scholarly journals Avian Flu, Ebola, MERS, and Other Emerging Challenges for Influenza Surveillance Practitioners

2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alan Siniscalchi ◽  
Brooke Evans
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Disease Surveillance ◽  
Ebola Virus ◽  
Virus Disease ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Emerging Diseases ◽  
Influenza Surveillance ◽  
Surveillance Systems ◽  
Public Health Agencies ◽  
Public Health Practitioners

Public health agencies strive to develop and maintain cost-effective disease surveillance systems to better understand the burden of disease within their jurisdiction. The emergence of novel avian influenza and other respiratory viruses such as MERS-CoV along with other emerging diseases including Ebola virus disease offer new challenges to public health practitioners. The authors conducted a series of surveys of influenza surveillance coordinators to identify and define these challenges. The results emphasize the importance of maintaining sufficient infrastructure and the trained personnel needed to operate these surveillance systems for optimal disease detection and public health preparedness and response readiness.

scholarly journals Ebola, Enterovirus, MERS, Novel Flu, and other Challenges for Public Health Surveillance Practitioners

2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alan Siniscalchi ◽  
Brooke Evans
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Disease Surveillance ◽  
Ebola Virus ◽  
Virus Disease ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Emerging Diseases ◽  
Influenza Surveillance ◽  
Surveillance Systems ◽  
Public Health Agencies ◽  
Public Health Practitioners

Public health agencies strive to develop and maintain cost-effective disease surveillance systems to better understand the burden of disease within their jurisdiction. The emergence of novel influenza and other respiratory viruses such as MERS-CoV along with other emerging diseases including Ebola virus disease offer new challenges to public health practitioners. The authors conducted a series of surveys of influenza surveillance coordinators to identify and define these challenges. The results emphasize the importance of maintaining sufficient infrastructure and the trained personnel needed to operate these surveillance systems for optimal disease detection and public health preparedness and response readiness.

scholarly journals The Threat of Ebola Virus Disease: a Call to Integrate all Sectors in Surveillance Activities in Ghana

2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dennis O. Laryea ◽  
Yaw Amoako ◽  
Dan V. Armooh ◽  
Emmanuel P. Abbeyquaye ◽  
Bernice N. Amartey
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Service ◽  
West Africa ◽  
Health System ◽  
Disease Surveillance ◽  
Ebola Virus ◽  
Virus Disease ◽  
Public Health Importance ◽  
Ghana Health ◽  
Ghana Health Service

Surveillance for communicable diseases of public health importance is critical in preventing and controlling outbreaks. In Ghana, this responsibility lies with the Disease Surveillance Department of the Ghana Health Service (GHS). However, the structure of Ghana's health system means surveillance activities by the department are concentrated in GHS facilities. Active surveillance in non-GHS facilities usually occur during outbreaks. In light of the recent Ebola outbreak in West Africa, there is the need to integrate the surveillance activities to include all health facilities to ensure the prompt identification of cases.

Systematic review of surveillance systems and methods for early detection of exotic, new and re-emerging diseases in animal populations

2014 ◽  
Vol 143 (10) ◽  
pp. 2018-2042 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. RODRÍGUEZ-PRIETO ◽  
M. VICENTE-RUBIANO ◽  
A. SÁNCHEZ-MATAMOROS ◽  
C. RUBIO-GUERRI ◽  
M. MELERO ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Early Detection ◽  
Literature Review ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Emerging Diseases ◽  
Detection Methods ◽  
Surveillance Systems ◽  
Animal Populations ◽  
Globalized World

SUMMARYIn this globalized world, the spread of new, exotic and re-emerging diseases has become one of the most important threats to animal production and public health. This systematic review analyses conventional and novel early detection methods applied to surveillance. In all, 125 scientific documents were considered for this study. Exotic (n = 49) and re-emerging (n = 27) diseases constituted the most frequently represented health threats. In addition, the majority of studies were related to zoonoses (n = 66). The approaches found in the review could be divided in surveillance modalities, both active (n = 23) and passive (n = 5); and tools and methodologies that support surveillance activities (n = 57). Combinations of surveillance modalities and tools (n = 40) were also found. Risk-based approaches were very common (n = 60), especially in the papers describing tools and methodologies (n = 50). The main applications, benefits and limitations of each approach were extracted from the papers. This information will be very useful for informing the development of tools to facilitate the design of cost-effective surveillance strategies. Thus, the current literature review provides key information about the advantages, disadvantages, limitations and potential application of methodologies for the early detection of new, exotic and re-emerging diseases.

scholarly journals Optimising passive surveillance of a neglected tropical disease in the era of elimination: A modelling study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joshua Longbottom ◽  
Charles Wamboga ◽  
Paul R. Bessell ◽  
Steve J. Torr ◽  
Michelle C. Stanton
Keyword(s):  
Infectious Diseases ◽  
Disease Surveillance ◽  
Human African Trypanosomiasis ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Emerging Diseases ◽  
Surveillance Systems ◽  
Passive Surveillance ◽  
Resistance Surface ◽  
Western Uganda ◽  
North Western

AbstractBackgroundSurveillance is an essential component of global programs to eliminate infectious diseases and avert epidemics of (re-)emerging diseases. As the numbers of cases decline, costs of treatment and control diminish but those for surveillance remain high even after the ‘last’ case. Reducing surveillance may risk missing persistent or (re-)emerging foci of disease. Here, we use a simulation-based approach to determine the minimal number of passive surveillance sites required to ensure maximum coverage of a population at-risk (PAR) of an infectious disease.Methodology and Principal FindingsFor this study, we use Gambian human African trypanosomiasis (g-HAT) in north-western Uganda, a neglected tropical disease (NTD) which has been reduced to historically low levels (<1000 cases/year globally), as an example. To quantify travel time to diagnostic facilities, a proxy for surveillance coverage, we produced a high spatial-resolution resistance surface and performed cost-distance analyses. We simulated travel time for the PAR with different numbers (1-170) and locations (170,000 total placement combinations) of diagnostic facilities, quantifying the percentage of the PAR within 1h and 5h travel of the facilities, as per in-country targets. Our simulations indicate that a 70% reduction (51/170) in diagnostic centres still exceeded minimal targets of coverage even for remote populations, with >95% of a total PAR of ~3million individuals living ≤1h from a diagnostic centre, and we demonstrate an approach to best place these facilities, informing a minimal impact scale back.ConclusionsOur results highlight that surveillance of g-HAT in north-western Uganda can be scaled back without reducing coverage of the PAR. The methodology described can contribute to cost-effective and equable strategies for the surveillance of NTDs and other infectious diseases approaching elimination or (re-)emergence.Author SummaryDisease surveillance systems are an essential component of public health practice and are often considered the first line in averting epidemics for (re-)emerging diseases. Regular evaluation of surveillance systems ensures that they remain operating at maximum efficiency; systems that survey diseases of low incidence, such as those within elimination settings, should be simplified to reduce the reporting burden. A lack of guidance on how to optimise disease surveillance in an elimination setting may result in added expense, and/or the underreporting of disease. Here, we propose a framework methodology to determine systematically the optimal number and placement of surveillance sites for the surveillance of infectious diseases approaching elimination. By utilising estimates of geographic accessibility, through the construction of a resistance surface and a simulation approach, we identify that the number of operational diagnostic facilities for Gambian human African trypanosomiasis in north-western Uganda can be reduced by 70% without affecting existing coverage, and identify the minimum number of facilities required to meet coverage targets. Our analysis can be used to inform the number and positioning of surveillance sites for diseases within an elimination setting. Passive surveillance becomes increasingly important as cases decline and active surveillance becomes less cost-effective; methods to evaluate how best to engage this passive surveillance capacity given facility capacity and geographic distribution are pertinent for several NTDs where diagnosis is complex. Not only is this a complicated research area for diseases approaching elimination, a well-designed surveillance system is essential for the detection of emerging diseases, with this work being topical in a climate where emerging pathogens are becoming more commonplace.

scholarly journals Public health challenges and legacies of Japan’s response to the Ebola virus disease outbreak in West Africa 2014 to 2015

2015 ◽  
Vol 20 (44) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomoya Saito
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
West Africa ◽  
Ebola Virus ◽  
Virus Disease ◽  
Emerging Diseases ◽  
Ebola Virus Disease ◽  
Response Strategy ◽  
Expert Committee ◽  
Medical Response ◽  
Entry Points

The largest outbreak of Ebola virus disease occurred in West Africa in 2014 and resulted in unprecedented transmission even in distant countries. In Japan, only nine individuals were screened for Ebola and there was no confirmed case. However, the government promoted the reinforcement of response measures and interagency collaboration, with training and simulation exercises conducted country-wide. The legacies included: publication of a communication policy on case disclosure, a protocol for collaboration between public health and other agencies, and establishing an expert committee to assemble the limited available expertise. There were challenges in taking proportionate and flexible measures in the management of people identified to be at high risk at entry points to Japan, in the decentralised medical response strategy, and in the medical countermeasures preparedness. The Ebola outbreak in West Africa provided a crucial opportunity to reveal the challenges and improve the preparedness for rare but high impact emerging diseases that are prone to be neglected. Efforts to uphold the lessons learnt and maintain public health preparedness should help prepare for future emerging diseases, including bioterrorist acts and pandemics.

scholarly journals The deuce-ace of Lassa Fever, Ebola virus disease and COVID-19 simultaneous infections and epidemics in West Africa: clinical and public health implications

2021 ◽  
Vol 49 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nnabueze Darlington Nnaji ◽  
Helen Onyeaka ◽  
Rine Christopher Reuben ◽  
Olivier Uwishema ◽  
Chinasa Valerie Olovo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Disease Surveillance ◽  
Ebola Virus ◽  
Virus Disease ◽  
Healthcare Systems ◽  
Lassa Fever ◽  
Ebola Virus Disease ◽  
Simultaneous Occurrence ◽  
Population Mobility ◽  
Health Concerns

AbstractGlobally, the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic has caused unprecedented clinical and public health concerns with increasing morbidity and mortality. Unfortunately, the burden of COVID-19 in Africa has been further exacerbated by the simultaneous epidemics of Ebola virus disease (EVD) and Lassa Fever (LF) which has created a huge burden on African healthcare systems. As Africa struggles to contain the spread of the second (and third) waves of the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of reported cases of LF is also increasing, and recently, new outbreaks of EVD. Before the pandemic, many of Africa’s frail healthcare systems were already overburdened due to resource limitations in staffing and infrastructure, and also, multiple endemic tropical diseases. However, the shared epidemiological and pathophysiological features of COVID-19, EVD and LF as well their simultaneous occurrence in Africa may result in misdiagnosis at the onset of infection, an increased possibility of co-infection, and rapid and silent community spread of the virus(es). Other challenges include high population mobility across porous borders, risk of human-to-animal transmission and reverse zoonotic spread, and other public health concerns. This review highlights some major clinical and public health challenges toward responses to the COVID-19 pandemic amidst the deuce-ace of recurrent LF and EVD epidemics in Africa. Applying the One Health approach in infectious disease surveillance and preparedness is essential in mitigating emerging and re-emerging (co-)epidemics in Africa and beyond.

Ebola Preparedness Planning and Collaboration by Two Health Systems in Wisconsin, September to December 2014

2015 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 691-697 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathryn Kraft Leonhardt ◽  
Megan Keuler ◽  
Nasia Safdar ◽  
Paul Hunter
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Systems ◽  
Infection Prevention ◽  
Ebola Virus ◽  
Virus Disease ◽  
Ebola Virus Disease ◽  
Public Health Response ◽  
Public Health Agencies ◽  
Preparedness Planning ◽  
Health Agencies

AbstractWe describe the collaborative approach used by 2 health systems in Wisconsin to plan and prepare for the threat of Ebola virus disease. This was a descriptive study of the preparedness planning, infection prevention, and collaboration with public health agencies undertaken by 2 health systems in Wisconsin between September and December 2014. The preparedness approach used by the 2 health systems relied successfully on their robust infrastructure for planning and infection prevention. In the setting of rapidly evolving guidance and unprecedented fear regarding Ebola, the 2 health systems enhanced their response through collaboration and coordination with each other and government public health agencies. Key lessons learned included the importance of a rigorous planning process, robust infection prevention practices, and coalitions between public and private health sectors. The potential threat of Ebola virus disease stimulated emergency preparedness in which acute care facilities played a leading role in the public health response. Leveraging the existing expertise of health systems is essential when faced with emerging infectious diseases. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2016;10:691–697)

scholarly journals The influence and enlightenment of five public health emergencies on public psychology since new century: A systematic review

2021 ◽  
pp. 002076402110022
Author(s):  
Zhifeng Wang ◽  
Dongmei Wang
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Ebola Virus ◽  
Psychological Intervention ◽  
Virus Disease ◽  
H1n1 Influenza ◽  
Psychological State ◽  
Wild Animals ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Public Health Emergencies ◽  
The People

Background: Since the 21st century, humans have experienced five public health emergencies: the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), type A H1N1 influenza (H1N1), Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), Ebola virus disease (EVD), and the new coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19). They caused a large number of casualties and a wider psychological crisis, which might cause severe consequences such as post-traumatic stress disorder and suicide. Aims: To reveal the law of formation of public psychological crisis in public health emergencies, and draw lessons from it. To provide ideas for effectively deal with these psychological crisis problems and fundamentally curbing the occurrence of public health emergencies. Method: Through the method of literature research, ‘public health incidents’, ‘psychological crisis’, ‘mental health’, ‘psychological intervention’, ‘SARS’, ‘H1N1’, ‘MERS’, ‘EVD’, and ‘COVID-19’ were used to search literatures in the databases such as PubMed, Springer, and Sciencedirect, and the literatures were summarized, sorted, and studied. Results: (1) The public health emergencies caused a universal psychological crisis. The main manifestations were depression, compulsion, despair, etc. The people involved mainly include patients, suspected isolated patients, medical staff, and the general public in the epidemic situation. (2) People’s psychological state often experienced stress stage, shock stage, acceptance, and reorganization. Only some susceptible individuals couldn’t complete effective psychological reconstruction, resulting in serious psychological disorders. Individual susceptibility is related to genetic factors, adversity, and traumatic stimuli experienced in early life. Conclusion: To reduce these psychological crisis problems, we should establish and improve the psychological crisis intervention or rescue system of public health emergencies, it was still necessary to live in harmony with nature, get rid of the inappropriate habit of preying on wild animals, in order to prevent the cross-species transmission of the virus between wild animals and humans, and to fundamentally avoid the occurrence of major infectious diseases.

Screening at ports of entry for Ebola Virus Disease in England—a descriptive analysis of screening assessment data, 2014–2015

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicki L Boddington ◽  
Sophia Steinberger ◽  
Richard G Pebody
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
High Risk ◽  
Secondary Care ◽  
Ebola Virus ◽  
Virus Disease ◽  
Descriptive Analysis ◽  
Health Assessment ◽  
Ebola Virus Disease ◽  
Screening Assessment

Abstract Background In response to the outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in West Africa in 2014 and evidence of spread to other countries, pre-entry screening was introduced by PHE at five major ports of entry in the England. Methods All passengers that entered the England via the five ports returning from Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leonne were required to complete a Health Assessment Form and have their temperature taken. The numbers, characteristics and outcomes of these passengers were analysed. Results Between 14 October 2014 and 13 October 2015, a total of 12 648 passengers from affected countries had been screened. The majority of passengers were assessed as having no direct contact with EVD cases or high-risk events (12 069, 95.4%), although 535 (4.2%) passengers were assessed as requiring public health follow-up. In total, 39 passengers were referred directly to secondary care, although none were diagnosed with EVD. One high-risk passenger was later referred to secondary care and diagnosed with EVD. Conclusions Collection of these screening data enabled timely monitoring of the numbers and characteristics of passengers screened for EVD, facilitated resourcing decisions and acted as a mechanism to inform passengers of the necessary public health actions.

scholarly journals Epidemiology of Lyme Disease

1991 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 58-60
Author(s):  
Dennis J White
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Lyme Disease ◽  
Disease Surveillance ◽  
Vector Species ◽  
Potential Vector ◽  
Public Health Agencies ◽  
Laboratory Services ◽  
Health Agencies ◽  
Surveillance Programs ◽  
Risk Of Exposure

Investigation of the epidemiology of Lyme disease depends upon information generated from several sources. Human disease surveillance can be conducted by both passive and active means involving physicians, public health agencies and laboratories. Passive and active tick surveillance programs can document the extent of tick-borne activity, identify the geographic range of potential vector species, and determine the relative risk of exposure to Lyme disease in specific areas. Standardized laboratory services can play an important role in providing data. Epidemiologists can gain a better understanding of Lyme disease through the collection of data from such programs. The interpretation of data and provision of information to the medical and general communities are important functions of public health agencies.

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