scholarly journals Epidemic to Pandemic: Just a Matter of Time

2020 ◽  
Vol 34 (4) ◽  
pp. 1-3
Author(s):  
Ayesha Humayun ◽  
Muhammad Imran Anwar ◽  
Saadia Shahzad Alam ◽  
Usman Iqbal
Keyword(s):  
Infectious Diseases ◽  
Influenza A ◽  
Emerging Infectious Diseases ◽  
Ecological Factors ◽  
Emerging Diseases ◽  
Global Public Health ◽  
Emerging Infections ◽  
Corona Virus ◽  
Substantial Risk ◽  
Vector Borne

Epidemic and pandemic potential of all respiratory diseases of zoonotic origin is well known. In recent history global public health threat was inflicted by zoonotic origin infectious diseases with pandemic potential including, Ebola and Marburg haemorrhagic fevers, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), influenza A (H5N1), Middle East respiratory syndrome corona virus (MERSCoV), 1 and the recently discovered COVID-19. Change of epidemic to a pandemic is just a matter of time. A novel Corona virus 2019 (COVID-19) is appearing to be one of the rapidly transmitting diseases because of the social and economic linkages worldwide. Emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) are not new but their incidence or geographical involvement is rapidly increasing. Global temporal and spatial patterns of these emerging infections are studied well in literature concluding significant correlation of EIDs with socio-economic, environmental and ecological factors. It helps to identify regions as ‘hotspots’ for EIDs with a substantial risk of vector-borne and wildlife zoonotic emerging diseases.

scholarly journals Active surveillance of acute paediatric hospitalisations demonstrates the impact of vaccination programmes and informs vaccine policy in Canada and Australia

2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (25) ◽  
Author(s):  
Karina A Top ◽  
Kristine Macartney ◽  
Julie A Bettinger ◽  
Ben Tan ◽  
Christopher C Blyth ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Infectious Diseases ◽  
Active Surveillance ◽  
Influenza A ◽  
Monitoring Program ◽  
Emerging Infectious Diseases ◽  
Emerging Infections ◽  
Public Health Response ◽  
Influenza A H1n1 ◽  
The Impact

Sentinel surveillance of acute hospitalisations in response to infectious disease emergencies such as the 2009 influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 pandemic is well described, but recognition of its potential to supplement routine public health surveillance and provide scalability for emergency responses has been limited. We summarise the achievements of two national paediatric hospital surveillance networks relevant to vaccine programmes and emerging infectious diseases in Canada (Canadian Immunization Monitoring Program Active; IMPACT from 1991) and Australia (Paediatric Active Enhanced Disease Surveillance; PAEDS from 2007) and discuss opportunities and challenges in applying their model to other contexts. Both networks were established to enhance capacity to measure vaccine preventable disease burden, vaccine programme impact, and safety, with their scope occasionally being increased with emerging infectious diseases’ surveillance. Their active surveillance has increased data accuracy and utility for syndromic conditions (e.g. encephalitis), pathogen-specific diseases (e.g. pertussis, rotavirus, influenza), and adverse events following immunisation (e.g. febrile seizure), enabled correlation of biological specimens with clinical context and supported responses to emerging infections (e.g. pandemic influenza, parechovirus, COVID-19). The demonstrated long-term value of continuous, rather than incident-related, operation of these networks in strengthening routine surveillance, bridging research gaps, and providing scalable public health response, supports their applicability to other countries.

scholarly journals GeoSentinel: past, present and future†

2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (8) ◽  
Author(s):  
Davidson H Hamer ◽  
Aisha Rizwan ◽  
David O Freedman ◽  
Phyllis Kozarsky ◽  
Michael Libman
Keyword(s):  
Infectious Diseases ◽  
Virus Disease ◽  
Travel Medicine ◽  
Emerging Infectious Diseases ◽  
Global Network ◽  
Global Public Health ◽  
Emerging Infections ◽  
Surveillance Network ◽  
Sentinel Network ◽  
The Us

Abstract Rationale for review In response to increased concerns about emerging infectious diseases, GeoSentinel, the Global Surveillance Network of the International Society of Travel Medicine in partnership with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), was established in 1995 in order to serve as a global provider-based emerging infections sentinel network, conduct surveillance for travel-related infections and communicate and assist global public health responses. This review summarizes the history, past achievements and future directions of the GeoSentinel Network. Key findings Funded by the US CDC in 1996, GeoSentinel has grown from a group of eight US-based travel and tropical medicine centers to a global network, which currently consists of 68 sites in 28 countries. GeoSentinel has provided important contributions that have enhanced the ability to use destination-specific differences to guide diagnosis and treatment of returning travelers, migrants and refugees. During the last two decades, GeoSentinel has identified a number of sentinel infectious disease events including previously unrecognized outbreaks and occurrence of diseases in locations thought not to harbor certain infectious agents. GeoSentinel has also provided useful insight into illnesses affecting different traveling populations such as migrants, business travelers and students, while characterizing in greater detail the epidemiology of infectious diseases such as typhoid fever, leishmaniasis and Zika virus disease. Conclusions Surveillance of travel- and migration-related infectious diseases has been the main focus of GeoSentinel for the last 25 years. However, GeoSentinel is now evolving into a network that will conduct both research and surveillance. The large number of participating sites and excellent geographic coverage for identification of both common and illnesses in individuals who have traversed international borders uniquely position GeoSentinel to make important contributions of travel-related infectious diseases in the years to come.

scholarly journals Ocular manifestations of emerging viral diseases

Eye ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ashwin Venkatesh ◽  
Ravi Patel ◽  
Simran Goyal ◽  
Timothy Rajaratnam ◽  
Anant Sharma ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Infectious Diseases ◽  
Influenza A ◽  
Emerging Infectious Diseases ◽  
Global Scale ◽  
Viral Diseases ◽  
Valley Fever ◽  
Ocular Manifestations ◽  
Influenza A H1n1 ◽  
Emerging Viral Diseases

AbstractEmerging infectious diseases (EIDs) are an increasing threat to public health on a global scale. In recent times, the most prominent outbreaks have constituted RNA viruses, spreading via droplets (COVID-19 and Influenza A H1N1), directly between humans (Ebola and Marburg), via arthropod vectors (Dengue, Zika, West Nile, Chikungunya, Crimean Congo) and zoonotically (Lassa fever, Nipah, Rift Valley fever, Hantaviruses). However, specific approved antiviral therapies and vaccine availability are scarce, and public health measures remain critical. Patients can present with a spectrum of ocular manifestations. Emerging infectious diseases should therefore be considered in the differential diagnosis of ocular inflammatory conditions in patients inhabiting or returning from endemic territories, and more general vigilance is advisable in the context of a global pandemic. Eye specialists are in a position to facilitate swift diagnosis, improve clinical outcomes, and contribute to wider public health efforts during outbreaks. This article reviews those emerging viral diseases associated with reports of ocular manifestations and summarizes details pertinent to practicing eye specialists.

scholarly journals Emerging infectious disease preparedness and response in healthcare: perspectives from COVID-19 and the role of College-Learnt Microbiology

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 312-321
Author(s):  
J. Tonui ◽  
W. Chepkutto ◽  
J. Rotich
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Infectious Diseases ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Emerging Infectious Diseases ◽  
Microbial Pathogens ◽  
Infection Prevention And Control ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Emerging Infections

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic began in December 2019 in Wuhan City China where it is believed to have been transmitted to humans from an unknown animal species. The public health, social and economic impact of the pandemic world over is detrimental. Health care providers at the frontline in the fight against COVID-19 are at the greatest risk of infection and so far, many have been infected and some have already died from the disease. Thus, it is imperative that healthcare providers have adequate knowledge of infectious diseases and microbial pathogens to comprehend the scale of risk for better recognition and response. Microbiological concepts of infection prevention and control, hand hygiene and aseptic techniques are essential in slowing down the spread of the virus. COVID-19 has proven that infectious agents can emerge from any region in the world and can spread rapidly with ominous consequences to all humanity. This narrative review discusses the role of college-learnt microbiology in health care provider preparedness for emerging infectious diseases in light of the current pandemic. Keywords: Emerging; Infections; Preparedness; Response; Microbiology; COVID-19; Training

scholarly journals New Real-Time PCRs to Differentiate Rickettsia spp. and Rickettsia conorii

Molecules ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (19) ◽  
pp. 4431 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valeria Blanda ◽  
Rosalia D’Agostino ◽  
Elisabetta Giudice ◽  
Kety Randazzo ◽  
Francesco La Russa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Infectious Diseases ◽  
Real Time ◽  
Emerging Infectious Diseases ◽  
Laboratory Diagnosis ◽  
Diagnostic Methods ◽  
Rickettsia Conorii ◽  
Rickettsia Species ◽  
Vector Borne Diseases ◽  
Vector Borne ◽  
Dna Primers

Rickettsia species are an important cause of emerging infectious diseases in people and animals, and rickettsiosis is one of the oldest known vector-borne diseases. Laboratory diagnosis of Rickettsia is complex and time-consuming. This study was aimed at developing two quantitative real-time PCRs targeting ompB and ompA genes for the detection, respectively, of Rickettsia spp. and R. conorii DNA. Primers were designed following an analysis of Rickettsia gene sequences. The assays were optimized using SYBR Green and TaqMan methods and tested for sensitivity and specificity. This study allowed the development of powerful diagnostic methods, able to detect and quantify Rickettsia spp. DNA and differentiate R. conorii species.

The Outline of the “Collaborative Study on Emerging and Re-Emerging Infectious Diseases in Vietnam, Enhancement of Research Capacity”

2014 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 801-806
Author(s):  
Tetsu Yamashiro ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Infectious Diseases ◽  
Clinical Epidemiology ◽  
Collaborative Study ◽  
Emerging Infectious Diseases ◽  
Research Capacity ◽  
Research Station ◽  
Joint Project ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Research Activities ◽  
Vector Borne

The Institute of Tropical Medicine, of Nagasaki University (ITM) and the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Vietnam (NIHE), have been jointly conducting a joint project since 2005 on emerging and reemerging infectious diseases under a grant from the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Technology (MEXT) of Japan. A Vietnam research station established on the NIHE campus has been the site of a number of research activities. Project for clarifying environmental and social factors affecting outbreaks of zoonosis, vector-borne infectious diseases, diarrhoea, and childhood pneumonia have been conducted within a collaborative project framework. Having achieved the goals set or research in the project’s first phase (from 2005 to 2009), the next objectives have been underlined, clarifying the factors and mechanisms causing infectious diseases. Four groups were established to answer these research questions, i.e., diarrhoea, vector-borne disease, clinical epidemiology, and zoonosis. These groups have conducted 15 independent activities. To conduct projects on a higher level, cooperation has been established with three Vietnamese governmental research institutions and with JICA-supported national hospitals. The outcome of such activities is expected to contribute greatly to promoting public health and improving medical care.

scholarly journals Zoonoses: A current issue in contemporary infectology

2007 ◽  
Vol 60 (9-10) ◽  
pp. 441-443 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bozidar Antonijevic ◽  
Nadezda Madle-Samardzija ◽  
Vesna Turkulov ◽  
Grozdana Canak ◽  
Cedomir Gavrancic ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Infectious Diseases ◽  
Parasitic Infections ◽  
Emerging Infections ◽  
Public Health Importance ◽  
Viral Origin ◽  
New Host ◽  
Transmission Mechanisms ◽  
Significant Public Health ◽  
Vector Borne ◽  
Three Stages

Introduction. Animal infectious diseases which can be transmitted to humans are as old as the civilization itself. It is thought that 75% of all human infectious diseases are of zoonotic origin. Zoonoses are of significant public health importance, with major social and economic impact. General facts about zoonoses. Depending on their life cycle, four groups of zoonoses are distinguished: orthozoonoses, cyclozoonoses, metazoonoses and saprozoonoses. Some zoonoses are of bacterial or viral origin, some are caused by rickettsia or chlamydia, others are mycotic or parasitic infections, whereas some are caused by arthropods or prions. Transmission of zoonoses to humans. Three stages are differentiated during the transmission of the causative agent to humans: excretion, presence in the environment and entry into the new host. There are two transmission mechanisms: transmissive (vector-borne) and non-transmissive (fecally-orally). Conclusion. Undoubtedly, new zoonoses will continue to emerge, and that is why we need to take seriously the warning of the Third Congress for the European Society for Emerging Infections "to expect the unexpected." .

scholarly journals Perspectives on the basic reproductive ratio

2005 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 281-293 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.M Heffernan ◽  
R.J Smith ◽  
L.M Wahl
Keyword(s):  
Influenza A ◽  
Epidemiological Data ◽  
Emerging Diseases ◽  
Infectious Period ◽  
Single Individual ◽  
Basic Reproductive Ratio ◽  
Vector Borne Diseases ◽  
True Value ◽  
Secondary Infections ◽  
Vector Borne

The basic reproductive ratio, R 0 , is defined as the expected number of secondary infections arising from a single individual during his or her entire infectious period, in a population of susceptibles. This concept is fundamental to the study of epidemiology and within-host pathogen dynamics. Most importantly, R 0 often serves as a threshold parameter that predicts whether an infection will spread. Related parameters which share this threshold behaviour, however, may or may not give the true value of R 0 . In this paper we give a brief overview of common methods of formulating R 0 and surrogate threshold parameters from deterministic, non-structured models. We also review common means of estimating R 0 from epidemiological data. Finally, we survey the recent use of R 0 in assessing emerging diseases, such as severe acute respiratory syndrome and avian influenza, a number of recent livestock diseases, and vector-borne diseases malaria, dengue and West Nile virus.

scholarly journals Emerging and Re-emerging Vector-Borne Infectious Diseases and the Challenges for Control: A Review

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bayissa Chala ◽  
Feyissa Hamde
Keyword(s):  
Infectious Diseases ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Hemorrhagic Fever ◽  
Emerging Diseases ◽  
West Nile Fever ◽  
Valley Fever ◽  
Vector Borne Diseases ◽  
Vector Borne ◽  
The Many ◽  
Epidemiological Profile

Vector-borne emerging and re-emerging diseases pose considerable public health problem worldwide. Some of these diseases are emerging and/or re-emerging at increasing rates and appeared in new regions in the past two decades. Studies emphasized that the interactions among pathogens, hosts, and the environment play a key role for the emergence or re-emergence of these diseases. Furthermore, social and demographic factors such as human population growth, urbanization, globalization, trade exchange and travel and close interactions with livestock have significantly been linked with the emergence and/or re-emergence of vector-borne diseases. Other studies emphasize the ongoing evolution of pathogens, proliferation of reservoir populations, and antimicrobial drug use to be the principal exacerbating forces for emergence and re-emergence of vector-borne infectious diseases. Still other studies equivocally claim that climate change has been associated with appearance and resurgence of vector-borne infectious diseases. Despite the fact that many important emerging and re-emerging vector-borne infectious diseases are becoming better controlled, our success in stopping the many new appearing and resurging vector-borne infectious diseases that may happen in the future seems to be uncertain. Hence, this paper reviews and synthesizes the existing literature to explore global patterns of emerging and re-emerging vector-borne infections and the challenges for their control. It also attempts to give insights to the epidemiological profile of major vector-borne diseases including Zika fever, dengue, West Nile fever, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, Chikungunya, Yellow fever, and Rift Valley fever.

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