Applied genomics for identification of virulent biothreats and for disease outbreak surveillance

Fortifying our preparedness to cope with biological threats by identifying and targeting virulence factors may be a preventative strategy for curtailing infectious disease outbreak. Virulence factors evoke successful pathogenic invasion, and the science and technology of genomics offers a way of identifying them, their agents and evolutionary ancestor. Genomics offers the possibility of deciphering if the release of a pathogen was intentional or natural by observing sequence and annotated data of the causative agent, and evidence of genetic engineering such as cloned vectors at restriction sites. However, to leverage and maximise the application of genomics to strengthen global interception system for real-time biothreat diagnostics, a complete genomic library of pathogenic and non-pathogenic agents will create a robust reference assembly that can be used to screen, characterise, track and trace new and existing strains. Encouraging ethical research sequencing pathogens found in animals and the environment, as well as creating a global space for collaboration will lead to effective global regulation and biosurveillance.

Philosophy, Law, and Ethics of Handling COVID-19 Pandemic in Indonesia

BACKGROUND: During the pandemic, COVID-19 spread very quickly between people. Thus, the patients’ rights to obtain treatment do not have to decrease the protection of the public. The perspectives of ethics, law, and justice prioritize the rights of the public as stated in the principle “Salus Populi Suprema Lex Esto” (Public safety is the highest law as regulated in the law). METHODS: This research employs the statute approach with comprehensive, all-inclusive, and systematic manners to the ratio legis of the Health Law. It also uses the philosophy approach. RESULTS: In Indonesia, the regulatory handling of the COVID-19 pandemic is based on the Law on Infectious Disease Outbreak. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the quick spread of this disease causes many fatalities. Thus, individual rights of patients must be ruled out to prioritize public rights. CONCLUSION: The legal perspective upholds the “Salus Populi Suprema Lex Esto” principle, namely, public safety is the highest law was the core of philosophy, law and ethics handling covid 19 pandemic.

IMPLEMENTASI PENERAPAN PROTOKOL KESEHATAN DI ERA NEW NORMAL PADA PEKERJA DI LOKA PENELITIAN KAMBING POTONG (LPKP) SEI PUTIH KECAMATAN GALANG

At the end of 2019 a new virus was discovered which is now an infectious disease outbreak around the world and WHO (World Health Organization) gives the name of the virus that is currently endemic as Covid-19 (Corona Virus Diseases 2019). This research is a qualitative research that aims to collect in-depth data from sources or informants by conducting direct interviews. The number of informants in this study were 10 people. The data collection is done by direct observation to field conducted in-depth interviews of workers and equipped with recording equipment sound made to 10 informants. The results of the research carried out are that there are workers who have not been able to carry out and implement health protocols in accordance with the recommendations of the government. Of the several health protocols that exist at the Slaughter Goat Research Workshop, there are health protocols that have been violated by workers, namely all workers do not wear masks when in the work environment, the absence of workers who apply physical or social distancing during work or during rest hours, water and hand washing soap are not provided and hand sanitizers are never used and are only for display in the office, and workers believe that it is impossible for fellow workers to transmit the Covid-19 virus to fellow workers although there are already some workers in Loka Penelitian Kambing Potong who have contracted the virus, they are not worried and are not afraid of it. The advice that can be given is that workers must be aware of the importance of implementing health protocols and Loka Penelitian Kambing Potong should provide guidance and direction to workers in an effort to suppress the decline in Covid-19 cases

Graphical Trajectory Comparison to Identify Errors in Data of COVID-19: A Cross-Country Analysis

Data from the early stage of a novel infectious disease outbreak provide vital information in risk assessment, prediction, and precise disease management. Since the first reported case of COVID-19, the pattern of the novel coronavirus transmission in Wuhan has become the interest of researchers in epidemiology and public health. To thoroughly map the mechanism of viral spreading, we used the patterns of data at the early onset of COVID-19 from seven countries to estimate the time lag between peak days of cases and deaths. This study compared these data with those of Wuhan and estimated the natural history of disease across the infected population and the time lag. The findings suggest that comparative analyses of data from different regions and countries reveal the differences between peaks of cases and deaths caused by COVID-19 and the incomplete and underestimated cases in Wuhan. Different countries may show different patterns of cases peak days, deaths peak days, and peak periods. Error in the early COVID-19 statistics in Brazil was identified. This study provides sound evidence for policymakers to understand the local circumstances in diagnosing the health of a population and propose precise and timely public health interventions to control and prevent infectious diseases.

High-Frequency, High-Throughput Quantification of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in Wastewater Settled Solids at Eight Publicly Owned Treatment Works in Northern California Shows Strong Association with COVID-19 Incidence

Access to reliable, rapid monitoring data is critical to guide response to an infectious disease outbreak. For pathogens that are shed in feces or urine, monitoring wastewater can provide a cost-effective snapshot of transmission in an entire community via a single sample.

Infectious Disease Outbreak and Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background: As one of the most widely researched consequence of traumatic events, the prevalence of post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) among people exposed to the trauma resulting from infectious disease outbreak varies greatly across studies. This review aimed at examining the pooled prevalence of PTSS among people exposed to the trauma resulting from infectious disease outbreak, summarizing the possible causes of the inconsistencies in the current estimates.Methods: Systematic searches of databases were conducted for literature published on PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library, PsycArticles, and Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) until 14 October 2020. Statistical analyses were performed using R software (registration number: CRD42020182366).Results: About 106 studies were included. The results showed that the pooled prevalence of PTSS among the general population exposed to the trauma resulting from infectious disease outbreak was 24.20% (95% CI: 18.54–30.53%), the pooled prevalence of PTSS among healthcare workers was 24.35% (95% CI: 18.38–1.51%), the pooled prevalence of PTSS among patients with infectious disease was 28.83% (95% CI: 18.53–44.86%), and the pooled prevalence of PTSS among suspected cases of infectious disease was 25.04% (95% CI: 18.05–34.73%). Mortality rate was a significant contributor to heterogeneity.Conclusions: Evidence suggests that PTSS were very common among people exposed to the trauma resulting from infectious disease outbreak. Health policymakers should consider both short-term and long-term preventive strategy of PTSS.