scholarly journals Predicting Spatial Patterns of Sindbis Virus (SINV) Infection Risk in Finland Using Vector, Host and Environmental Data

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (13) ◽  
pp. 7064
Author(s):  
Ruut Uusitalo ◽  
Mika Siljander ◽  
C. Lorna Culverwell ◽  
Guy Hendrickx ◽  
Andreas Lindén ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Sindbis Virus ◽  
Migratory Birds ◽  
Mosquito Species ◽  
Environmental Data ◽  
Public Health Burden ◽  
Environmental Suitability ◽  
Disease Occurrence ◽  
Public Health Officials ◽  
Suitability Maps

Pogosta disease is a mosquito-borne infection, caused by Sindbis virus (SINV), which causes epidemics of febrile rash and arthritis in Northern Europe and South Africa. Resident grouse and migratory birds play a significant role as amplifying hosts and various mosquito species, including Aedes cinereus, Culex pipiens, Cx. torrentium and Culiseta morsitans are documented vectors. As specific treatments are not available for SINV infections, and joint symptoms may persist, the public health burden is considerable in endemic areas. To predict the environmental suitability for SINV infections in Finland, we applied a suite of geospatial and statistical modeling techniques to disease occurrence data. Using an ensemble approach, we first produced environmental suitability maps for potential SINV vectors in Finland. These suitability maps were then combined with grouse densities and environmental data to identify the influential determinants for SINV infections and to predict the risk of Pogosta disease in Finnish municipalities. Our predictions suggest that both the environmental suitability for vectors and the high risk of Pogosta disease are focused in geographically restricted areas. This provides evidence that the presence of both SINV vector species and grouse densities can predict the occurrence of the disease. The results support material for public-health officials when determining area-specific recommendations and deliver information to health care personnel to raise awareness of the disease among physicians.

APPROPRIATE PUBLIC HEALTH RESPONSES TO CLUSTERS: THE ART OF BEING RESPONSIBLY RESPONSIVE

1990 ◽  
Vol 132 (supp1) ◽  
pp. 48-52 ◽  
Author(s):  
ALAN P. BENDER ◽  
ALLAN N. WILLIAMS ◽  
REBECCA A. JOHNSON ◽  
HELEN G. JAGGER
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Epidemiologic Studies ◽  
Disease Clusters ◽  
Public Health Activity ◽  
Department Of Health ◽  
Disease Occurrence ◽  
Additional Data Collection ◽  
Public Health Officials ◽  
Almost All

Abstract Between 1981 and 1988, the Minnesota Department of Health actively responded to over 400 reports from persons concerned about disease occurrence in their community, school, or workplace. Almost all of these reports involved perceived excesses of cases of cancer. Although there is little potential for identifying unsuspected public health problems or developing new etiologic insights, the Minnesota Department of Health has found that responding to reported clusters is a legitimate and necessary public health activity. To be responsibly responsive to these concerns, the Department has developed four steps to prioritize investigation of reported disease clusters, as well as six criteria for determination of the feasibility of environmental epidemiologic investigations. Approximately 95% of all concerns have been handled within the first two steps of this approach, generally requiring only education, or sometimes examination of readily-available data. Less than 5% of the concerns have required additional data collection and evaluation, and only about 1% have resulted in full-scale epidemiologic studies. Successful conclusions at all levels of this process require that public health officials develop effective communication, maintain objectivity, and provide leadership for controversial and difficult issues.

scholarly journals Bioinformatic and cell-based tools for pooled CRISPR knockout screening in mosquitos

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raghuvir Viswanatha ◽  
Enzo Mameli ◽  
Jonathan Rodiger ◽  
Pierre Merckaert ◽  
Fabiana Feitosa-Suntheimer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Cell Lines ◽  
Mosquito Species ◽  
Screening Tools ◽  
Exchange System ◽  
Public Health Burden ◽  
Cassette Exchange ◽  
Health Burden ◽  
Mosquito Cell Lines ◽  
Genome Scale

Mosquito-borne diseases present a worldwide public health burden. Genome-scale screening tools that could inform our understanding of mosquitos and their control are lacking. Here, we adapt a recombination-mediated cassette exchange system for delivery of CRISPR sgRNA libraries into cell lines from several mosquito species and perform pooled CRISPR screens in an Anopheles cell line. To implement this method, we engineered modified mosquito cell lines, validated promoters and developed bioinformatics tools for multiple mosquito species.

Perspectives on Prevention: A Dialogue Between Public Health Officials and Community Psychologists

2002 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven B. Pokorny ◽  
Peter Y. Ji ◽  
Jospeh L. Sherk ◽  
P. Jacob Rebus ◽  
Olga Rabin-Belyaev ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Public Health Officials

Dealing with COVID-19: lessons learned from the Italian experience

Coronaviruses ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 01 ◽  
Author(s):  
Silvana Mirella Aliberti ◽  
Francesco De Caro ◽  
Giovanni Boccia ◽  
Rosario Caruso ◽  
Mario Capunzo
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Coherent System ◽  
Effective Response ◽  
Medical Practitioners ◽  
Italian Experience ◽  
Rapid Spread ◽  
Public Health Officials ◽  
Future Plans

: Italy was the first western nation affected by the pandemic and was observed as a pilot case in the management of the new coronavirus epidemic. The outbreak of COVID-19 disease has been very difficult in Italy, on June 25, 2020 there are 239,821 total cases of which 33,592 deaths nationwide. Three lessons emerged from this experience that can serve as a blueprint to improve future plans for the outbreak of viruses. First, early reports on the spread of COVID-19 can help inform public health officials and medical practitioners in effort to combat its progression; second, inadequate risk assessment related to the urgency of the situation and limited reporting to the virus has led the rapid spread of COVID-19; third, an effective response to the virus had to be undertaken with coherent system of actions and simultaneously.

Communications and Politics

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joshua M. Sharfstein
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Disease Control ◽  
Accurate Information ◽  
Political Judgment ◽  
Political Leaders ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Public Health Crisis ◽  
Control And Prevention ◽  
Public Health Officials ◽  
Centers For Disease Control

An effective communications approach starts with a basic dictum set forth by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: “Be first, be right, be credible.” Agencies must establish themselves as vital sources of accurate information to maintain the public’s trust. At the same time, public health officials must recognize that communications play out in the context of ideological debates, electoral rivalries, and other political considerations. During a public health crisis, this means that health officials often need to constructively engage political leaders in communications and management. Navigating these waters in the middle of a crisis can be treacherous. Figuring out the best way to engage elected leaders is a core aspect of political judgment.

Detection of Flaviviral-Like DNA Sequences in Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) Collected From Argentina

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melisa B Bonica ◽  
Dario E Balcazar ◽  
Ailen Chuchuy ◽  
Jorge A Barneche ◽  
Carolina Torres ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Aedes Aegypti ◽  
Dna Sequences ◽  
Immature Stages ◽  
Public Health Burden ◽  
The Past ◽  
Health Burden ◽  
The World ◽  
Aegypti Genome ◽  
Dengue Epidemics

Abstract Diseases caused by flaviviruses are a major public health burden across the world. In the past decades, South America has suffered dengue epidemics, the re-emergence of yellow fever and St. Louis encephalitis viruses, and the introduction of West Nile and Zika viruses. Many insect-specific flaviviruses (ISFs) that cannot replicate in vertebrate cells have recently been described. In this study, we analyzed field-collected mosquito samples from six different ecoregions of Argentina to detect flaviviruses. We did not find any RNA belonging to pathogenic flaviviruses or ISFs in adults or immature stages. However, flaviviral-like DNA similar to flavivirus NS5 region was detected in 83–100% of Aedes aegypti (L.). Despite being previously described as an ancient element in the Ae. aegypti genome, the flaviviral-like DNA sequence was not detected in all Ae. aegypti samples and sequences obtained did not form a monophyletic group, possibly reflecting the genetic diversity of mosquito populations in Argentina.

Tuberculosis and notifiable skin diseases amongst a representative cohort of refugees in Germany (2014–16)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick D Dissmann ◽  
Felix Koehring ◽  
Florian Fischer
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Infectious Diseases ◽  
Skin Diseases ◽  
Absolute Number ◽  
Federal State ◽  
Head Lice ◽  
Public Health Burden ◽  
Health Burden ◽  
Representative Cohort ◽  
Screening Result

Abstract Until now, systematic surveillance for infectious diseases in refugees is still missing. For that reason, this study aims at illustrating the prevalence of tuberculosis (TB) and notifiable skin diseases in a representative cohort of refugees in Lippe, a district of the federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. We collected data on notifiable communicable diseases (TB, scabies, and head lice) from refugees (n = 8946) based on a medical screening after their arrival from October 2014 until May 2016. Data were analysed using descriptive and bivariate methods. Overall, we found 63 of 8764 screened refugees to have an abnormal TB screening result (0.72%). Of 8946 screened refugees, only 51 individuals were found to have scabies (0.57%) and a further 49 were tested positive for head lice (0.55%). The absolute number of TB cases indicate only a moderate public health burden. However, communicable skin diseases can become a problem in crowded holding camps, where they can cause local outbreaks.

Postexposure Interventions to Prevent Infection With HBV, HCV, or HIV, and Tetanus in People Wounded During Bombings and Other Mass Casualty Events—United States, 2008: Recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness

2008 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 150-165 ◽  
Author(s):  
Louisa E. Chapman ◽  
Ernest E. Sullivent ◽  
Lisa A. Grohskopf ◽  
Elise M. Beltrami ◽  
Joseph F. Perz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Disease Control ◽  
Emergency Response ◽  
Mass Casualty ◽  
Acute Injury ◽  
Mass Casualties ◽  
Public Health Preparedness ◽  
Mass Casualty Event ◽  
Public Health Officials ◽  
Centers For Disease Control

ABSTRACTPeople wounded during bombings or other events resulting in mass casualties or in conjunction with the resulting emergency response may be exposed to blood, body fluids, or tissue from other injured people and thus be at risk for bloodborne infections such as hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, human immunodeficiency virus, or tetanus. This report adapts existing general recommendations on the use of immunization and postexposure prophylaxis for tetanus and for occupational and nonoccupational exposures to bloodborne pathogens to the specific situation of a mass casualty event. Decisions regarding the implementation of prophylaxis are complex, and drawing parallels from existing guidelines is difficult. For any prophylactic intervention to be implemented effectively, guidance must be simple, straightforward, and logistically undemanding. Critical review during development of this guidance was provided by representatives of the National Association of County and City Health Officials, the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists, and representatives of the acute injury care, trauma, and emergency response medical communities participating in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Terrorism Injuries: Information, Dissemination and Exchange project. The recommendations contained in this report represent the consensus of US federal public health officials and reflect the experience and input of public health officials at all levels of government and the acute injury response community. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2008;2:150–165)

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