scholarly journals The US Army School of Nursing and the 1918 influenza pandemic: Cooperation and collaboration at Camp Grant, Illinois

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 32-35
Author(s):  
Gwyneth MILBRATH
Keyword(s):  
Influenza Pandemic ◽  
Us Army ◽  
School Of Nursing ◽  
The Us ◽  
1918 Influenza

Pandemic Reemergence and Four Waves of Excess Mortality Coinciding With the 1918 Influenza Pandemic in Michigan: Insights for COVID-19

2021 ◽  
Vol 111 (3) ◽  
pp. 430-437
Author(s):  
Siddharth Chandra ◽  
Julia Christensen ◽  
Madhur Chandra ◽  
Nigel Paneth
Keyword(s):  
Broad Spectrum ◽  
Excess Mortality ◽  
Influenza Pandemic ◽  
The State ◽  
Viral Pathogens ◽  
Monthly Data ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
The Past ◽  
The Us ◽  
1918 Influenza

The global influenza pandemic that emerged in 1918 has become the event of reference for a broad spectrum of policymakers seeking to learn from the past. This article sheds light on multiple waves of excess mortality that occurred in the US state of Michigan at the time with insights into how epidemics might evolve and propagate across space and time. We analyzed original monthly data on all-cause deaths by county for the 83 counties of Michigan and interpreted the results in the context of what is known about the pandemic. Counties in Michigan experienced up to four waves of excess mortality over a span of two years, including a severe one in early 1920. Some counties experienced two waves in late 1918 while others had only one. The 1920 wave propagated across the state in a different manner than the fall and winter 1918 waves. The twin waves in late 1918 were likely related to the timing of the statewide imposition of a three-week social distancing order. Michigan’s experience holds sobering lessons for those who wish to understand how immunologically naïve populations encounter novel viral pathogens.

scholarly journals Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Support for the American Expeditionary Forces by the US Army Medical Corps During World War I

2015 ◽  
Vol 139 (9) ◽  
pp. 1161-1172 ◽  
Author(s):  
James R. Wright ◽  
Leland B. Baskin
Keyword(s):  
World War I ◽  
Influenza Pandemic ◽  
The United States ◽  
Laboratory Medicine ◽  
World War ◽  
Us Army ◽  
Army Medical ◽  
American Expeditionary Forces ◽  
Laboratory Services ◽  
The Us

Context Historical research on pathology and laboratory medicine services in World War I has been limited. In the Spanish American War, these efforts were primarily focused on tropical diseases. World War I problems that could be addressed by pathology and laboratory medicine were strikingly different because of the new field of clinical pathology. Geographic differences, changing war tactics, and trench warfare created new issues. Objectives To describe the scope of pathology and laboratory medicine services in World War I and the value these services brought to the war effort. Methods Available primary and secondary sources related to American Expeditionary Forces' laboratory services were analyzed and contrasted with the British and German approaches. Results The United States entered the war in April 1917. Colonel Joseph Siler, MD, a career medical officer, was the director, and Colonel Louis B. Wilson, MD, head of pathology at the Mayo Clinic, was appointed assistant director of the US Army Medical Corps Division of Laboratories and Infectious Disease, based in Dijon, France. During the next year, they organized 300 efficient laboratories to support the American Expeditionary Forces. Autopsies were performed to better understand treatment of battlefield injuries, effects of chemical warfare agents, and the influenza pandemic; autopsies also generated teaching specimens for the US Army Medical Museum. Bacteriology services focused on communicable diseases. Laboratory testing for social diseases was very aggressive. Significant advances in blood transfusion techniques, which allowed brief blood storage, occurred during the war but were not primarily overseen by laboratory services. Conclusions Both Siler and Wilson received Distinguished Service Medals. Wilson's vision for military pathology services helped transform American civilian laboratory services in the 1920s.

scholarly journals Would the US Benefit from a President Wilson or Roosevelt Response to COVID-19: Longitudinal Trend Analysis of Static and Dynamic Surveillance Metrics (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lori Ann Post ◽  
Tariq Ziad Issa ◽  
Michael J Boctor ◽  
Charles B Moss ◽  
Robert L Murphy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Influenza Pandemic ◽  
Public Health Practice ◽  
The Public ◽  
Large Numbers ◽  
Persistence Rate ◽  
The Us ◽  
National Response ◽  
The Media ◽  
1918 Influenza

BACKGROUND The emergence of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, has led to a widespread global pandemic not seen since the 1918 influenza outbreak. The empirical question is if the current pandemic would attenuate from an approach taken by President Wilson used during the Influenza Pandemic of 1918 that killed some 675,000 Americans and up to 50 million people worldwide or by the approach President Franklin Roosevelt implemented to control malaria in the 1940s. OBJECTIVE To test COVID-19 control policies at the federal and state level with surveillance metrics including 1) speed, 2) acceleration, 3) jerk, 4) 7-day persistence. We will surveil COVID transmission using standard surveillance techniques, novel rates of increase and persistence, combined with overall caseload. Novel indicators improve our understanding of where and how rapidly SARS-CoV-2 is transmitting, and quantifies shifts in the rate of acceleration or deceleration by state to inform policy targeting mitigation and prevention strategies in the U.S. METHODS Using a longitudinal trend analysis study design, we extracted 60 days of COVID data from public health registries. We use an empirical difference equation to measure daily case numbers in 50 US states and Washington D.C. as a function of the prior number of cases, the level of testing, and weekly shift variables based on a dynamic panel model that was estimated using the generalized method of moments (GMM) approach by implementing the Arellano-Bond estimator in R. RESULTS There is variation between and within states with some exemplars of good public health practice such as VT, NH, and ME. The overall U.S. caseload and increases in rates of infection translate into the country with highest caseload of coronavirus infections and deaths. The US 7-Day Persistence rate means super spreader events such as rallies, college parties, and other social gatherings not only infect large numbers of people but those infections echo forward with additional infections. Moving forward, blaming the virus on China or Spain was neither warranted nor helpful in controlling COVID-19 or the Influenza Pandemic; nor is censorship of the media or misinformation via social media. Other obstacles to recovery such as expressing skepticism of science and overt denial of the facts didn’t work for President Wilson during the 1918 influenza pandemic nor is it helpful today. We need a Roosevelt and not a Wilson response to the pandemic to return to normal. The current U.S. response to COVID-19 parallels President Wilson’s response to the 1918 Influenza Pandemic that killed 50 million people based on 1) no national response to control the outbreak; 2) misinformation; 3) unclear communication with the public; 4) widespread mistrust and panic. CONCLUSIONS There is variation between and within states with some exemplars of good public health practice such as VT, NH, and ME. The overall U.S. caseload and increases in rates of infection translate into the country with highest caseload of coronavirus infections and deaths. The US 7-Day Persistence rate means super spreader events such as rallies, college parties, and other social gatherings not only infect large numbers of people but those infections echo forward with additional infections. Moving forward, blaming the virus on China or Spain was neither warranted nor helpful in controlling COVID-19 or the Influenza Pandemic; nor is censorship of the media or misinformation via social media. Other obstacles to recovery such as expressing skepticism of science and overt denial of the facts didn’t work for President Wilson during the 1918 influenza pandemic nor is it helpful today. We need a Roosevelt and not a Wilson response to the pandemic to return to normal. The current U.S. response to COVID-19 parallels President Wilson’s response to the 1918 Influenza Pandemic that killed 50 million people based on 1) no national response to control the outbreak; 2) misinformation; 3) unclear communication with the public; 4) widespread mistrust and panic. CLINICALTRIAL NA INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT RR2-24248

scholarly journals The 1918 Flu and COVID-19 Pandemics: Different Patients, Different Economy

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-5
Author(s):  
Ross Cohen-Kristiansen ◽  
Roberto B. Pinheiro
Keyword(s):  
Influenza Virus ◽  
Influenza Pandemic ◽  
Policy Responses ◽  
Us Economy ◽  
The Us ◽  
Geographic Distributions ◽  
1918 Influenza

Many observers seeking historical precedent for COVID-19 draw on the 1918 influenza pandemic. In this Commentary, we highlight the differences between the 1918 flu and COVID-19 pandemics in terms of the most significantly affected populations. We also show key differences in the US economy in the late 1910s and now. Not only did the 1918 influenza virus primarily affect significantly younger cohorts, but the US economy’s industry and geographic distributions were notably different at the time compared to today’s. Consequently, caution is needed when using the 1918 influenza pandemic as a guideline for implementing and evaluating policy responses to COVID-19.

Neuro-Optometric Treatment of Complications from a Cerebellar Astrocytoma

2020 ◽  
pp. 304-312
Keyword(s):  
Visual System ◽  
Common Site ◽  
Us Army ◽  
Cranial Nerve Palsies ◽  
Pilocytic Astrocytomas ◽  
The Us ◽  
Extent Of Damage ◽  
Functional Components ◽  
The Brain

Background: Insult to the brain, whether from trauma or other etiologies, can have a devastating effect on an individual. Symptoms can be many and varied, depending on the location and extent of damage. This presentation can be a challenge to the optometrist charged with treating the sequelae of this event as multiple functional components of the visual system can be affected. Case Report: This paper describes the diagnosis and subsequent ophthalmic management of an acquired brain injury in a 22 year old male on active duty in the US Army. After developing acute neurological symptoms, the patient was diagnosed with a pilocytic astrocytoma of the cerebellum. Emergent neurosurgery to treat the neoplasm resulted in iatrogenic cranial nerve palsies and a hemispheric syndrome. Over the next 18 months, he was managed by a series of providers, including a strabismus surgeon, until presenting to our clinic. Lenses, prism, and in-office and out-of-office neurooptometric rehabilitation therapy were utilized to improve his functioning and make progress towards his goals. Conclusions: Pilocytic astrocytomas are the most common primary brain tumors, and the vast majority are benign with excellent surgical prognosis. Although the most common site is the cerebellum, the visual pathway is also frequently affected. If the eye or visual system is affected, optometrists have the ability to drastically improve quality of life with neuro-optometric rehabilitation.

EDUCATIONAL-TRAINING FACILITIES OF GROUND US FORCES

2019 ◽  
pp. 168-176
Author(s):  
D.B. Izyumov ◽  
E.L. Kondratyuk
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Armed Forces ◽  
The United States ◽  
Educational Training ◽  
Us Army ◽  
The Us ◽  
Level Of Training ◽  
Army Personnel

The article discusses issues related to the development and use of training means and facilities in order to improve the level of training of US Army personnel. An overview of the main simulators used in the US Armed Forces at present is given, and the prospects for the development of the United States in this area are presented.

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