scholarly journals Widespread activity of multiple lineages of Usutu virus, western Europe, 2016

2017 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Cadar ◽  
Renke Lühken ◽  
Henk van der Jeugd ◽  
Mutien Garigliany ◽  
Ute Ziegler ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Western Europe ◽  
Late Summer ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Usutu Virus ◽  
Dead Bird ◽  
Outbreak Area ◽  
Health Authorities ◽  
Public Health Authorities ◽  
And Control

In the summer of 2016, Belgium, France, Germany and the Netherlands reported widespread Usutu virus (USUV) activity based on live and dead bird surveillance. The causative USUV strains represented four lineages, of which two putative novel lineages were most likely recently introduced into Germany and spread to other western European countries. The spatial extent of the outbreak area corresponded with R0 values > 1. The occurrence of the outbreak, the largest USUV epizootic registered so far in Europe, allowed us to gain insight in how a recently introduced arbovirus with potential public health implications can spread and become a resident pathogen in a naïve environment. Understanding the ecological and epidemiological factors that drive the emergence or re-emergence of USUV is critical to develop and implement timely surveillance strategies for adequate preventive and control measures. Public health authorities, blood transfusion services and clinicians in countries where USUV was detected should be aware of the risk of possible USUV infection in humans, including in patients with unexplained encephalitis or other neurological impairments, especially during late summer when mosquito densities peak.

scholarly journals Risk factors assessment of bovine tuberculosis among abattoir personnel in Gombe State, Northeastern Nigeria: A One-Health approach

2019 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
S. Mohammed ◽  
Adamu Saleh Saidu ◽  
S. M. Jajere ◽  
P. Tomar ◽  
A. M. Wakil ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Risk Factors ◽  
Bovine Tuberculosis ◽  
Occupational Status ◽  
Health Authorities ◽  
Unpasteurized Milk ◽  
Zoonotic Risk ◽  
Public Health Authorities ◽  
And Control ◽  
Cooked Meat

Aim: Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is an important milk-borne zoonosis that affects cattle production and poses serious threat to public health. This study aimed at assessing the risk factors as well as the level of awareness, attitude, and practices of abattoir personnel toward bTB in Gombe Township Abattoir, Gombe State. Materials and Methods: A prospective survey was conducted between October 2015 and December 2015. During the survey, a total of 112 close-ended structured questionnaires were administered to the abattoir personnel to assess their level of awareness of bTB. Results: Of these respondents, the majority were males (79%), butchers (49%) and about 40% were under the productive age brackets of 26-35 years. Majority of the respondents (85.7%) were aware of the zoonotic nature of the disease. However, only a few of the respondents (44.6%) wear personal protective equipments (PPEs) clothes while handling or in contact with carcasses during the slaughtering process. Only a few among the respondents (24.1% and 31.2%) consumed unpasteurized milk and unaware of eating of improperly cooked meat as a risk factor of bTB, respectively. About 75.7% of the respondents believed that the habit of eating and drinking inside the abattoir and during slaughtering operations has no any significant effects on their health. The results obtained show a statistically significant association between respondents' awareness of bTB and their occupational status, duration of exposure to cattle carcasses, and knowledge about the disease (p<0.05); and the odds of being aware of bTB was 10.0, 5.07, and 4.2, respectively. Conclusion: This study demonstrates the need for public health authorities to intervene in bTB prevention and control through the creation of avenues for enlightenment on the zoonotic risk associated with bTB. The risk factors associated with bTB transmission as indicated by the personnel's practice and awareness levels in Gombe township abattoir are preventable through the use of PPEs clothing.

scholarly journals An interim review of the epidemiological characteristics of 2019 novel coronavirus

2020 ◽  
Vol 42 ◽  
pp. e2020006 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sukhyun Ryu ◽  
Byung Chul Chun
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Public Health Emergency ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Health Authorities ◽  
Public Health Authorities ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Epidemiological Characteristics

OBJECTIVES: The 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) from Wuhan, China is currently recognized as a public health emergency of global concern.METHODS: We reviewed the currently available literature to provide up-to-date guidance on control measures to be implemented by public health authorities.RESULTS: Some of the epidemiological characteristics of 2019-nCoV have been identified. However, there remain considerable uncertainties, which should be considered when providing guidance to public health authorities on control measures.CONCLUSIONS: Additional studies incorporating more detailed information from confirmed cases would be valuable.

scholarly journals Reduction of the nosocomial meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus incidence density by a region-wide search and follow-strategy in forty German hospitals of the EUREGIO, 2009 to 2011

2013 ◽  
Vol 18 (36) ◽  
Author(s):  
A Jurke ◽  
R Köck ◽  
K Becker ◽  
S Thole ◽  
R Hendrix ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Staphylococcus Aureus ◽  
Screening Strategy ◽  
Incidence Density ◽  
Health Authorities ◽  
Public Health Authorities ◽  
Risk Patients ◽  
And Control ◽  
Successful Prevention ◽  
Regional Surveillance

Meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) disseminates between hospitals serving one patient catchment area. Successful prevention and control requires concerted efforts and regional surveillance. Forty hospitals located in the German EUREGIO have established a network for combating MRSA. In 2007 they agreed upon a synchronised strategy for screening of risk patients and a standard for transmission-based precautions (search and follow). The same year, the hospitals started synchronised MRSA prevention and annually reporting MRSA-data to the public health authorities. The median rate of screening cultures per 100 patients admitted increased from 4.38 in 2007 to 34.4 in 2011 (p<0.0001). Between 2007 and 2011, the overall incidence density of MRSA (0.87 MRSA cases/1,000 patient days vs 1.54; p<0.0001) increased significantly. In contrast, both the incidence density of nosocomial MRSA cases (0.13 nosocomial MRSA cases/1,000 patient days in 2009 vs 0.08 in 2011; p=0.0084) and the MRSA-days-associated nosocomial MRSA rate (5.51 nosocomial MRSA cases/1,000 MRSA days in 2009 vs 3.80 in 2011; p=0.0437) decreased significantly after the second year of the project. We documented adherence to the regional screening strategy resulting in improved detection of MRSA carriers at admission. Subsequently, after two years the nosocomial MRSA-incidence density was reduced. Regional surveillance data, annually provided as benchmarking to the regional hospitals and public health authorities, indicated successful prevention.

scholarly journals Can Wastewater be Used to Improve our COVID-19 Surveillance Efforts?

CommonHealth ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 141-147
Author(s):  
Shannon McGinnis ◽  
Shane Mclouglin ◽  
Tiffany Buturla ◽  
Nishita D'Souza ◽  
José Logo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Control Strategies ◽  
Population Level ◽  
The United States ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Clear Understanding ◽  
Health Control ◽  
Health Authorities ◽  
Public Health Authorities ◽  
Wastewater Samples

As the spread of COVID-19 continues to significantly impact daily life in the United States and globally, there is a need for a clear understanding of disease prevalence in communities. Traditional methods that rely on counting individual cases often result in underreporting due to limited access to testing or healthcare. This issue is further exacerbated by the spread of COVID-19 by asymptomatic or presymptomatic individuals who may not seek testing. Historically, wastewater surveillance has been used to provide population-level data on the prevalence of infectious diseases in communities. Data collected through wastewater surveillance has been used to advise public health control measures, such as vaccination campaigns, and to detect local outbreaks before cases are reported to public health authorities. For this reason, researchers around the globe have been analyzing wastewater samples for SARS-CoV-2 to assist in our response to the existing COVID-19 pandemic. This commentary discusses the potential utility of wastewater-based surveillance to advise public health control strategies for COVID-19 and discusses how it may be used to strengthen local surveillance efforts in Philadelphia.

scholarly journals Improving Notifiable Disease Case Reporting Through Electronic Information Exchange–Facilitated Decision Support: A Controlled Before-and-After Trial

2020 ◽  
Vol 135 (3) ◽  
pp. 401-410
Author(s):  
Brian E. Dixon ◽  
Zuoyi Zhang ◽  
Janet N. Arno ◽  
Debra Revere ◽  
P. Joseph Gibson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Information Exchange ◽  
Outbreak Detection ◽  
Notifiable Disease ◽  
Disease Reporting ◽  
Health Authorities ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Public Health Authorities ◽  
And Control ◽  
Reporting Rates

Objective Outbreak detection and disease control may be improved by simplified, semi-automated reporting of notifiable diseases to public health authorities. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of an electronic, prepopulated notifiable disease report form on case reporting rates by ambulatory care clinics to public health authorities. Methods We conducted a 2-year (2012-2014) controlled before-and-after trial of a health information exchange (HIE) intervention in Indiana designed to prepopulate notifiable disease reporting forms to providers. We analyzed data collected from electronic prepopulated reports and “usual care” (paper, fax) reports submitted to a local health department for 7 conditions by using a difference-in-differences model. Primary outcomes were changes in reporting rates, completeness, and timeliness between intervention and control clinics. Results Provider reporting rates for chlamydia and gonorrhea in intervention clinics increased significantly from 56.9% and 55.6%, respectively, during the baseline period (2012) to 66.4% and 58.3%, respectively, during the intervention period (2013-2014); they decreased from 28.8% and 27.5%, respectively, to 21.7% and 20.6%, respectively, in control clinics ( P < .001). Completeness improved from baseline to intervention for 4 of 15 fields in reports from intervention clinics ( P < .001), although mean completeness improved for 11 fields in both intervention and control clinics. Timeliness improved for both intervention and control clinics; however, reports from control clinics were timelier (mean, 7.9 days) than reports from intervention clinics (mean, 9.7 days). Conclusions Electronic, prepopulated case reporting forms integrated into providers’ workflow, enabled by an HIE network, can be effective in increasing notifiable disease reporting rates and completeness of information. However, it was difficult to assess the effect of using the forms for diseases with low prevalence (eg, salmonellosis, histoplasmosis).

scholarly journals Virology, Epidemiology, Pathogenesis, and Control of COVID-19

Viruses ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 372 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuefei Jin ◽  
Haiyan Yang ◽  
Wangquan Ji ◽  
Weidong Wu ◽  
Shuaiyin Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ◽  
World Health ◽  
Global Public Health ◽  
Current State ◽  
Health Authorities ◽  
Public Health Authorities ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
And Control ◽  
Present Understanding

The outbreak of emerging severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) disease (COVID-19) in China has been brought to global attention and declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) on March 11, 2020. Scientific advancements since the pandemic of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in 2002~2003 and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) in 2012 have accelerated our understanding of the epidemiology and pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2 and the development of therapeutics to treat viral infection. As no specific therapeutics and vaccines are available for disease control, the epidemic of COVID-19 is posing a great threat for global public health. To provide a comprehensive summary to public health authorities and potential readers worldwide, we detail the present understanding of COVID-19 and introduce the current state of development of measures in this review.

Cronobacterspp. (« Enterobacter sakazakii » sensu lato) : implication dans la contamination des préparations en poudre pour nourrissons et enfants en bas âge

2009 ◽  
Vol 55 (5) ◽  
pp. 473-500 ◽  
Author(s):  
Isabelle Proudy
Keyword(s):  
Young Children ◽  
Bacterial Species ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Neonatal Meningitis ◽  
Enterobacter Sakazakii ◽  
Isolation And Characterization ◽  
Health Authorities ◽  
Public Health Authorities ◽  
And Control ◽  
Infants And Young Children

Species of the Cronobacter genus (“ Enterobacter sakazakii ” s. l.) are emergent food-borne pathogens that can cause rare but severe neonatal meningitis, bacteriaemia, and necrotizing enterocolitis. Preterm, low-birth-weight, and immuno-compromised infants exposed to these bacterial species are at particular risk. Over the last 50 years, the literature has reported, mainly in newborn children, more than one hundred cases of infection due to these pathogens. The objective of this review was to synthesize the recent advances in knowledge of species of the Cronobacter genus, in particular with regards to taxonomy, physiology, pathogenicity, clinical cases, the methods for detection, isolation, and characterization, and their presence in powdered formulae for infants and young children, which were identified as the main infection vector. Researchers and international public health authorities have explored the ways contamination occur to better control the risks of pathogen development. Appropriate analysis and control measures were implemented in areas processing powdered formulae for infants and young children, and caregivers and families were informed to undertake good hygienic practices.

Child Pedestrian Casualties as a Public Health Problem

1974 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 168-179 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. D. J. Havard
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Risk Groups ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Mortality And Morbidity ◽  
Health Authorities ◽  
Public Health Authorities ◽  
Pedestrian Accidents ◽  
Available Information ◽  
And Control

The importance to public health authorities of the mortality and morbidity from child pedestrian accidents is reviewed and attention is drawn to the inadequate state of the available information on morbidity from such accidents. The need to improve the existing statistics is emphasized and the contribution which can be made by epidemiological studies is discussed in the light of the available evidence concerning the human and environmental factors influencing the risk of mortality and morbidity from such accidents. Attention is drawn to the need for public health authorities to become more actively involved in the prevention and control of child pedestrian accidents. The importance of countermeasures being based on proven epidemiological studies is emphasized and it is suggested that countermeasures should be subjected to the same degree of preparation and evaluation as is accorded by public health authorities to other high-risk groups in the population.

scholarly journals The Early Warning and Response System for communicable diseases in the EU: an overview from 1999 to 2005

2006 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 7-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
P Guglielmetti ◽  
D Coulombier ◽  
G G Thinus ◽  
F Van Loock ◽  
S Schreck
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Early Warning ◽  
Communicable Diseases ◽  
Member States ◽  
Response System ◽  
Health Measures ◽  
Health Authorities ◽  
Public Health Authorities ◽  
And Control ◽  
The Eu

Under Decision 2119/98/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council, a network for epidemiological surveillance and control of communicable diseases in the Community was set up in 1998. One pillar of Decision 2119/98/EC is the early warning and response system (EWRS). The main objective of the network is to establish permanent communication between European Union (EU) Member States’ public health authorities, which are responsible for determining the measures required to control communicable disease-related events. Since 1998, a web based informatics tool has been developed in order to allow information to be shared between the relevant public health authorities. Between 1998 and December 2005, a total of 583 messages were circulated through the EWRS, notifying 396 events. The information shared through the system helped to coordinate public health measures in the EU. However, only few events prompted specific measures at Community level and most of them were controlled with public health measures applied at national level. Major events (such as the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) and the results of simulation exercises prompted the Commission to upgrade the informatics system on the basis of user needs. Since 1 May 2004 the 10 newest Member States have provided information under the current legislation and since April 2005 the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) is part of the system. Future developments will include a link between the existing EWRS and the communication platform currently developed by the ECDC.

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