scholarly journals Pertussis surveillance and control: exploring variations and delays in testing, laboratory diagnostics and public health service notifications, the Netherlands, 2010 to 2013

2017 ◽  
Vol 22 (28) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeanne Heil ◽  
Henriëtte L G ter Waarbeek ◽  
Christian J P A Hoebe ◽  
Peter H A Jacobs ◽  
Dirk W van Dam ◽  
...  

Pertussis is most severe among unvaccinated infants (< 1 year of age), and still leads to several reported deaths in the Netherlands every year. In order to avoid pertussis-related infant morbidity and mortality, pertussis surveillance data are used to guide pertussis control measures. However, more insight into the accuracy of pertussis surveillance and control, and into the range of healthcare and public health-related factors that impede this are needed. We analysed a unique combination of data sources from one Dutch region of 1.1 million residents, including data from laboratory databases and local public health notifications between 2010 and 2013. This large study (n = 12,090 pertussis tests) reveals possible misdiagnoses, substantial under-notification (18%, 412/2,301 laboratory positive episodes) and a delay between patient symptoms and notification to the local public health services (median 34 days, interquartile range (IQR): 27–54). It is likely that the misdiagnoses, under-notification and overall delay in surveillance data are not unique to this area of the Netherlands, and are generalisable to other countries in Europe. In addition to preventive measures such as maternal immunisation, based on current findings, we further recommend greater adherence to testing guidelines, standardisation of test interpretation guidelines, use of automatic notification systems and earlier preventive measures.

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 152-157
Author(s):  
T. Chumachenko ◽  
◽  
Yu. Polyvianna ◽  
T. Semerenska

Salmonellosis is a common disease in all countries. According to the WHO, Salmonella is one of the four causes of diarrheal diseases worldwide and 60-80% cases of these diseases are not registered because they have mild course of disease. The food route of transmission of this infection is the main factor in the spread of salmonellosis among the population. Carrying out preventive and control measures are important condition for preventing an increase in the number of cases of this disease, which is especially important during the COVID-19 pandemic. An integral part of prevention is predicting the prevalence of this disease using modern technologies and conducting a retrospective epidemiological analysis, which was used to analyze the incidence of salmonellosis in Ukraine. Materials and methods. The data of the Center for Public Health of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine were used as materials in the article. In Ukraine, the incidence rate of salmonellosis was 19.26 cases per 100 thousand population over the period from 2015 to 2019. After reducing the incidence in 2017 (an incidence rate of 17.4 per 100 thousand population), there was the growth of number of this disease cases in Ukraine in the next years. In 2019, the incidence rate of salmonellosis was 20.3 per 100 thousand population. In 2019, the proportion of cases among adults (population over 18 years old) exceeded the proportion of cases of salmonellosis among the child population. Analysis of the incidence rate of salmonellosis by regions of Ukraine showed that the highest rates were in Rivne, Volyn and Kharkiv regions – 37.17; 33.70 and 31.89 per 100 thousand of the population, respectively. In a comparative analysis of the incidence of salmonellosis for 9 months of 2019 and 9 months of 2020, it was found that since the introduction of quarantine restrictions, in April 2020, the number of cases of salmonellosis in Ukraine have doubled: for 9 months of 2019 3,235 cases (7.7 per 100 thousand of the population) were registered compared to 9 months of 2020, when 6,648 cases of salmonellosis were recorded (15.8 per 100 thousand of the population). Results and discussion. One of the reasons for the increase in morbidity is insufficient control over food items by public health services, the state service of Ukraine for food safety and consumer protection in connection with quarantine and other control measures against COVID-19. The results of a retrospective epidemiological analysis revealed an upward trend in cases of salmonellosis in Ukraine. Conclusion. Therefore, there is a need for continuous preventive and control measures to prevent the occurrence of cases of this disease in Ukraine by public health services, the state service of Ukraine for food safety and consumer protection, as well as the veterinary and sanitary service of Ukraine. These measures are especially important during the COVID-19 pandemic, which will help to avoid cross-infection of patients with salmonellosis and coronavirus disease, which can lead to very serious consequences


2021 ◽  
pp. 175797592098418
Author(s):  
Muriel Mac-Seing ◽  
Robson Rocha de Oliveira

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in massive disruptions to public health, healthcare, as well as political and economic systems across national borders, thus requiring an urgent need to adapt. Worldwide, governments have made a range of political decisions to enforce preventive and control measures. As junior researchers analysing the pandemic through a health equity lens, we wish to share our reflections on this evolving crisis, specifically: (a) the tenuous intersections between the responses to the pandemic and public health priorities; (b) the exacerbation of health inequities experienced by vulnerable populations following decisions made at national and global levels; and (c) the impacts of the technological solutions put forward to address the crisis. Examples drawn from high-income countries are provided to support our three points.


2011 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 108-111 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dayanne Rakelly De Oliveira ◽  
Mayanne Santana Nóbrega De Figueiredo

Este texto tem como objetivo trazer considerações epidemiológicas e conceituais sobre a sífilis, o tratamento de parceiros sexuais e a inserção do enfermeiro em ações de prevenção e controle desse importante agravo à saúde pública. Enfatiza os aspectos relacionados às medidas de controle dos casos, à terapêutica da doença e à magnitude das complicações visando a contribuir para o aprofundamento da temática e reflexão da prática profissional.Descritores: Sífilis, Parceiros Sexuais, Enfermagem, Saúde Pública.Conceptual approach on syphilis in pregnancy and the treatment of sexual partnersThis text aims to bring epidemiological and conceptual considerations on syphilis, the treatment of sexual partners and the insertion of the nurse in prevention actions and control of this relevant grievance to the public health. It emphasizes the aspects related to control measures of the cases, to the therapeutics of disease and the magnitude of the complications seeking to contribute to the deepening of the theme and the reflection of professional practice.Descriptors: Syphilis, Sexual Partners, Nursing, Public Health.Abordaje conceptual sobre la sífilis en la gestación y lo tratamiento de las parejas sexualesEnfoque conceptual de la sífilis en el embarazo y el tratamiento de las parejas sexuales. Este texto tiene como objetivo integrar consideraciones conceptuales y epidemiológicas sobre la sífilis, el tratamiento de las parejas sexuales y la inclusión de los enfermeros en la prevención y control de este importante agravio de salud pública. Destaca los aspectos relacionados con los casos, con la terapéutica de la enfermedad y con la magnitud de las complicaciones con el objetivo de contribuir a la profundización de la temática y la reflexión de la práctica profesional.Descriptores: Sífilis, Las Parejas Sexuales, Enfermería, Salud Pública.


Complexity ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Yi-Cheng Zhang ◽  
Zhi Li ◽  
Guo-Bing Zhou ◽  
Nai-Ru Xu ◽  
Jia-Bao Liu

After the occurrence of public health emergencies, due to the uncertainty of the evolution of events and the asymmetry of pandemic information, the public’s risk perception will fluctuate dramatically. Excessive risk perception often causes the public to overreact to emergencies, resulting in irrational behaviors, which have a negative impact on economic development and social order. However, low-risk perception will reduce individual awareness of prevention and control, which is not conducive to the implementation of government pandemic prevention and control measures. Therefore, it is of great significance to accurately evaluate public risk perception for improving government risk management. This paper took the evolution of public risk perception based on the COVID-19 region as the research object. First, we analyze the characteristics of infectious diseases in the evolution of public risk perception of public health emergencies. Second, we analyze the characteristics of risk perception transmission in social networks. Third, we establish the dynamic model of public risk perception evolution based on SEIR, and the evolution mechanism of the public risk perception network is revealed through simulation experiments. Finally, we provide policy suggestions for government departments to deal with public health emergencies based on the conclusions of this study.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 43-46
Author(s):  
Eloiza Sarmento Amoras ◽  
Anderson Luiz Pena Costa

Aflatoxins are toxic secondary metabolites produced by the fungi of the genus Aspergillus. These substances cause food poisoning with clinical manifestations that vary according to the time of exposure and concentration of the dose ingested, representing a serious public health problem for compromising the food security, also causing considerable economic losses both in the production of stocked vegetable foods, as well as in the livestock contaminated with these substances through the feed. Therefore, this literature review aims to introduce some aspects related to the contamination of food by the fungi of the genus Aspergillus, the chemical and toxicological properties of the aflatoxins, as well as the strategies of control to avoid them in food.


2016 ◽  
Vol 22 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. i43-i49 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy Ising ◽  
Scott Proescholdbell ◽  
Katherine J Harmon ◽  
Nidhi Sachdeva ◽  
Stephen W Marshall ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Michael E. King ◽  
Diana M. Bensyl ◽  
Richard A. Goodman ◽  
Sonja A. Rasmussen

Performing field investigations is a core function of epidemiology in public health. When a threat to the public’s health occurs, epidemiologists investigate to describe the problem and identify causes, recommend immediate prevention and control measures, and provide a foundation for communicating information quickly to those who need to know to save lives and protect people from future illness. Although diseases and evaluative technologies evolve continually, the approach to conducting an epidemiologic field investigation remains relatively constant. Investigating an outbreak requires both a speedy and accurate response, necessitating a systematic approach that results in action. This chapter describes the basic 10-step approach for conducting an epidemiologic field investigation. Although the steps in this chapter are presented in a numeric and conceptual order, the order sometimes changes in practice. Ultimately, the goal of any epidemiologic field investigation is to use the science of epidemiology to rapidly ensure public health and safety.


2016 ◽  
Vol 21 (37) ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Messiaen ◽  
Annemie Forier ◽  
Steven Vanderschueren ◽  
Caroline Theunissen ◽  
Jochen Nijs ◽  
...  

Trichinellosis is a rare parasitic zoonosis caused by Trichinella following ingestion of raw or undercooked meat containing Trichinella larvae. In the past five years, there has been a sharp decrease in human trichinellosis incidence rates in the European Union due to better practices in rearing domestic animals and control measures in slaughterhouses. In November 2014, a large outbreak of trichinellosis occurred in Belgium, related to the consumption of imported wild boar meat. After a swift local public health response, 16 cases were identified and diagnosed with trichinellosis. Of the 16 cases, six were female. The diagnosis was confirmed by serology or the presence of larvae in the patients’ muscle biopsies by histology and/or PCR. The ensuing investigation traced the wild boar meat back to Spain. Several batches of imported wild boar meat were recalled but tested negative. The public health investigation allowed us to identify clustered undiagnosed cases. Early warning alerts and a coordinated response remain indispensable at a European level.


Parasitology ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 145 (1) ◽  
pp. 32-40 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. VYTHILINGAM ◽  
M. L. WONG ◽  
W. S. WAN-YUSSOF

SUMMARYPlasmodium knowlesi a simian malaria parasite is currently affecting humans in Southeast Asia. Malaysia has reported the most number of cases and P. knowlesi is the predominant species occurring in humans. The vectors of P. knowlesi belong to the Leucosphyrus group of Anopheles mosquitoes. These are generally described as forest-dwelling mosquitoes. With deforestation and changes in land-use, some species have become predominant in farms and villages. However, knowledge on the distribution of these vectors in the country is sparse. From a public health point of view it is important to know the vectors, so that risk factors towards knowlesi malaria can be identified and control measures instituted where possible. Here, we review what is known about the knowlesi malaria vectors and ascertain the gaps in knowledge, so that future studies could concentrate on this paucity of data in-order to address this zoonotic problem.


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