Epidemiology, Ecology and Prevention of Plague in the West Nile Region of Uganda: The Value of Long-Term Field Studies

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca J. Eisen ◽  
Linda A. Atiku ◽  
Russell E. Enscore ◽  
Joseph T. Mpanga ◽  
Sarah Acayo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Prevention And Control ◽  
Central Africa ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
The West ◽  
West Nile ◽  
Low Incidence ◽  
And Control ◽  
Long Term Studies ◽  
Term Field

Plague, a fleaborne rodent-associated zoonosis, is a neglected disease with most recent cases reported from east and central Africa and Madagascar. Because of its low incidence and sporadic occurrence, most of our knowledge of plague ecology, prevention, and control derives from investigations conducted in response to human cases. Long-term studies (which are uncommon) are required to generate data to support plague surveillance, prevention, and control recommendations. Here we describe a 15-year, multidisciplinary commitment to plague in the West Nile region of Uganda that led to significant advances in our understanding of where and when persons are at risk for plague infection and how to reduce morbidity and mortality. These findings provide data-driven support for several existing recommendations on plague surveillance and prevention and may be generalizable to other plague foci.

scholarly journals What Have Long-Term Field Studies Taught Us About Population Dynamics?

2019 ◽  
Vol 50 (1) ◽  
pp. 261-278 ◽  
Author(s):  
Beth A. Reinke ◽  
David A.W. Miller ◽  
Fredric J. Janzen
Keyword(s):  
Population Dynamics ◽  
Population Biology ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
Model Systems ◽  
Substantial Impact ◽  
Key Characteristics ◽  
Macrosystems Ecology ◽  
Long Term Studies ◽  
Term Field

Long-term studies have been crucial to the advancement of population biology, especially our understanding of population dynamics. We argue that this progress arises from three key characteristics of long-term research. First, long-term data are necessary to observe the heterogeneity that drives most population processes. Second, long-term studies often inherently lead to novel insights. Finally, long-term field studies can serve as model systems for population biology, allowing for theory and methods to be tested under well-characterized conditions. We illustrate these ideas in three long-term field systems that have made outsized contributions to our understanding of population ecology, evolution, and conservation biology. We then highlight three emerging areas to which long-term field studies are well positioned to contribute in the future: ecological forecasting, genomics, and macrosystems ecology. Overcoming the obstacles associated with maintaining long-term studies requires continued emphasis on recognizing the benefits of such studies to ensure that long-term research continues to have a substantial impact on elucidating population biology.

Strengthening of occupational health promotion by the German Prevention Health Care Act

2019 ◽  
pp. 188-190
Author(s):  
Diana Hart
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Health Promotion ◽  
Primary Prevention ◽  
Occupational Health ◽  
Life Expectancy ◽  
Prevention And Control ◽  
Occupational Health Promotion ◽  
And Control

All countries are faced with the problem of the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases (NCD): implement prevention strategies eff ectively, keep up the momentum with long term benefi ts at the individual and the population level, at the same time tackling hea lth inequalities. Th e aff ordability of therapy and care including innovative therapies is going to be one of the key public health priorities in the years to come. Germany has taken in the prevention and control of NCDs. Germany’s health system has a long history of guaranteeing access to high-quality treatment through universal health care coverage. Th r ough their membership people are entitled to prevention and care services maintaining and restoring their health as well as long term follow-up. Like in many other countries general life expectancy has been increasing steadily in Germany. Currently, the average life expectancy is 83 and 79 years in women and men, respectively. Th e other side of the coin is that population aging is strongly associated with a growing burden of disease from NCDs. Already over 70 percent of all deaths in Germany are caused by four disease entities: cardiovascular disease, cancer, chronic respiratory disease and diabetes. Th ese diseases all share four common risk factors: smoking, alcohol abuse, lack of physical activity and overweight. At the same time, more and more people become long term survivors of disease due to improved therapy and care. Th e German Government and public health decision makers are aware of the need for action and have responded by initiating and implementing a wide spectrum of activities. One instrument by strengthening primary prevention is the Prevention Health Care Act. Its overarching aim is to prevent NCDs before they can manifest themselves by strengthening primary prevention and health promotion in diff erent sett ings. One of the main emphasis of the Prevention Health Care Act is the occupational health promotion at the workplace.

scholarly journals Efficacy of Silver Dihydrogen Citrate and Steam Vapor against a Human Norovirus Surrogate, Feline Calicivirus, in Suspension, on Glass, and on Carpet

2018 ◽  
Vol 84 (12) ◽  
Author(s):  
David Buckley ◽  
Muthu Dharmasena ◽  
Angela Fraser ◽  
Charles Pettigrew ◽  
Jeffery Anderson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Prevention And Control ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
Feline Calicivirus ◽  
Human Norovirus ◽  
Disease Symptoms ◽  
Hard Surface ◽  
Color Changes ◽  
The Government ◽  
And Control ◽  
A Current

ABSTRACTCarpets and other soft surfaces have been associated with prolonged and reoccurring human norovirus (HuNoV) outbreaks. Environmental hygiene programs are important to prevent and control HuNoV outbreaks. Despite our knowledge of HuNoV transmission via soft surfaces, no commercially available disinfectants have been evaluated on carpets. Our aim was to adapt a current standardized method for virucidal testing by assessing two disinfection technologies, silver dihydrogen citrate (SDC) and steam vapor, against one HuNoV surrogate, feline calicivirus (FCV), on wool and nylon carpets. First, we evaluated the effect of both technologies on the appearance of carpet. Next, we evaluated the efficacy of SDC in suspension and the efficacy of SDC and steam vapor against FCV on a glass surface, each with and without serum. Lastly, we tested both technologies on two types of carpet, wool and nylon. Both carpets exhibited no obvious color changes; however, SDC treatments left a residue while steam vapor left minor abrasions to fibers. SDC in suspension and on glass reduced FCV by 4.65 log10and >4.66 log10PFU, respectively, but demonstrated reduced efficacy in the presence of serum. However, SDC was only efficacious against FCV on nylon (3.62-log10PFU reduction) and not wool (1.82-log10PFU reduction). Steam vapor reduced FCV by >4.93 log10PFU on glass in 10 s and >3.68 log10PFU on wool and nylon carpet carriers in 90 s. There was a limited reduction of FCV RNA under both treatments compared to that of infectivity assays, but RNA reductions were higher in samples that contained serum.IMPORTANCEHuman noroviruses (HuNoV) account for ca. 20% of all diarrheal cases worldwide. Disease symptoms may include diarrhea and vomit, with both known to contribute to transmission. The prevention and control of HuNoV are difficult because they are environmentally resilient and resistant to many disinfectants. Several field studies have linked both hard and soft surfaces to HuNoV outbreaks. However, many disinfectants efficacious against HuNoV surrogates are recommended for hard surfaces, but no commercially available products have demonstrated efficacy against these surrogates on soft surfaces. Our research objectives were to evaluate liquid and steam-based technologies in suspension and on hard surface carriers in addition to adapting and testing a protocol for assessing the virucidal effects of disinfection technologies on carpet carriers. These results will inform both the government and industry regarding a standard method for evaluating the virucidal effects of disinfectants on carpet while demonstrating their efficacy relative to suspension and hard-surface tests.

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