scholarly journals Georgia’s Rapid Expansion of Mosquito Surveillance in Response to Zika Virus

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chris Ruston ◽  
Deonte Martin ◽  
Rosmarie Kelly
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Zika Virus ◽  
Surveillance Data ◽  
Rapid Expansion ◽  
World Health ◽  
Local Health ◽  
Mosquito Surveillance ◽  
Vector Transmission ◽  
The Public ◽  
Primary Vector

ObjectiveTo describe the Georgia Department of Public Health’s (DPH)mosquito surveillance capacity before and after Zika virus wasdeclared a public health emergency, review and compare mosquitosurveillance results from 2015 to 2016, and evaluate the risk ofautochthonous vector transmission of Zika virus based on 2016surveillance data ofAedes aegyptiandAedes albopictusmosquitoes.IntroductionZika virus was declared an international public health emergencyby the World Health Organization on February 1, 2016. WithGeorgia hosting the world’s busiest international airport and a sub-tropical climate that can support the primary Zika virus vector,Aedesaegypti,and secondary vector, Aedes albopictus,the CDC designatedGeorgia as a high risk state for vector transmission. Faced with alack of mosquito surveillance data to evaluate risk of autochthonoustransmission and a few counties statewide that provide comprehensivemosquito control, the DPH rapidly scaled up a response. DPH updatedexisting mosquito surveillance and response plans targeted for WestNile Virus (WNV) and expanded capacity to areas that lackedprevious surveillance targeting the Zika virus vector.MethodsMosquito surveillance data provided by DPH was analyzedfor years 2015 and 2016 to date. The geographical distribution ofcounties conducting surveillance, total number and percentage bymosquito species collected in 2015 were compared to 2016 data.The distribution of counties conducting surveillance was mappedusing ArcMap 10.4.1 for pre and post Zika response. Autochthonousvector transmission risk was evaluated based on the overall numbersand percentages ofAedes aegyptiandAedes albopictusmosquitoescollected for 2016.ResultsIn 2015, Georgia had 14 counties conducting mosquitosurveillance, with a DPH entomologist providing direct surveillancein 4 of these counties. In 2016, DPH expanded surveillance capacity to34 counties, a 142% increase, geographically dispersed across theState in urban and rural areas. A total of 76,052 mosquitoes weretrapped and identified in 2015 compared to 91,261 mosquitoes trappedto date in 2016, representing a 20% increase. A total of 37 mosquitospecies were identified in both years withCulex quinquefasciatus,Georgia’s primary WNV vector, representing the highest percentage(2015-79.45% and 2016-70.41%) of mosquitoes trapped overall.In addition,Aedes aegyptirepresented only 0.108% and 0.007% ofthe total mosquitoes trapped respectively each year and was found inone county.Aedes albopictusrepresented only 1.50% and 1.82% ofthe total mosquitoes trapped respectively each year and was found ina majority of the counties conducting surveillance.ConclusionsDPH was able to rapidly expand its surveillance capacity statewideby maximizing existing grant funds to hire new surveillance staffwhile also collaborating with academic institutions, military bases,Georgia Mosquito Control Association, and local health departmentsto provide training and funding for surveillance and data sharing. Thisexpanded surveillance network provided a clearer picture of the typesof mosquitoes potentially exposing the public to mosquito-bornedisease risks.Historical data for the primary vector of Zika virus,Aedesaegyptihas been isolated to just two counties in Georgia. Expandedsurveillance in 2016 confirmed a low abundance ofAedes aegypti,suggesting the primary vector for Zika has been displaced byAedesalbopictus. This may suggest a reduced risk of autochthonoustransmission of Zika virus in Georgia due toAedes albopictus’affinity for feeding on both humans and animals. This should beinterpreted with caution due to limitations in the data related tounstandardized reporting techniques for each county. DPH is workingwith all counties to improve the quality of data collected and reportedand continues to educate the public on ways they can reduce theirindividual risk of mosquito bites, which in turn reduces the risk ofother mosquito-borne diseases such as WNV.In conclusion, DPH’s response to Zika virus allowed it to rapidlyincrease its surveillance footprint and with new data, make soundpublic health decisions regarding mosquito-borne disease risks.

Capacity building in the public health field in the Tunisian medical faculties

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
M Coman ◽  
O Oltean ◽  
M Palianopoulou ◽  
D Plancikova ◽  
C Zedini ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Policy ◽  
Health Knowledge ◽  
National Level ◽  
Training Programme ◽  
Local Health ◽  
The Public ◽  
Public Health Training ◽  
Medical Faculties ◽  
Health Field

Abstract Over the past years, Tunisia has experienced important reforms in the field of public health. The Tunisian medical faculties (Universities of Sfax, Tunis el Manar, Sousse and Monastir) play a key role in this endeavor by training public health professionals who can contribute to the modernization of the health system. Funded by the EC through Erasmus+ programme, the CONFIDE project (coordinated by Babes-Bolyai University, having as EU partners the Universities of Southern Denmark and Trnava, and the above mentioned Tunisian universities) has established the Research into Policy training programme by strengthening their capacity to provide public health training. The Research into Policy training programme has been delivered by the Centres for Evidence into Health Policy (C4EHPs) established within the Tunisian partner universities for the needs of CONFIDE. The training programme was implemented in four steps: (1) train the trainer sessions - the European experts trained 18 Tunisian trainers; (2) shadowing sessions - the trainers participated in shadowing sessions in the European partner institutions; (3) training delivery - the CONFIDE trainers, assisted by the European experts, delivered the training to an interdisciplinary group of 25 students and professionals; (4) internships - the students participated in internships in local health institutions. Three modules have been built within the Research into Policy training programme: Public health research, Health promotion policies and Evidence based public health policy. They contributed to increasing the public health knowledge and skills of the professionals trained. The training programme was well received by the Tunisian universities and the material developed so far during the project was adapted to the Tunisian context in the third step of implementation. On the long term, the project is expected to have an impact at the national level and produce updates at curricula level in the Tunisian medical faculties. Key messages Research into Policy training programme developed by the EC partners and culturally adapted by the Tunisian partners to the Tunisian public health context. Research into Policy training is a well-received tool for the high quality learning process in the public health field in Tunisian medical faculties.

Triage Management, Survival, and the Law in the Age of Ebola

2014 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 38-43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frederick M Burkle ◽  
Christopher M Burkle
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
International Health ◽  
Epidemiological Data ◽  
Population Based ◽  
World Health ◽  
Economic Stability ◽  
Budget Cuts ◽  
The Public ◽  
Level 3 ◽  
Health Organization

AbstractLiberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea lack the public health infrastructure, economic stability, and overall governance to stem the spread of Ebola. Even with robust outside assistance, the epidemiological data have not improved. Vital resource management is haphazard and left to the discretion of individual Ebola treatment units. Only recently has the International Health Regulations (IHR) and World Health Organization (WHO) declared Ebola a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, making this crisis their fifth ongoing level 3 emergency. In particular, the WHO has been severely compromised by post-2003 severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) staffing, budget cuts, a weakened IHR treaty, and no unambiguous legal mandate. Population-based triage management under a central authority is indicated to control the transmission and ensure fair and decisive resource allocation across all triage categories. The shared responsibilities critical to global health solutions must be realized and the rightful attention, sustained resources, and properly placed legal authority be assured within the WHO, the IHR, and the vulnerable nations. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2014;0:1-6)

scholarly journals Modelling and analysis of COVID-19 epidemic in India

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alok Tiwari
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Doubling Time ◽  
Single Case ◽  
World Health Organisation ◽  
Public Health Emergency ◽  
Positive Case ◽  
World Health ◽  
The Public ◽  
First Case ◽  
The World

ABSTRACTCOVID-19 epidemic is declared as the public health emergency of international concern by the World Health Organisation in the second week of March 2020. This disease originated from China in December 2019 has already caused havoc around the world, including India. The first case in India was reported on 30th January 2020, with the cases crossing 6000 on the day paper was written. Complete lockdown of the nation for 21 days and immediate isolation of infected cases are the proactive steps taken by the authorities. For a better understanding of the evolution of COVID-19 in the country, Susceptible-Infectious-Quarantined-Recovered (SIQR) model is used in this paper. It is predicted that actual infectious population is ten times the reported positive case (quarantined) in the country. Also, a single case can infect 1.55 more individuals of the population. Epidemic doubling time is estimated to be around 4.1 days. All indicators are compared with Brazil and Italy as well. SIQR model has also predicted that India will see the peak with 22,000 active cases during the last week of April followed by reduction in active cases. It may take complete July for India to get over with COVID-19.

scholarly journals Houston Health Department’s response to the threat of Zika virus

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric Bakota ◽  
Kirsten Short ◽  
Amanda Eckert
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Zika Virus ◽  
Mosquito Control ◽  
Action Plan ◽  
Community Outreach ◽  
Health Department ◽  
Public Health Authority ◽  
The Public ◽  
Incident Command ◽  
The City

ObjectiveThis session will explore the role of the Houston Health Department(HHD) in the City of Houston’s response to the threat of Zika. Thepanelists will provide perspective from the roles of Bureau Chief,informatician, and epidemiologist and provide insight into lessonslearned and strategic successes.IntroductionZika virus spread quickly through South and Central America in2015. The City of Houston saw its first travel-related Zika cases inDecember of 2015. On January 29th, the City held the first planningmeeting with regional partners from healthcare, blood banks,petrochemical companies, mosquito control, and others. Additionallythe City activated Incident Command Structure (ICS) and designatedthe Public Health Authority as the Incident Commander.Initial steps taken by HHD included expanding the capabilityand capacity of the public health laboratory to test for Zika virus;expand surveillance efforts; created an educational campaign aroundthe “3Ds” of Zika defense (Drain, Dress, DEET) which were thendisseminated through several means, including a mass mailing withwater bills; and provided DEET to mothers through the WIC program.The Houston Health Department took the lead in authoringthe City’s Zika Action Plan. In this 3 goals and 6 strategies wereidentified. Goals included 1) Keep Houstonians and visitors aware ofthe threat of Zika; 2) minimize the spread of the virus; and 3) protectpregnant women from the virus. The 6 strategies employed were toA) develop preparedness plans; B) implement ICS within the City;C) ensure situational awareness through surveillance; D) Increasecommunity awareness; E) reduce opportunities for Zika mosquitobreeding grounds; and F) provide direct intervention to reduce thethreat of Zika.HHD was responsible for many of the action items within theplan. We conducted several community outreach events, where wedisseminated educational materials, t-shirts, DEET, and other give-aways. These events allowed frequent engagement with the public forbidrectional communication on how to approach the threat.

The Role of EMS Systems in Public Health Emergencies

1997 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 30-35 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara A. McIntosh ◽  
Patricia Hinds ◽  
Lorraine M. Giordano
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Department ◽  
Definitive Treatment ◽  
Local Health ◽  
Public Health Response ◽  
Pneumonic Plague ◽  
Notification System ◽  
The Public ◽  
Public Health Emergencies ◽  
Isolation Facilities

AbstractIntroduction:Until now, the public health response to the threat of an epidemic has involved coordination of efforts between federal agencies, local health departments, and individual hospitals, with no defined role for prehospital emergency medical services (EMS) providers.Methods:Representatives from the local health department, hospital consortium, and prehospital EMS providers developed an interim plan for dealing with an epidemic alert. The plan allowed for the prehospital use of appropriate isolation procedures, prophylaxis of personnel, and predesignation of receiving hospitals for patients suspected of having infection. Additionally, a dual notification system utilizing an EMS physician and a representative from the Office of Infectious Diseases from the hospital group was implemented to ensure that all potential cases were captured. Initially, the plan was employed only for those cases arising from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCJ/Public Health Service (PHS) quarantine unit at the airport, but its use later was expanded to include all potential cases within the 9–1–1 system.Results:In the two test situations in which it was employed, the plan incorporating the prehospital EMS sector worked well and extended the “surveillance net” further into the community. During the Pneumonic Plague alert, EMS responded to the quarantine facilities at the airport five times and transported two patients to isolation facilities. Two additional patients were identified and transported to isolation facilities from calls within the 9–1–1 system. In all four isolated cases, Pneumonic Plague was ruled out. During the Ebola alert, no potential cases were identified.Conclusion:The incorporation of the prehospital sector into an already existing framework for public health emergencies (i.e., epidemics), enhances the reach of the public safety surveillance net and ensure that proper isolation is continued from identification of a possible case to arrival at a definitive treatment facility.

The Public Health Police

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Trevor Hoppe
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Hiv Positive ◽  
Local Health ◽  
Health Departments ◽  
Adherence To Treatment ◽  
The Public ◽  
Treatment Regimens ◽  
Health Authorities ◽  
Public Health Authorities ◽  
Local Health Authorities

As the HIV epidemic wore on in the 2000s, public health authorities became enamored with the idea of “ending AIDS.” That is, if they could just get HIV-positive people to take their pills and stop infecting other people. Health departments began to track HIV-positive clients more closely, aiming to control their behavior and ensure their adherence to treatment regimens. This chapter explores how local health authorities ensure that HIV-positive clients behave in a manner officials deem responsible—and how they catch and punish those who do not. While the state maintains that the work of local health officials is done solely in the interests of promoting public health, their efforts to control HIV-positive clients reveal that they are also engaged in policing and law enforcement.

Application for Public Health Accreditation Among US Local Health Departments in 2013 to 2019: Impact of Service and Activity Mix

2020 ◽  
pp. e1-e8
Author(s):  
Jonathon P. Leider ◽  
Jessica Kronstadt ◽  
Valerie A. Yeager ◽  
Kellie Hall ◽  
Chelsey K. Saari ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
United States ◽  
Latent Class ◽  
The United States ◽  
Local Health ◽  
Health Departments ◽  
Local Health Departments ◽  
Profile Data ◽  
The Public ◽  
Funding Support

Objectives. To examine correlates of applying for accreditation among small local health departments (LHDs) in the United States through 2019. Methods. We used administrative data from the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB) and 2013, 2016, and 2019 Profile data from the National Association of County and City Health Officials to examine correlates of applying for PHAB accreditation. We fit a latent class analysis (LCA) to characterize LHDs by service mix and size. We made bivariate comparisons using the t test and Pearson χ2. Results. By the end of 2019, 126 small LHDs had applied for accreditation (8%). When we compared reasons for not pursuing accreditation, we observed a difference by size for perceptions that standards exceeded LHD capacity (47% for small vs 22% for midsized [P < .001] and 0% for large [P < .001]). Conclusions. Greater funding support, considering differing standards by LHD size, and recognition that service mix might affect practicality of accreditation are all relevant considerations in attempting to increase uptake of accreditation for small LHDs. Public Health Implications. Overall, small LHDs represented about 60% of all LHDs that had not yet applied to PHAB. (Am J Public Health. Published online ahead of print December 22, 2020: e1–e8. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2020.306007 )

scholarly journals Quantifying the Public Health Benefits of Reducing Air Pollution: Critically Assessing the Features and Capabilities of WHO’s AirQ+ and U.S. EPA’s Environmental Benefits Mapping and Analysis Program—Community Edition (BenMAP—CE)

Atmosphere ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 516 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jason Sacks ◽  
Neal Fann ◽  
Sophie Gumy ◽  
Ingu Kim ◽  
Giulia Ruggeri ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Air Pollution ◽  
Environmental Protection Agency ◽  
Environmental Benefits ◽  
World Health ◽  
Health Impacts ◽  
Analysis Program ◽  
Common Input ◽  
The Public ◽  
Software Packages

Scientific evidence spanning experimental and epidemiologic studies has shown that air pollution exposures can lead to a range of health effects. Quantitative approaches that allow for the estimation of the adverse health impacts attributed to air pollution enable researchers and policy analysts to convey the public health impact of poor air quality. Multiple tools are currently available to conduct such analyses, which includes software packages designed by the World Health Organization (WHO): AirQ+, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA): Environmental Benefits Mapping and Analysis Program—Community Edition (BenMAP—CE), to quantify the number and economic value of air pollution-attributable premature deaths and illnesses. WHO’s AirQ+ and U.S. EPA’s BenMAP—CE are among the most popular tools to quantify these effects as reflected by the hundreds of peer-reviewed publications and technical reports over the past two decades that have employed these tools spanning many countries and multiple continents. Within this paper we conduct an analysis using common input parameters to compare AirQ+ and BenMAP—CE and show that the two software packages well align in the calculation of health impacts. Additionally, we detail the research questions best addressed by each tool.

scholarly journals Zika Virus Update: More on an Emerging Arboviral Disease in the Western Hemisphere

2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 163-167 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kelly G. Vest
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Zika Virus ◽  
Primary Care Providers ◽  
Western Hemisphere ◽  
Disease Spread ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Neurologic Diseases ◽  
The Public ◽  
The World ◽  
Arboviral Disease

AbstractZika virus has captivated the world with its quick spread throughout the Western Hemisphere. Increased emphasis has been placed on the infection of pregnant women and subsequent adverse and severe effects in the developing fetus and newborn. This article supplements a previous article and provides updated information on new and evolving evidence that strengthens the association between Zika virus and unique congenital and neurologic diseases, updates what is known about the epidemiology of the disease, and provides new and updated material for primary care providers as they counsel patients who may be exposed or infected. With the extent of disease spread, it is expected that Zika virus will become endemic to the Western Hemisphere and will change the public health parameters and approach in this area of the world. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2017;11:163–167)

scholarly journals The World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2 (WHODAS 2.0): remarks on the need to revise the WHODAS

2019 ◽  
Vol 35 (7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shamyr Castro ◽  
Camila Ferreira Leite ◽  
Michaela Coenen ◽  
Cassia Maria Buchalla
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
World Health ◽  
Clinical Settings ◽  
Patient Centered ◽  
Public Health Perspective ◽  
Death Rates ◽  
The Public ◽  
Whodas 2.0 ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Functioning Assessment

Functioning and disability are concepts in increasing use in clinical settings and in public health. From the public health perspective, the use of functioning as a third health indicator could show more than the frequency of a disease and its death rates, offering information on how the population performs its activities and participation. Clinically, the functioning assessment can provide information for patient-centered health care and specific clinical interventions according to their functioning profile. WHODAS 2.0 is a generic tool to assess health and functioning according to the ICF functioning model. It is an alternative to assess functioning in a less time-consuming way, whereas the duration of the application is one of the main ICF critiques. This paper aims to present some of WHODAS 2.0 inconsistencies and weaknesses as well as strategies to cope with them. In this paper, we present some weaknesses related to the WHODAS layout; wording and scoring process. Some suggestions for strategies to correct these weaknesses are presented, as well.

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