantify roles, responsibilities, and training of epidemiologists in Texas in 2017 and compared to similar state health department assessments. Results: Sixty-six percent of SFEs had epidemiology-specific training (eg, master’s in public health) compared to 45% in state health department estimates. For LHDs included in this study, the mean number of epidemiologists per 100 000 was 0.73 in medium LHDs and 0.46 in large LHDs. SFE positions make up approximately 40% of the LHD epidemiology workforce of all sizes and 56% of medium-sized LHD epidemiology staff in Texas specifically. Conclusions: Through this program, DSHS increased epidemiology capacity almost twofold from 0.28 to 0.47 epidemiologists per 100 000 people. These findings suggest that capacity funding programs like this improve epidemiology capacity in local jurisdictions and should be considered in other regions to improve general public health preparedness and epidemiology capacity.

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Mathematical Modeling and Covid-19 Forecast in Texas, USA: a prediction model analysis and the probability of disease outbreak

Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness ◽

10.1017/dmp.2021.151 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-27

Author(s):

Md Nazmul Hassan ◽

Md. Shahriar Mahmud ◽

Kaniz Fatema Nipa ◽

Md. Kamrujjaman

Keyword(s):

Basic Reproduction Number ◽

Reproduction Number ◽

Current Trend ◽

Effective Vaccine ◽

Third Wave ◽

Continuous Time Markov Chain ◽

State Health ◽

Department Of State ◽

Texas Department ◽

Future Prediction

Abstract Background Response to the unprecedented COVID-19 outbreak needs to be augmented in Texas, USA, where the first 5 cases were reported on March 6, 2020, were rapidly followed by an exponential rise within the next few weeks. This study aimed to determine the ongoing trend and upcoming infection status of COVID-19 in county levels of Texas. Methods Data were extracted from the following sources: published literature, surveillance, unpublished reports, and websites of Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS), Natality report of Texas and WHO Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Dashboard. Four-compartment Susceptible-Exposed-Infectious-Removal (SEIR) mathematical model was used to estimate the current trend and future prediction of basic reproduction number and infection case in Texas. Since the basic reproduction number is not sufficient to predict the outbreak, we applied the Continuous-Time Markov Chain (CTMC) model to calculate the probability of the COVID-19 outbreak. Results The estimated mean basic reproduction number of COVID-19 in Texas is predicted 2.65 by January 31, 2021. Our model indicated that the third wave might occur at the beginning of May of 2021, which will peak at the end of June 2021. This prediction may come true if the current spreading situation/level persists, i.e., no clinically effective vaccine is available,or this vaccination program fails for some reason in this area. Conclusion Our analysis indicates an alarming ongoing and upcoming infection rate of COVID-19 at county levels of Texas, thereby emphasizing promoting more coordinated and disciplined actions by both policymakers and the population to contain its devastating impact.

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A Comprehensive Assessment of the Associations Between Season of Conception and Birth Defects, Texas, 1999–2015

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph17197120 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (19) ◽

pp. 7120

Author(s):

Elisa Benavides ◽

Philip J. Lupo ◽

Peter H. Langlois ◽

Jeremy M. Schraw

Keyword(s):

Birth Defects ◽

Birth Defect ◽

Hirschsprung Disease ◽

State Health ◽

Department Of State ◽

Texas Department ◽

Vital Records ◽

Race Ethnicity ◽

Using Data ◽

Prevalence Ratios

Birth defects prevalence may vary seasonally, but previous studies have focused on a few commonly occurring phenotypes. We performed a phenome-wide association study (PheWAS) in order to evaluate the associations between season of conception and a broad range of birth defects. Date of conception was estimated for all livebirths and birth defect cases in Texas from 1999–2015 using data from vital records, provided by the Texas Department of State Health Services Center for Health Statistics. Birth defects diagnoses were obtained from the Texas Birth Defects Registry, a statewide, active surveillance system. We estimated prevalence ratios (PRs) for phenotypes with ≥50 cases according to conception in spring (March-May), summer (June–August) or fall (September–November) relative to winter (December–February), using Poisson regression. Season of conception was associated with 5% of birth defects studied in models adjusted for maternal age, education, race/ethnicity, and number of previous livebirths. Specifically, summer conception was associated with any monitored birth defect (PR 1.03, 95% CI 1.02–1.04) and five specific phenotypes, most notably Hirschsprung disease (PR 1.46, 95% CI 1.22–1.75). These findings suggest that seasonally variable exposures influence the development of several birth defects and may assist in identifying novel environmental risk factors.

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Health and State Making: The Expansion of State Health Services During the War of Resistance Against Japan (1937–1945)

Twentieth-Century China ◽

10.1353/tcc.2022.0007 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 47 (1) ◽

pp. 60-70

Author(s):

Nicole Elizabeth Barnes

Keyword(s):

Health Services ◽

State Health ◽

War Of Resistance

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Abstract TP232: Disparities in Access to Stroke Research in the State of Texas

Stroke ◽

10.1161/str.48.suppl_1.tp232 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 48 (suppl_1) ◽

Author(s):

Tzu-Ching Wu ◽

Christy M Ankrom ◽

Arvind B Bambhroliya ◽

Shima Borzorgui ◽

Sean I Savitz

Keyword(s):

Census Data ◽

Census Bureau ◽

The State ◽

Discharge Data ◽

Department Of State ◽

Stroke Research ◽

Texas Department ◽

The Status ◽

Stroke Center ◽

Us Census

Objective: Access to care is an important healthcare goal but access to research is also important to patients. We sought to gain an understanding of the status of stroke research among the various stroke designated hospitals in the state and to identify regions and facilities that lack access to stroke research. Methods: Texas Department of State Health Service (TDSHS) designated stroke facilities (DSF) were surveyed using a standardized questionnaire via telephone/email to confirm stroke center status, presence of a dedicated stroke coordinator, use of telestroke services, and participation in stroke research. Stroke discharge data were obtained from TDSHS and stroke volume (by ICD) were estimated for 2013 for all non-DSF. Census data were obtained from the US Census Bureau. Results: In total, 109/136 (80%) TDSHS DSF responded to the survey. Only 32/109 (29%) of the TDSHS DSF are participating in stroke research, mostly in the 4 metropolitan areas (fig 1). We identified 16 non-DSF that have 100-149 stroke discharges, and another 21 non-DSF that have ≥ 150 stroke discharges (fig 1). Over half (53%) of the DSF in the state are utilizing telestroke services. Conclusions: Most clinical stroke research conducted in Texas is in the 4 metropolitan markets. Our findings demonstrate that over 50% or ~14 million Texans reside outside of the 4 markets and therefore may lack access to stroke research. To increase access, we identified several non-DSF in the state with substantial stroke discharges (fig 1). Academic centers and non-DSF partnering through telemedicine and other relationships should be considered to expand throughout the state opportunities for participation in stroke research.

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