Summary of 11 Years of Enteric Outbreak Investigations and Criteria To Initiate an Investigation, Province of Quebec, 2002 through 2012

2014 ◽  
Vol 77 (9) ◽  
pp. 1563-1570 ◽  
Author(s):  
COLETTE GAULIN ◽  
ANDREA CURRIE ◽  
GENEVIÈVE GRAVEL ◽  
MEGHAN HAMEL ◽  
MARIE-ANDREE LEBLANC ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Odds Ratio ◽  
Control Measure ◽  
Descriptive Analysis ◽  
Disease Outbreaks ◽  
Disease Outbreak ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Primary Control ◽  
Enteric Disease ◽  
Health Authorities ◽  
Outbreak Investigations

This article presents a retrospective analysis of enteric disease outbreak investigations led by or conducted in collaboration with provincial health authorities in the Province of Quebec from 2002 through 2012. Objectives were to characterize enteric disease outbreaks, quantify and describe those for which a source was identified (including the control measures implemented), identify factors that contributed to or impeded identification of the source, and recommend areas for improvement in outbreak investigations (including establishment of criteria to initiate investigations). A descriptive analysis of enteric disease outbreak summaries recorded in a provincial database since 2002 was conducted, and corresponding outbreak reports were reviewed. Among 61 enteric disease outbreaks investigated, primary pathogens involved were Salmonella (46%), Escherichia coli O157:H7 (25%), and Listeria monocytogenes (13%). Sources were identified for 37 (61%) of 61 of the outbreaks, and descriptive studies were sufficient to identify the source for 26 (70%) of these. During the descriptive phase of the investigation, the causes of 21 (81%) of 26 outbreaks were identified by promptly collecting samples of suspected foods based on case interviews. Causes of outbreaks were more likely to be detected by weekly surveillance or alert systems (odds ratio = 6.0, P = 0.04) than by serotyping or molecular typing surveillance and were more likely to be associated with a common event or location (odds ratio = 11.0, P = 0.023). Among the 37 outbreaks for which causes were identified, 24 (65%) were associated with contaminated food, and recalls were the primary control measure implemented (54%). Review of enteric outbreaks investigated at the provincial level in Québec has increased the province's ability to quantify success and identify factors that can promote success. Multiple criteria should be taken into account to identify case clusters that are more likely to be resolved.

scholarly journals Sero Prevalence of Virus-neutralizing Antibodies for Rabies in Street Dogs of Kathmandu Valley, Nepal

2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 268-272
Author(s):  
Shikha Rimal ◽  
Krishna C. Ojha ◽  
Yogendra Shah ◽  
Dhan K. Pant
Keyword(s):  
Neutralizing Antibodies ◽  
Control Measure ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Primary Control ◽  
Global Public Health ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Canine Population ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Adequate Coverage

Introduction: Rabies is a vaccine-preventable viral zoonotic disease that remains a serious global public health concern. Rabies vaccination with adequate coverage of the canine population has been shown to control rabies outbreaks among canines and to prevent the transmission of rabies from dogs to humans. As vaccination is the primary control measure for rabies, it is important to determine the level of anti-rabies antibodies in animals in order to determine the effectiveness of the control measures being implemented. Materials & Methods: Blood samples were collected from 50 street dogs (August 2016 to December 2016) in Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Lalitpur districts. Rabies sero-conversion on the separated serum was quantified using PlateliaTM Rabies II Kit (Bio-Rad, China) according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. Results: Eighty percent (40/50) of the serum samples surpassed the requested level of rabies antibodies, suggesting good coverage of vaccination among street dogs. Conclusion: However, an active dog surveillance system with a dog registration process before and after vaccination campaigns, and a multi-dimensional approach including all stakeholders, are necessary to eradicate rabies from the canine population in Nepal.

Using Risk Based Decision Making to Select Personal Protective Equipment for Oil Spill Responders

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 (1) ◽  
pp. 1659-1667
Author(s):  
Laura Hartline Weems ◽  
John T. Husum ◽  
Val Garner
Keyword(s):  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Work Environment ◽  
Oil Spill ◽  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Control Measure ◽  
American Petroleum Institute ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Primary Control ◽  
Selection Of

ABSTRACT Typically, personal protective equipment (PPE) is the primary control measure employed during emergency response operations. PPE and administrative controls rise to the forefront of oil spill response activities due to inherent delays and feasibility issues involved in the implementation of effective engineering controls. Response organizations, possibly due to a failure to assess the hazards appropriately, overprescribe PPE in an attempt to ensure both compliance and protection; however, this approach may actually increase the risk of injury or illness. Choosing and implementing PPE as a response control measure is never a “one-size-fits- all” solution. The proper selection of PPE requires a risk assessment that takes into account the responders, working conditions, tasks and their associated hazards. Moreover, as the work and conditions change, a reassessment is necessary. This paper outlines a summary of the methodology for conducting an evaluation of the conditions and choosing the appropriate PPE by assessing the hazards associated with the work environment. The process consists of a Job Hazard Analysis (JHA) combined with a Risk Assessment (RA) in order to develop a complete Job Safety Analysis (JSA). Oftentimes, the JHA is done without the RA leading to the inappropriate selection of PPE as the JHA alone does not consider the potential hazards created by the use of PPE. Additionally, as the work, environment, or responder conditions change, or if there is an indication that the control measures are not working as intended (e.g., several responders have heat-related injuries), the JSA process is repeated to ensure that control measures are still current and effective. This methodology will create an effective PPE program by 1) ensuring that the selected PPE is the best suited for that particular job; 2) attempting to reduce responder discomfort; 3) potentially reducing waste and disposal of PPE; and 4) maximizing responder efficiency and effectiveness by avoiding unnecessary stress. All of this information and support appendices have been published by the American Petroleum Institute (API) in a document titled: Recommended Practice 98, Personal Protective Equipment Selection for Oil Spill Responders (2013) available through API at: http://www.techstreet.com/api/products/1862449.

Complaints of Foodborne Illness in San Francisco, California, 1998

2001 ◽  
Vol 64 (8) ◽  
pp. 1261-1264 ◽  
Author(s):  
MICHAEL C. SAMUEL ◽  
DIANE PORTNOY ◽  
ROB V. TAUXE ◽  
FRED J. ANGULO ◽  
DUC J. VUGIA
Keyword(s):  
San Francisco ◽  
Communicable Disease ◽  
Disease Outbreaks ◽  
Control Unit ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Disease Outbreak ◽  
Foodborne Illness ◽  
Surveillance Systems ◽  
Foodborne Disease ◽  
Health Authorities

Foodborne diseases are an important public problem affecting millions of Americans each year and resulting in substantial morbidity and mortality. Many foodborne infections occur in outbreak settings. Outbreaks are often detected by complaints from the public to health authorities. This report reviews complaints received by the San Francisco Department of Public Health involving suspected foodborne illness in 1998. Although such foodborne complaints are commonly received by health officials, we provide the first review of population-based data describing such complaints. We use a broad definition of a foodborne disease outbreak. We judged a complaint to be a “likely foodborne disease outbreak” if it involved more than one person and more than one family; no other common meals were shared recently by ill persons; diarrhea, vomiting, or both was reported; and the incubation period was more than one hour. In 1998, 326 complaints of foodborne illness, involving a total of 599 ill people, were received by the Communicable Disease Control Unit in San Francisco. The complaints involved from 1 to 36 ill persons, with 61% involving one ill person and 25% involving two ill persons. Of the 126 reports involving illness in more than one person, 77 (61%) were judged to be likely foodborne disease outbreaks. Three of these 77 outbreaks had been investigated prior to our review. This project confirms that more foodborne disease outbreaks occur than are reported to state and national outbreak surveillance systems. Our review of the San Francisco system highlights opportunities for gleaning valuable information from the foodborne disease complaint systems in place in most jurisdictions.

scholarly journals Foodborne disease outbreaks in Barbados (1998-2009): a 12-year review

2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (01) ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carol Hull-Jackson ◽  
Abiodun A Adesiyun
Keyword(s):  
Salmonella Enteritidis ◽  
Phage Type ◽  
Disease Outbreaks ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Foodborne Disease ◽  
Indicator Organisms ◽  
Safety Control ◽  
Outbreak Investigations ◽  
Production Practices

Introduction: Microbes such as Salmonella, Campylobacter and S. aureus have been implicated in Foodborne disease outbreaks (FBDOs) worldwide, yet information on their occurrence in Barbados is scanty. The purpose of this study was to determine the aetiological agents, food vehicles, locations and peak seasons of FBDOs in Barbados; assess the quality of epidemiological investigations; and identify deficiencies in food production practices and laboratory detection. Methodology: A search of FBDOs occurring in Barbados between 1998-2009 was conducted among published and unpublished literature sources and reports. The search terms included the keywords “foodborne disease,” “outbreaks” and “Barbados”. Results: During the period 1998 to 2009, there were 24 foodborne outbreaks, 215 cases of illness, one hospitalisation and no deaths. Overall, 37.5% of outbreaks were associated with hotels/resorts. Salmonella Enteritidis phage type 8 was most commonly implicated with eggs and poultry being the primary vehicles. Three outbreak reports were available for assessment and revealed that there were deficiencies in the outbreak investigations. These reports also recorded high levels of food contamination with indicator organisms, suggesting that improvements in food hygiene and production practices were required. Conclusions: The number of FBDOs is low in comparison to developed countries. However, the data was likely affected by under-reporting and inadequacies in the outbreak investigations and laboratory detection. Improvements in these areas would lead to not only better detection and characterisation of FBDOs in Barbados but improved food safety control measures.

scholarly journals Discernment between deliberate and natural infectious disease outbreaks

2006 ◽  
Vol 135 (3) ◽  
pp. 353-371 ◽  
Author(s):  
Z. F. DEMBEK ◽  
M. G. KORTEPETER ◽  
J. A. PAVLIN
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Infectious Disease ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Disease Outbreaks ◽  
Historical Events ◽  
Accidental Release ◽  
Infectious Disease Outbreaks ◽  
Health Authorities ◽  
Public Health Authorities ◽  
Outbreak Investigations

Public health authorities should be vigilant to the potential for outbreaks deliberately caused by biological agents (bioterrorism). Such events require a rapid response and incorporation of non-traditional partners for disease investigation and outbreak control. The astute application of infectious disease epidemiological principles can promote an enhanced index of suspicion for such events. We discuss epidemiological indicators that should be considered during outbreak investigations, and also examine their application during bioterrorism incidents, an accidental release of an agent, outbreaks of infections that were alleged to have been deliberately initiated, and a model scenario. The Grunow & Finke epidemiological assessment tool is used to examine these historical events and the model scenario. The results received from this analysis, coupled with an understanding of epidemiological clues to unnatural events, and knowledge of how to manage such events, can aid in the improved response and resolution of epidemics.

Characterizing the effectiveness of COVID-19 mitigation measures: A data-centric approach (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lukman Olagoke ◽  
Ahmet E. Topcu
Keyword(s):  
Control Measure ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
World Health ◽  
Mitigation Measures ◽  
Effective Control ◽  
The World ◽  
Decision Making Processes ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
The Impact

BACKGROUND COVID-19 represents a serious threat to both national health and economic systems. To curb this pandemic, the World Health Organization (WHO) issued a series of COVID-19 public safety guidelines. Different countries around the world initiated different measures in line with the WHO guidelines to mitigate and investigate the spread of COVID-19 in their territories. OBJECTIVE The aim of this paper is to quantitatively evaluate the effectiveness of these control measures using a data-centric approach. METHODS We begin with a simple text analysis of coronavirus-related articles and show that reports on similar outbreaks in the past strongly proposed similar control measures. This reaffirms the fact that these control measures are in order. Subsequently, we propose a simple performance statistic that quantifies general performance and performance under the different measures that were initiated. A density based clustering of based on performance statistic was carried out to group countries based on performance. RESULTS The performance statistic helps evaluate quantitatively the impact of COVID-19 control measures. Countries tend show variability in performance under different control measures. The performance statistic has negative correlation with cases of death which is a useful characteristics for COVID-19 control measure performance analysis. A web-based time-line visualization that enables comparison of performances and cases across continents and subregions is presented. CONCLUSIONS The performance metric is relevant for the analysis of the impact of COVID-19 control measures. This can help caregivers and policymakers identify effective control measures and reduce cases of death due to COVID-19. The interactive web visualizer provides easily digested and quick feedback to augment decision-making processes in the COVID-19 response measures evaluation. CLINICALTRIAL Not Applicable

scholarly journals Using Commercial Compost as Control Measures against Cucumber Root-Rot Disease

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kamel Kamal Sabet ◽  
Magdy Mohamed Saber ◽  
Mohamed Adel-Aziz El-Naggar ◽  
Nehal Samy El-Mougy ◽  
Hatem Mohamed El-Deeb ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Root Rot ◽  
Control Measure ◽  
Disease Incidence ◽  
Pathogenic Fungi ◽  
Pythium Ultimum ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Infested Soil ◽  
Fungal Isolates ◽  
Cucumber Root

Five commercial composts were evaluated to suppress the root-rot pathogens (Fusarium solani (Mart.) App. and Wr, Pythium ultimum Trow, Rhizoctonia solani Kuhn, and Sclerotium rolfsii Sacc.) of cucumber plants under in vitro and greenhouse conditions. In vitro tests showed that all tested unautoclaved and unfiltrated composts water extracts (CWEs) had inhibitor effect against pathogenic fungi, compared to autoclaved and filtrated ones. Also, the inhibitor effects of 40 bacteria and 15 fungi isolated from composts were tested against the mycelial growth of cucumber root-rot pathogens. Twenty two bacteria and twelve fungal isolates had antagonistic effect against root-rot pathogens. The antagonistic fungal isolates were identified as 6 isolates belong to the genus Aspergillus spp., 5 isolates belong to the genus Penicillium spp. and one isolate belong to the genus Chaetomium spp. Under greenhouse conditions, the obtained results in pot experiment using artificial infested soil with cucumber root-rot pathogens showed that the compost amended soil reduced the percentage of disease incidence, pathogenic fungi population, and improved the cucumber vegetative parameters as shoot length, root length, fresh weight, and dry weight. These results suggested that composts are consequently considered as control measure against cucumber root-rot pathogens.

Abstract TP251: Onset-to-Door Times and Means of Transportation for Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients Attending a Public Hospital in Bogota DC, Colombia. Is an Ambulance the Fastest Way to Reach the Hospital?

Stroke ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 47 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Javier Vicini-Parra ◽  
Jenny Ospina ◽  
Cristian Correa ◽  
Natalia Gomez ◽  
Stephania Bohorquez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ischemic Stroke ◽  
Acute Ischemic Stroke ◽  
Public Transportation ◽  
Public Hospital ◽  
Descriptive Analysis ◽  
First Year ◽  
Stroke Patients ◽  
Health Authorities ◽  
Public Health Authorities ◽  
Ischemic Attack

Introduction: A prospective stroke database was implemented as part of a still-growing comprehensive stroke centre (CSC). This CSC is located within a referral public hospital (Hospital Occidente de Kennedy) in Bogota DC, Colombia , that serves 2.3 million people of mainly low economic income. In this abstract, we present the data pertaining patients who were thrombolysed in our institution during the first year of data collection, and specify onset-to-door (OTD) times as they relate to the means of transportation used. Hypothesis: Acute stroke patients who arrive in ambulance have the shortest onset-to-door times. Methods: Printed forms were filled for every patient who arrived with diagnosis of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) or transient ischemic attack (TIA). Data was transcribed to an electronic database (Numbers, Apple Inc.) and analyzed with SPSS Statistics version 23 (IBM Corporation). A retrospective descriptive analysis was performed for central tendency and dispersion measures. Results: Since August 1st 2014 until July 31st 2015, 39 patients (17.7% of AIS patients) were thrombolysed. Mean onset-to-door times are shown in table 1. Prenotification was received for only 1 patient. All patients came from their homes. Conclusions: Almost half of our thrombolysed patients arrived in taxi to our institution. Taxi was the fastest means of transportation, ambulance was the slowest and private cars were in the middle of those. This confirmed our suspicion that the state-owned emergency medical services (SEMD) are suboptimal and that stroke patients prefer to use public transportation rather than SEMD. This should warn public health authorities on he urgent need to improve our SEMD. In the meantime, this finding prompts us to include taxi drivers in our periodic stroke campaigns.

Control (supervisory) measures: innovations of Federal Law “On State Control (Supervision) and Municipal Control in the Russian Federation”

2021 ◽  
pp. 25-32
Author(s):  
O.V. Shinkareva ◽  
V.A. Dikikh
Keyword(s):  
Russian Federation ◽  
Control Measure ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
State Control ◽  
Federal Law ◽  
Field Inspection ◽  
Control Actions ◽  
The Russian Federation

The article is devoted to the analysis of the types of control measures that will be carried out in accordance with Federal Law No. 248-FZ of the “On State Control (Supervision) and Municipal Control in the Russian Federation”, the main provisions of which will enter into force on July 1, 2021. This law also applies to the activities of organizations that are subject to licensing. Types of control (supervisory) measures are considered, in particular, control and monitoring procurement, inspection visit, raid inspection, documentary and field inspection, as well as monitoring compliance with mandatory requirements and field examination. The essence of each type of control measure, the basis for carrying out the measures, control actions that can be used in their implementation are analyzed.

scholarly journals Temporal Evolution of Immunity Distributions in a Population with Waning and Boosting

Complexity ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
M. V. Barbarossa ◽  
M. Polner ◽  
G. Röst
Keyword(s):  
Mathematical Model ◽  
Steady State ◽  
Temporal Evolution ◽  
Disease Outbreaks ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Coupled System ◽  
Disease Outbreak ◽  
Periodic Disease ◽  
Evolution Of Immunity

We investigate the temporal evolution of the distribution of immunities in a population, which is determined by various epidemiological, immunological, and demographical phenomena: after a disease outbreak, recovered individuals constitute a large immune population; however, their immunity is waning in the long term and they may become susceptible again. Meanwhile, their immunity can be boosted by repeated exposure to the pathogen, which is linked to the density of infected individuals present in the population. This prolongs the length of their immunity. We consider a mathematical model formulated as a coupled system of ordinary and partial differential equations that connects all these processes and systematically compare a number of boosting assumptions proposed in the literature, showing that different boosting mechanisms lead to very different stationary distributions of the immunity at the endemic steady state. In the situation of periodic disease outbreaks, the waveforms of immunity distributions are studied and visualized. Our results show that there is a possibility to infer the boosting mechanism from the population level immune dynamics.

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