HIV incidence, viremia, and the national response in Eswatini: Two sequential population-based surveys

With the highest HIV incidence and prevalence globally, the government of Eswatini started a substantial scale-up of HIV treatment and prevention services in 2011. Two sequential large population-based surveys were conducted before and after service expansion to assess the impact of the national response. Cross-sectional, household-based, nationally representative samples of adults, ages 18 to 49 years, were sampled in 2011 and 2016. We measured HIV prevalence, incidence (recent infection based on limiting antigen ≤1.5 optical density units and HIV RNA ≥1000 copies/mL), viral load suppression (HIV RNA <1000 copies/mL among all seropositive adults) and unsuppressed viremia (HIV RNA ≥1000 copies/mL among all, regardless of HIV status) and assessed for temporal changes by conducting a trend analysis of the log ratio of proportions, using a Z statistic distribution. HIV prevalence remained stable from 2011 to 2016 [32% versus 30%, p = 0.10]. HIV incidence significantly declined 48% [2.48% versus 1.30%, p = 0.01]. Incidence remained higher among women than men [2011: 3.16% versus 1.83%; 2016: 1.76% versus 0.86%], with a smaller but significant relative reduction among women [44%; p = 0.04] than men [53%; p = 0.09]. The proportion of seropositive adults with viral load suppression significantly increased from 35% to 71% [p < .001]. The proportion of the total adult population with unsuppressed viremia decreased from 21% to 9% [p < .001]. National HIV incidence in Eswatini decreased by nearly half and viral load suppression doubled over a five-year period. Unsuppressed viremia in the total population decreased 58%. These population-based findings demonstrate the national impact of expanded HIV services in a hyperendemic country.

One Year of SARS-CoV-2: Genomic Characterization of COVID-19 Outbreak in Qatar

Qatar, a country with a strong health system and a diverse population consisting mainly of expatriate residents, has experienced two large waves of COVID-19 outbreak. In this study, we report on 2634 SARS-CoV-2 whole-genome sequences from infected patients in Qatar between March-2020 and March-2021, representing 1.5% of all positive cases in this period. Despite the restrictions on international travel, the viruses sampled from the populace of Qatar mirrored nearly the entire global population’s genomic diversity with nine predominant viral lineages that were sustained by local transmission chains and the emergence of mutations that are likely to have originated in Qatar. We reported an increased number of mutations and deletions in B.1.1.7 and B.1.351 lineages in a short period. These findings raise the imperative need to continue the ongoing genomic surveillance that has been an integral part of the national response to monitor the SARS-CoV-2 profile and re-emergence in Qatar.

Exotic Ants of the Asia-Pacific: Invasion, National Response, and Ongoing Needs

Human activity has facilitated the introduction of many exotic species via global trade. Asia-Pacific countries comprise one of the most economically and trade-active regions in the world, which makes it one of the most vulnerable regions to invasive species, including ants. There are currently over 60 exotic ant species in the Asia-Pacific, with the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta, among the most destructive. Exotic ants pose many economic and ecological problems for the region. Countries in the Asia-Pacific have dealt with the problem of exotic ants in very different ways, and there has been an overall lack of preparedness. To improve the management of risks associated with invasive ants, we recommend that countries take action across the biosecurity spectrum, spanning prevention, containment, and quarantine. The creation of an Asia-Pacific network for management of invasive ants should help prevent their introduction and mitigate their impacts. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Entomology, Volume 67 is January 2022. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.

The twilight of neoliberalism in the USA?

The US economic expansion which began in 2009 was unusually prolonged but relatively weak. Profitability and investment strengthened between 2010 and 2015 but then began to falter. After Trump took office in 2017 there was a minor recovery in investment but the proceeds of major tax cuts were overwhelmingly used to finance payouts to share owners. Unemployment fell steadily from 2010 but with a shift towards lower-paid jobs. Median wages increased from around 2014, but while those for women had risen steadily since the 1980s, those for men only recuperated to their 1980 level in 2018. By contrast, top incomes soared. The impact of the COVID-19 epidemic was partly cushioned by huge government spending programmes, but unemployment among less-skilled workers increased strongly, while the massive monetary response led to an unprecedented bonanza for the rich. The Biden government's first major initiative extended unemployment benefits and promoted a national response to the health emergency, but failed to secure an increase in the national minimum wage to $15 an hour.

Uniting against COVID-19: What our national pandemic response could reveal about science and society in Aotearoa New Zealand

<p><b>Writing in 1954, Hannah Arendt describes crises as an “opportunity[…]to explore and inquire into whatever has been laid bare of the essence of the matter”. Globally, the COVID-19 crisis has torn away at existing facades, bringing to light not only taken-for-granted structures and processes, but new ways of conceptualising them. </b></p> <p>Currently, Aotearoa New Zealand’s national pandemic response to COVID-19 is one of the most highly regarded in the world. This success has predominantly been attributed to our government’s receptivity to the advice of scientific experts. This research thesis therefore endeavours to understand the nature of our ‘science-based’ response. Drawing on semi-structured interviews with fourteen scientific and non-scientific actors involved in our national COVID-19 response, this research investigates how science is involved in interactions between scientists, government and the public, and how it is involved in the way those social groups interact with the underlying systems that produce and maintain our modern society in Aotearoa. Where those systems typically underlie structures and processes of modern Aotearoa, Thomas Gieryn’s theory of ‘boundary work’ is used to draw attention to how typically invisible relationship networks between scientists, scientific knowledge-making processes, scientific legacies of colonialism, and systemic weaknesses in our health and scientific infrastructure have been rendered visible by Aotearoa’s national response to this crisis. By recognising the dynamics of our national response, including factors that enabled and restrained important strategies, this research provides insights into our so far successful crisis response that can be utilised for crises responses in the future.</p>

Uniting against COVID-19: What our national pandemic response could reveal about science and society in Aotearoa New Zealand

<p><b>Writing in 1954, Hannah Arendt describes crises as an “opportunity[…]to explore and inquire into whatever has been laid bare of the essence of the matter”. Globally, the COVID-19 crisis has torn away at existing facades, bringing to light not only taken-for-granted structures and processes, but new ways of conceptualising them. </b></p> <p>Currently, Aotearoa New Zealand’s national pandemic response to COVID-19 is one of the most highly regarded in the world. This success has predominantly been attributed to our government’s receptivity to the advice of scientific experts. This research thesis therefore endeavours to understand the nature of our ‘science-based’ response. Drawing on semi-structured interviews with fourteen scientific and non-scientific actors involved in our national COVID-19 response, this research investigates how science is involved in interactions between scientists, government and the public, and how it is involved in the way those social groups interact with the underlying systems that produce and maintain our modern society in Aotearoa. Where those systems typically underlie structures and processes of modern Aotearoa, Thomas Gieryn’s theory of ‘boundary work’ is used to draw attention to how typically invisible relationship networks between scientists, scientific knowledge-making processes, scientific legacies of colonialism, and systemic weaknesses in our health and scientific infrastructure have been rendered visible by Aotearoa’s national response to this crisis. By recognising the dynamics of our national response, including factors that enabled and restrained important strategies, this research provides insights into our so far successful crisis response that can be utilised for crises responses in the future.</p>

Dental Emergencies: Perceived impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health and wellbeing of dental teams in the UK

The burden of the COVID-19 pandemic has and continues to stretch the healthcare systems and the workforce alike, both nationally and internationally. This is equally true of the dental care systems and the dental workforce which had to respond and act promptly. This paper examines the perceived impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health and wellbeing of dental teams in the UK and provides insight into not only this impact, but the early signs of mental ill health commonly triggered by life events, anxiety and fear, and often exacerbated by stresses. A sample of an established body of literature and recognised sources are considered. Finally, extracts of common threads from meaningful conversations will be alluded to, shining a light on the current state of the mental health and wellbeing of many in dentistry and the need for intervention and longer-term plans. We are often reminded that this period in time is a marathon not a sprint, the same could perhaps be said about a national response to mental health and wellbeing, as it will take time, but the time to begin is now.

Ebola and COVID-19 in Democratic Republic of Congo: grappling with two plagues at once

In February 2021, a new Ebola virus disease outbreak was confirmed amid the COVID-19 pandemic in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Although the country has successfully contained the outbreak amid its fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, the epidemiological situation is still concerning, primarily due to the risk of an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases. The coexistence of both outbreaks increased the burden on the country’s health system mainly because Ebola response programs were redirected to the COVID-19 national response. Strategies adopted and lessons learned from previous Ebola outbreaks were crucial to developing the COVID-19 national response. To tackle the challenges of combating both the viruses, it is essential to adopt multidisciplinary measures such as prevention, education, and vaccination campaigns, promoting hygiene and social distancing practices, and improving diagnostic and management protocols. This paper discusses the efforts, challenges, and possible solutions to grapple with Ebola amid the COVID-19 crisis in DRC successfully.