Outbreak Medical Mapping and the U.S. Nickel Epidemic: It Is Time to Implement Control and Prevention Measures

The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention considers saliva contact the lead transmission mean of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which causes the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Saliva droplets or aerosols expelled by sneezing, coughing, breathing, and talking may carry this virus. People in close distance may be exposed directly to these droplets or indirectly when touching the droplets that fall on surrounding surfaces and ending up contracting COVID-19 after touching the mucosa tissue of their faces. It is of great interest to quickly and effectively detect the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in an environment, but the existing methods only work in laboratory settings, to the best of our knowledge. However, it may be possible to detect the presence of saliva in the environment and proceed with prevention measures. However, detecting saliva itself has not been documented in the literature. On the other hand, many sensors that detect different organic components in saliva to monitor a person’s health and diagnose different diseases, ranging from diabetes to dental health, have been proposed and they may be used to detect the presence of saliva. This paper surveys sensors that detect organic and inorganic components of human saliva. Humidity sensors are also considered in the detection of saliva because a large portion of saliva is water. Moreover, sensors that detect infectious viruses are also included as they may also be embedded into saliva sensors for a confirmation of the presence of the virus. A classification of sensors by their working principles and the substances they detect is presented, including the sensors’ specifications, sample size, and sensitivity. Indications of which sensors are portable and suitable for field application are presented. This paper also discusses future research and challenges that must be resolved to realize practical saliva sensors. Such sensors may help minimize the spread of not only COVID-19 but also other infectious diseases.

Download Full-text

Cutaneous anthrax outbreak associated with handling dead animals, Rhino Camp sub-county: Arua District, Uganda, January–May 2018

One Health Outlook ◽

10.1186/s42522-021-00040-z ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 3 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Vivian Ntono ◽

Daniel Eurien ◽

Lilian Bulage ◽

Daniel Kadobera ◽

Julie Harris ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Workers ◽

Clinical Sample ◽

Health Centre ◽

Skin Lesions ◽

Suspected Case ◽

Prevention Measures ◽

Multiple Exposures ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Control And Prevention ◽

Cutaneous Anthrax

Abstract Background On 18 January 2018 a 40 year old man presented with skin lesions at Rhino Camp Health Centre. A skin lesion swab was collected on 20 January 2018 and was confirmed by PCR at Uganda Virus Research Institute on 21 January 2018. Subsequently, about 9 persons were reported to have fallen ill after reporting contact with livestock that died suddenly. On 9 February 2018, Arua District notified Uganda Ministry of Health of a confirmed anthrax outbreak among humans in Rhino Camp sub-county. We investigated to determine the scope and mode of transmission and exposures associated with identified anthrax to guide control and prevention measures. Methods We defined a suspected cutaneous anthrax case as onset of skin lesions (e.g., papule, vesicle, or eschar) in a person residing in Rhino Camp sub-county, Arua District from 25 December 2017 to 31 May 2018. A confirmed case was a suspected case with PCR-positivity for Bacillus anthracis from a clinical sample. We identified cases by reviewing medical records at Rhino Camp Health Centre. We also conducted additional case searches in the affected community with support from Community Health Workers. In a retrospective cohort study, we interviewed all members of households in which at least one person had contact with the carcasses of or meat from animals suspected to have died of anthrax. We collected and tested hides of implicated animals using an anthrax rapid diagnostic test. Results We identified 14 case-patients (1 confirmed, 13 suspected); none died. Only males were affected (affected proportion: 12/10,000). Mean age of case-persons was 33 years (SD: 22). The outbreak lasted for 5 months, from January 2018–May 2018, peaking in February. Skinning (risk ratio = 2.7, 95% CI = 1.1–6.7), dissecting (RR = 3.0, 95% CI = 1.2–7.6), and carrying dead animals (RR = 2.7, 95% CI = 1.1–6.7) were associated with increased risk of illness, as were carrying dissected parts of animals (RR = 2.9, 95% CI 1.3–6.5) and preparing and cooking the meat (RR = 2.3, 95% CI 0.9–5.9). We found evidence of animal remains on pastureland. Conclusion Multiple exposures to the hides and meat of animals that died suddenly were associated with this cutaneous anthrax outbreak in Arua District. We recommended public education about safe disposal of carcasses of livestock that die suddenly.

Download Full-text

Migrants’ Quarantine and COVID-19 Pandemic in Italy: a Medico-anthropological View

SN Comprehensive Clinical Medicine ◽

10.1007/s42399-021-00993-2 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Silvia Di Meo ◽

Enrico Bentivegna

Keyword(s):

Risk Factor ◽

Global Health ◽

Infection Control ◽

Social Inequalities ◽

Patient Relationship ◽

Prevention Measures ◽

Cultural Aspects ◽

Health Response ◽

Control And Prevention ◽

Infection Control And Prevention

AbstractThe COVID-19 pandemic represents an important risk factor for migrants’ health. Paul Farmer highlighted the risk of global health response in emergency conditions exacerbating global and social inequalities. We argue that this is the case for quarantine ships and migrants’ management during the pandemic. Every aspect of infection-control and prevention measures acquires detention characteristics in these situations. With emphasis to the evolution of the doctor-patient relationship and to the anthropological and cultural aspects that were established during the pandemic, this article aims to provide an integrated view where physicians and anthropologists collaborate to deepen the understanding of the topic.

Download Full-text

Tracking U.S. Pertussis Incidence: Correlation of Public Health Surveillance and Google Search Data Varies by State

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-019-56385-z ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Christopher H. Arehart ◽

Michael Z. David ◽

Vanja Dukic

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Linear Models ◽

State Level ◽

Individual State ◽

Control And Prevention ◽

Search Data ◽

State Models ◽

Uniform Manner ◽

Google Search ◽

The U.S

AbstractThe Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Reports of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention document a raw proxy for counts of pertussis cases in the U.S., and the Project Tycho (PT) database provides an improved source of these weekly data. These data are limited because of reporting delays, variation in state-level surveillance practices, and changes over time in diagnosis methods. We aim to assess whether Google Trends (GT) search data track pertussis incidence relative to PT data and if sociodemographic characteristics explain some variation in the accuracy of state-level models. GT and PT data were used to construct auto-correlation corrected linear models for pertussis incidence in 2004–2011 for the entire U.S. and each individual state. The national model resulted in a moderate correlation (adjusted R2 = 0.2369, p < 0.05), and state models tracked PT data for some but not all states. Sociodemographic variables explained approximately 30% of the variation in performance of individual state-level models. The significant correlation between GT models and public health data suggests that GT is a potentially useful pertussis surveillance tool. However, the variable accuracy of this tool by state suggests GT surveillance cannot be applied in a uniform manner across geographic sub-regions.

Download Full-text

Food Worker Experiences with and Beliefs about Working While Ill†

Journal of Food Protection ◽

10.4315/0362-028x.jfp-13-128 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 76 (12) ◽

pp. 2146-2154 ◽

Cited By ~ 27

Author(s):

L. RAND CARPENTER ◽

ALICE L. GREEN ◽

DAWN M. NORTON ◽

ROBERTA FRICK ◽

MELISSA TOBIN-D'ANGELO ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Disease Control ◽

Environmental Health ◽

Foodborne Pathogens ◽

Work Experience ◽

Job Loss ◽

Foodborne Illness ◽

Job Responsibilities ◽

Control And Prevention ◽

Food Workers ◽

The U.S

Transmission of foodborne pathogens from ill food workers to diners in restaurants is an important cause of foodborne illness outbreaks. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommends that food workers with vomiting or diarrhea (symptoms of foodborne illness) be excluded from work. To understand the experiences and characteristics of workers who work while ill, workplace interviews were conducted with 491 food workers from 391 randomly selected restaurants in nine states that participated in the Environmental Health Specialists Network of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Almost 60% of workers recalled working while ill at some time. Twenty percent of workers said that they had worked while ill with vomiting or diarrhea for at least one shift in the previous year. Factors significantly related to workers having said that they had worked while ill with vomiting or diarrhea were worker sex, job responsibilities, years of work experience, concerns about leaving coworkers short staffed, and concerns about job loss. These findings suggest that the decision to work while ill with vomiting or diarrhea is complex and multifactorial.

Download Full-text

Retail Deli Slicer Inspection Practices: An EHS-Net Study

Journal of Food Protection ◽

10.4315/0362-028x.jfp-17-407 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 81 (5) ◽

pp. 799-805 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

LAUREN E. LIPCSEI ◽

LAURA G. BROWN ◽

E. RICKAMER HOOVER ◽

BRENDA V. FAW ◽

NICOLE HEDEEN ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Food Industry ◽

The United States ◽

Cross Contamination ◽

Prevention Strategies ◽

Assessment Data ◽

Worker Training ◽

The Third ◽

Control And Prevention ◽

Retail Food ◽

The U.S

ABSTRACT The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 3,000 people die in the United States each year from foodborne illness, and Listeria monocytogenes causes the third highest number of deaths. Risk assessment data indicate that L. monocytogenes contamination of particularly delicatessen meats sliced at retail is a significant contributor to human listeriosis. Mechanical deli slicers are a major source of L. monocytogenes cross-contamination and growth. In an attempt to prevent pathogen cross-contamination and growth, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) created guidance to promote good slicer cleaning and inspection practices. The CDC's Environmental Health Specialists Network conducted a study to learn more about retail deli practices concerning these prevention strategies. The present article includes data from this study on the frequency with which retail delis met the FDA recommendation that slicers should be inspected each time they are properly cleaned (defined as disassembling, cleaning, and sanitizing the slicer every 4 h). Data from food worker interviews in 197 randomly selected delis indicate that only 26.9% of workers (n = 53) cleaned and inspected their slicers at this frequency. Chain delis and delis that serve more than 300 customers on their busiest day were more likely to have properly cleaned and inspected slicers. Data also were collected on the frequency with which delis met the FDA Food Code provision that slicers should be undamaged. Data from observations of 685 slicers in 298 delis indicate that only 37.9% of delis (n = 113) had slicers that were undamaged. Chain delis and delis that provide worker training were more likely to have slicers with no damage. To improve slicer practices, food safety programs and the retail food industry may wish to focus on worker training and to focus interventions on independent and smaller delis, given that these delis were less likely to properly inspect their slicers and to have undamaged slicers.

Download Full-text

Evidence-Based Update to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee Guideline for the Prevention of Surgical Site Infection: Developmental Process

Surgical Infections ◽

10.1089/sur.2015.264 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 17 (2) ◽

pp. 256-261 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Sandra I. Berríos-Torres

Keyword(s):

Infection Control ◽

Surgical Site Infection ◽

Disease Control ◽

Advisory Committee ◽

Developmental Process ◽

Evidence Based ◽

Site Infection ◽

Control And Prevention ◽

Centers For Disease Control ◽

The U.S

Download Full-text

SARS-CoV-2 screening prevalence in educational staff in Berlin, Germany, June-December 2020

10.1101/2021.05.19.21257452 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Sophia Kindzierski ◽

Welmoed van Loon ◽

Johanna Theuring ◽

Franziska Hommes ◽

Eberhard Thombansen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Infection Prevalence ◽

Occupational Hazards ◽

Prevention Measures ◽

School Settings ◽

Occupational Risks ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Control And Prevention ◽

Educational Staff ◽

Infection Control And Prevention ◽

Pandemic Wave

SARS-CoV-2 infections in childcare and school settings potentially bear occupational risks to educational staff. We analyzed data derived from voluntary, PCR-based screening of childcare educators and teachers attending five testing sites in Berlin, Germany, between June and December 2020. Within seven months, 17,491 tests were performed (4,458 educators, 13,033 teachers). Participants were largely female (72.9%), and median age was 41 years. Overall, SARS-CoV-2 infection prevalence was 1.2% (95%CI, 1.1-1.4%). Prevalence in educational staff largely resembled community incidence until the start of the second pandemic wave in mid-September 2020, when an unsteady prevalence plateau was reached. Then, infection prevalence in teachers (1.2% [95%CI, 0.8-1.8%]) did not significantly differ from the population prevalence (0.9% [0.6-1.4%]) but it was increased in educators (2.6% [1.6-4.0%]; aOR, 1.6 [1.3-2.0]). Irrespective of occupation, those that reported contact to a confirmed SARS-CoV-2 case outside of work had increased risk of infection (aOR, 3.0 [95%CI, 1.5-5.5]). In a step-wise backwards selection, the best set of associated factors with SARS-CoV-2 infection involved age, occupation, and calendar week. These results are in line with findings that teachers do not bear an increased risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection, while childcare educators do. Infection control and prevention measures need to be strengthened in child care settings to further reduce respective occupational hazards. At the same time, the private environment appears to be the main source of SARS-CoV-2 infection for educational staff.

Download Full-text