The Zika Virus Epidemic: Public Health Roles for Nurses

2017 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne Wilson ◽  
Thi Nguyen
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Zika Virus ◽  
Virus Disease ◽  
Health Surveillance ◽  
World Health ◽  
Healthcare Facilities ◽  
Specialized Care ◽  
History Of ◽  
Pan American ◽  
Health Organization

Zika virus has emerged as a health issue of public importance in several countries. Given the increase of congenital anomalies, Guillain-Barré syndrome, and other neurological and autoimmune syndromes, the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization has made recommendations for healthcare facilities related to strengthening capacity and specialized care. Many nurses hold lead positions in health education, health promotion, and health surveillance in the identification, prevention, and management of Zika virus disease. This article briefly describes the history of Zika virus, clinical manifestation, and transmission. Our review examined public health concerns and identified potential strategies and direct responses for nurses. The article summarizes for nurses what is currently known about Zika virus, in the context of several limitations.

scholarly journals Quarantine for Zika Virus? Where is the Science?

2016 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 704-706 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristi L. Koenig
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Zika Virus ◽  
Ebola Virus ◽  
Virus Disease ◽  
Rapid Test ◽  
Signs And Symptoms ◽  
World Health ◽  
Virus Infections ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Spread Of Infection

AbstractIn January 2016, the World Health Organization warned that Zika virus is “spreading explosively” in the Americas and that up to 4 million infections could be present worldwide within a year. Soon thereafter, some politicians and authors publicly advocated for quarantine of travelers returning from regions where mosquitoes carrying Zika virus are prevalent. The public health tool of quarantine can be used to prevent the spread of infection by restricting the movement of persons who have been exposed to a deadly disease that can be transmitted from person to person before symptom onset. With 80% of Zika virus infections being asymptomatic, no rapid test being available to detect the virus, and primary transmission being via the bites of certain mosquitoes, application of quarantine in this setting is not scientifically sound or practically feasible. Rather, public health interventions should focus on preventing bites from infected mosquitoes, counseling pregnant women on the risks of fetal microcephaly and other birth defects, and identifying patients with signs and symptoms of Guillain-Barré syndrome. As was seen in the Ebola virus disease outbreak of 2014, non-evidence-based factors can influence policy decisions. Public health experts must ensure that policy makers are informed that quarantine is not a scientifically sound approach for the control of Zika virus. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2016;0:1–3)

A Framework Convention on Alcohol Control: Getting Concrete about Its Contents

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Robin ROOM ◽  
Jenny CISNEROS ÖRNBERG
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
World Health ◽  
Alcohol Industry ◽  
Alcohol Control ◽  
The World ◽  
Draft Convention ◽  
History Of ◽  
Supplementary Material ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Narcotic Drugs

This article proposes and discusses the text of a Framework Convention on Alcohol Control, which would serve public health and welfare interests. The history of alcohol’s omission from current drug treaties is briefly discussed. The paper spells out what should be covered in the treaty, using text adapted primarily from the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, but for the control of trade from the 1961 narcotic drugs treaty. While the draft provides for the treaty to be negotiated under the auspices of the World Health Organization, other auspices are possible. Excluding alcohol industry interests from the negotiation of the treaty is noted as an important precondition. The articles in the draft treaty and their purposes are briefly described, and the divergences from the tobacco treaty are described and justified. The text of the draft treaty is provided as Supplementary Material. Specification of concrete provisions in a draft convention points the way towards more effective global actions and agreements on alcohol control, whatever form they take.

scholarly journals Public health fault lines in the fight against COVID-19: Lessons from Africa

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 260-262
Author(s):  
Saikou Omar Sillah ◽  
Xu Yihua
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
World Health Organization ◽  
Health Care System ◽  
Virus Disease ◽  
Public Health Emergency ◽  
World Health ◽  
Rapid Spread ◽  
The World ◽  
Health Organization

On 31st December 2019, the World Health Organization (WHO) was notified of a cluster of cases of pneumonia of unknown cause detected in the Wuhan, Hubei Province of China which eventually was named to be the Corona virus disease. In response to the rapid spread of the virus, WHO declared it a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) on 30th January, 2020. As per the quest to recharge the COVID-19 response power, there is seemingly little or no tangible plans to help permanently reorient Africa’s health care system. In the wake of widespread vaccine nationalism, donor countries continue to secure large quantities of vaccines from developers and manufacturers, causing global disparity in access to COVID-19 vaccines.

scholarly journals Malaysia and COVID-19: In Data We Trust

2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (6) ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Kamarul Imran Musa ◽  
Jafri Malin Abdullah
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Public Health Surveillance ◽  
Industrial Revolution ◽  
Health Surveillance ◽  
World Health ◽  
Health Surveillance Data ◽  
The One ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Second Wave ◽  
Health Experts

The recent spike of transmissibility of COVID-19 was evident by a large number of COVID-19 cases and apparent quick spread of SARS-CoV-2 in the state of Sabah, Selangor and Negeri Sembilan in Malaysia. The question remains as to what are the main contributory factors for the impending COVID-19 second wave in Malaysia and why the current surveillance system fails to show signs of the impending second — or the third — COVID-19 wave. In public health surveillance, data are the ultimate indicator, and in the era of big data and the Industrial Revolution 4.0, data has become a valuable commodity. The COVID-19 data keeper must fulfil some criteria to ensure COVID-19 data are useful. Researchers are obligated to share their COVID-19 data responsibly. The surveillance for COVID-19 is paramount, and the guidelines such as the one published by the World Health Organization ‘Public health surveillance for COVID-19: interim guidance’ must be referred to. Data must be taken seriously and shared to enable scientists, clinicians, epidemiologists and public health experts fight COVID-19.

scholarly journals Immunological Assays used to Support Efficacy of Zika Virus Vaccines

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 97
Author(s):  
Kenneth H. Eckels ◽  
Rafael A. De La Barrera ◽  
Joseph Robert Putnak
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Public Sector ◽  
Zika Virus ◽  
Public Health Emergency ◽  
World Health ◽  
Vaccine Candidates ◽  
The World ◽  
Private And Public ◽  
Immunological Assays ◽  
Health Organization

In February of 2016, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared Zika virus (ZIKV) a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. This prompted a rapid response from both the private and public sector resulting in the generation of several promising vaccine candidates. In this review, we discuss published scientific efforts associated with these novel vaccines, emphasizing the immunological assays used to evaluate their immunogenicity and efficacy, and support future licensure.

How do primary community hospitals make early diagnosis of COVID-19:the experience from Chengdu,China (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qin Chen
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Public Hospital ◽  
Municipal Government ◽  
Virus Disease ◽  
Public Health Emergency ◽  
World Health ◽  
Medical Unit ◽  
District Government ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Health Organization

UNSTRUCTURED The outbreak of novel coronavirus pneumonia has been declared a public health emergency of international concern by World Health Organization since January 30, 2020 and the new coronavirus pneumonia was named Corona Virus Disease 2019(COVID-19) in February 11th. Novel coronavirus has been effectively controlled in China, but has spread worldwide and been epidemic in some countries. By March 30th, more than 600 thousand people were confirmed infected in areas other than China, and increased by more than 50 thousand people per day3. Our hospital is a district-level public hospital directly under the Jinniu District Government. Since February 5, our hospital has been listed by the Chengdu Municipal Government as the primary designated medical unit for treating new crown patients in Jinniu District.Recently, how to deal with COVID-19 more effectively and interrupt the transmission has become the concern of medical staff. Now we will share our experience on COVID-19 with you.

scholarly journals Zika Virus: A Review of Management Considerations and Controversies at Six Months

2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 279-284
Author(s):  
Laura Singer ◽  
Kelly G. Vest ◽  
Charles W. Beadling
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Zika Virus ◽  
Disease Surveillance ◽  
Sexual Transmission ◽  
International Health ◽  
World Health ◽  
Neurologic Disorders ◽  
Control Disease ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Health Regulations

AbstractZika virus continues to pose a significant global health threat. While the outbreak pattern may seemingly mirror those of other arboviruses, unique transmission characteristics and clinical outcomes warrant a different approach to traditional public health practices. Sexual transmission and virus-associated fetal and nonfetal neurologic disorders specifically challenge conventional methods of disease protection and prevention with regard to vector control, disease surveillance, and health risk communication. The protocols for outbreak and case limitation led by the World Health Organization (in accordance with Public Health Emergency of International Concern declaration) may be augmented by localized risk categorization and assignment for Zika and future emergent outbreaks. There is currently a great deal of “behind the scenes” discussion about modifications to the formal process described in the International Health Regulations. A scalable, adaptable, and flexible process is needed that can be customized to a specific threat. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2017;11:279–284)

Tuberculosis surveillance and its discontents: the ethical paradox

2020 ◽  
Vol 24 (5) ◽  
pp. 9-14
Author(s):  
R. Bayer ◽  
A. L. Fairchild ◽  
M. Zignol ◽  
K. G. Castro
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Public Health Surveillance ◽  
Ethical Issues ◽  
Human Subjects ◽  
Public Health Practice ◽  
Health Surveillance ◽  
World Health ◽  
Ethical Review ◽  
Health Practice ◽  
Health Organization

In June 2017, the World Health Organization issued the Guidelines on Ethical Issues in Public Health Surveillance. Using the frame of public health ethics, the guidance declared that countries have an affirmative duty to undertake surveillance and that the global community had an obligation to support those countries whose resources limited their capacity. The centrality of TB surveillance has long been recognized as a matter of public health practice and ethics. Nevertheless, contemporary global realities make clear that TB surveillance falls far short of the goal of uniform notification. It is this reality that necessitated the paradoxical turn to research studies that require informed consent and human subjects' ethical review, the very burdens that mandated notification were designed to overcome.

Zika

2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 224-227
Author(s):  
Rabia Aftab
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Zika Virus ◽  
Public Health Emergency ◽  
World Health ◽  
Global Public Health ◽  
Geographic Spread ◽  
The World ◽  
Public Health Threat ◽  
Health Organization

The Zika virus (ZIKV), first discovered in 1947, has emerged as a global public health threat over the last decade, with an accelerated geographic spread of the virus occurring in the last 5 years. The World Health Organization (WHO) predicts that millions of cases of ZIKV are likely to occur in the Americas between 2016 and 2017. These projections, in conjunction with an increase in newborn microcephaly cases that are suspected to be ZIKV-associated, prompted the WHO to declare a public health emergency of international concern in February 2016. With the current media attention, it is likely that GPs will be consulted on th topic, particularly by pregnant women.

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