Respiratory Outbreak Investigations: How Many Specimens Should Be Tested?

2015 ◽  
Vol 36 (11) ◽  
pp. 1344-1347 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily Schleihauf ◽  
Sumana Fathima ◽  
Janice Pettipas ◽  
Jason J. LeBlanc ◽  
Todd F. Hatchette ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Virus Detection ◽  
Optimal Number ◽  
Infect Control Hosp ◽  
Laboratory Results ◽  
Outbreak Investigations

To determine the optimal number of specimens for virus detection in a respiratory outbreak, laboratory results from 2 Canadian public health laboratories were reviewed. The evidence suggests that 3 specimens are sufficient for detection of a virus in >95% of outbreaks, thereby reducing laboratory costs.Infect. Control Hosp. Epidemiol. 2015;36(11): 1344–1347

Teaching Outbreak Investigations with an Interactive Blended Learning Approach

2021 ◽  
pp. e20200077
Author(s):  
Veronica Duckwitz ◽  
Lena Vogt ◽  
Claudia Hautzinger ◽  
Alexander Bartel ◽  
Jeelka Reinhardt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Blended Learning ◽  
Learning Outcomes ◽  
Interdisciplinary Approach ◽  
Learning Approach ◽  
Practical Case ◽  
Clinical Phase ◽  
Outbreak Investigations ◽  
Case Based

Public health is a central but often neglected component of veterinary education. German veterinary public health (VPH) education includes substantial theory-focused lectures, but practical case studies are often missing. To change this, we combined the advantages of case-based teaching and blended learning to teach these topics in a more practical and interactive way. Blended learning describes the combination of online and classroom-based teaching. With it, we created an interdisciplinary module for outbreak investigations and zoonoses, based on the epidemiology, food safety, and microbiology disciplines. We implemented this module within the veterinary curriculum of the seventh semester (in the clinical phase of the studies). In this study, we investigated the acceptance of this interdisciplinary approach and established a framework for the creation of interactive outbreak investigation cases that can serve as a basis for further cases. Over a period of 3 years, we created three interactive online cases and one interactive in-class case and observed the student-reported evaluation of the blended learning concept and self-assessed learning outcomes. Results show that 80% (75–89) of students evaluated the chosen combination of case-based and blended learning for interdisciplinary teaching positively and therefore accepted it well. Additionally, 76% (70–98) of students evaluated their self-assessed learning outcomes positively. Our results suggest that teaching VPH through interdisciplinary cases in a blended learning approach can increase the quality of teaching VPH topics. Moreover, it provides a framework to incorporate realistic interdisciplinary VPH cases into the curriculum.

Multinational Outbreak Investigations

2019 ◽  
pp. 295-306 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frank Mahoney ◽  
James W. Le Duc
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Decision Making ◽  
International Health ◽  
World Health ◽  
Roles And Responsibilities ◽  
Health Events ◽  
The World ◽  
Outbreak Investigations ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Health Regulations

Multinational collaborations on international outbreak investigations and response have a long history. Development of the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1948 was closely linked to efforts by the global community to prevent, detect, and respond to outbreaks of international concern. Through the International Health Regulations (IHR) of 2005, a legally binding instrument requiring countries to report certain outbreaks and public health events, WHO outlined a strategy for disease threat response. Efforts by global partners to strengthen cooperation have evolved over the years, including roles and responsibilities of WHO, its Member States, and other partners. Among the challenges faced by Member State and WHO in implementing the IHRs are limited funding to support staffing and operational support as well as sometimes conflicting multijurisdictional decision-making. The response to recent outbreaks provides evidence that much work remains to be done to strengthen IHR mechanisms.

scholarly journals Epidemiology of hepatitis A in Greece in the last decade: management of reported cases and outbreaks and lessons learned

2020 ◽  
Vol 148 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Mellou ◽  
A. Chrysostomou ◽  
T. Sideroglou ◽  
M. Kyritsi ◽  
T. Georgakopoulou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
General Population ◽  
Hepatitis A ◽  
Epidemiological Data ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Health Priorities ◽  
Oral Transmission ◽  
Increasing Trend ◽  
Outbreak Investigations ◽  
Sex With Men

Abstract Hepatitis A is a mandatory notifiable disease in Greece. Here, we present the epidemiological data for 2009–2018 and the results of outbreak investigations performed, and discuss future public health priorities. Overall, 1193 cases were reported; 320 migrants/refugees, 240 Roma, 112 travellers and 521 from the general population. The median age of the affected general population (37 years) had an increasing trend (from 30.8 years in 2009 to 40.5 in 2018, P < 0.001) and was significantly higher than that among Roma and migrants (7 and 8 years, respectively, P < 0.001). Twenty-two cases (2.2%) were unvaccinated patients with a chronic liver disease. Fifty clusters with 2–12 cases each were recorded; 44 were attributed to person-to-person transmission and six to food consumption. Three outbreaks accounting for 32.3% of the total number of recorded cases were identified; in 2013 among Roma (112 cases), in 2016 among refugees (188 cases) and in 2017 among men having sex with men (96 cases; 33 of them (34.4%) HIV-positive). The epidemiological data depict that improving living conditions and vaccination coverage of deprived populations, and informing adults on the disease focusing at faecal–oral transmission during sexual intercourse and travel should be the future public health priorities.

scholarly journals Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior Clustering: Segmentation to Optimize Active Lifestyles

2016 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
pp. 921-928 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen Zwolinsky ◽  
James McKenna ◽  
Andy Pringle ◽  
Paul Widdop ◽  
Claire Griffiths ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Physical Activity ◽  
Sedentary Behavior ◽  
Hierarchical Cluster ◽  
Optimal Number ◽  
Multiple Deprivation ◽  
Highly Active ◽  
Active Lifestyles ◽  
Univariate Analyses ◽  
Indices Of Multiple Deprivation

Background:Increasingly the health impacts of physical inactivity are being distinguished from those of sedentary behavior. Nevertheless, deleterious health prognoses occur when these behaviors combine, making it a Public Health priority to establish the numbers and salient identifying factors of people who live with this injurious combination.Methods:Using an observational between-subjects design, a nonprobability sample of 22,836 participants provided data on total daily activity. A 2-step hierarchical cluster analysis identified the optimal number of clusters and the subset of distinguishing variables. Univariate analyses assessed significant cluster differences.Results:High levels of sitting clustered with low physical activity. The Ambulatory & Active cluster (n = 6254) sat for 2.5 to 5 h·d−1 and were highly active. They were significantly younger, included a greater proportion of males and reported low Indices of Multiple Deprivation compared with other clusters. Conversely, the Sedentary & Low Active cluster (n = 6286) achieved ≤60 MET·min·wk−1 of physical activity and sat for ≥8 h·d−1. They were the oldest cluster, housed the largest proportion of females and reported moderate Indices of Multiple Deprivation.Conclusions:Public Health systems may benefit from developing policy and interventions that do more to limit sedentary behavior and encourage light intensity activity in its place.

A Large Epidemic of Hepatitis B in Serbia: An Integrated Model for Outbreak Investigations in Healthcare Settings

2014 ◽  
Vol 35 (06) ◽  
pp. 732-735 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simone Lanini ◽  
Gorana Ćosić ◽  
Stefano Menzo ◽  
Vincenzo Puro ◽  
Predrag Đurić ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cluster Analysis ◽  
Hepatitis B ◽  
Integrated Model ◽  
Molecular Techniques ◽  
Comprehensive Approach ◽  
Infect Control Hosp ◽  
Bernoulli Model ◽  
Healthcare Settings ◽  
Outbreak Investigations

We report a comprehensive approach for outbreak investigations, including cluster analysis (Bernoulli model), an algorithm to build inferential models, and molecular techniques to confirm cases. Our approach may be an interesting tool to best exploit the large amount of unsystematically collected information available during outbreak investigations in healthcare settings.Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol2014;35(6):732–735

scholarly journals Respiratory virus surveillance in Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic: An epidemiological analysis of the effectiveness of pandemic-related public health measures in reducing seasonal respiratory viruses test positivity

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (6) ◽  
pp. e0253451
Author(s):  
Kyu Young Park ◽  
Sumin Seo ◽  
Junhee Han ◽  
Ji Young Park
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Respiratory Virus ◽  
Influenza Season ◽  
National Level ◽  
Virus Detection ◽  
Respiratory Viruses ◽  
Surveillance Data ◽  
Time Series Regression ◽  
Health Measures ◽  
Virus Surveillance

Background Various public health measures have been implemented globally to counter the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The purpose of this study was to evaluate respiratory virus surveillance data to determine the effectiveness of such interventions in reducing transmission of seasonal respiratory viruses. Method We retrospectively analysed data from the Respiratory Virus Detection Surveillance System in Canada, before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, by interrupted time series regression. Results The national level of infection with seasonal respiratory viruses, which generally does not necessitate quarantine or contact screening, was greatly reduced after Canada imposed physical distancing and other quarantine measures. The 2019–2020 influenza season ended earlier than it did in the previous year. The influenza virus was replaced by rhinovirus/enterovirus or parainfluenza virus in the previous year, with the overall test positivity remaining at approximately 35%. However, during the 2019–2020 post-influenza period, the overall test positivity of respiratory viruses during the COVID-19 was still low (7.2%). Moreover, the 2020–2021 influenza season had not occurred by the end of February 2021. Conclusion Respiratory virus surveillance data may provide real-world evidence of the effectiveness of implemented public health interventions during the current and future pandemics.

scholarly journals The COVID-19 Epidemic in Madagascar: clinical description and laboratory results of the first wave, March-September 2020

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rindra Randremanana ◽  
Soa-Fy Andriamandimby ◽  
Jean Marius Rakotondramanga ◽  
Norosoa Razanajatovo ◽  
Reziky Mangahasimbola ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Odds Ratio ◽  
Adjusted Odds Ratio ◽  
Mitigation Measures ◽  
Reference Laboratory ◽  
National Reference Laboratory ◽  
Electronic Database ◽  
National Reference ◽  
Laboratory Results ◽  
Clinical Description

Background: Following the first detection of SARS-CoV-2 in passengers arriving from Europe on 19 March 2020, Madagascar took several mitigation measures to limit the spread of the virus in the country. Methods: Nasopharyngeal and/or oropharyngeal swabs were collected from travellers to Madagascar, suspected SARS-CoV-2 cases, and contact of confirmed cases. Swabs were tested at the national reference laboratory using real-time RT-PVR. Data collected from patients were entered in an electronic database for subsequent statistical analysis. All distribution of laboratory confirmed cases were mapped and six genomes of viruses were fully sequenced. Results: Overall, 26,415 individuals were tested for SARS-CoV-2 between 18 March and 18 September 2020, of whom 21.0% (5,553/26,145) returned positive. Among laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 positive patients, the median age was 39 years (CI95%: 28-52), and 56.6% (3,311/5,553) were asymptomatic at the time of sampling. The probability of testing positive increased with age with the highest adjusted odds ratio of 2.2 [95% CI: 1.9-2.5] for individuals aged 49 years and more. Viral strains sequenced belong to clades 19A, 20A, and 20B in favour of several independent introduction of viruses. Conclusions. Our study describes the first wave of the COVID-19 in Madagascar. Despite early strategies in place Madagascar could not avoid the introduction and spread of the virus. More studies are needed to estimate the true burden of disease and make public health recommendations for a better preparation to another wave.

scholarly journals Illumina sequencing of clinical samples for virus detection in a public health laboratory

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bixing Huang ◽  
Amy Jennison ◽  
David Whiley ◽  
Jamie McMahon ◽  
Glen Hewitson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Illumina Sequencing ◽  
Virus Detection ◽  
Public Health Laboratory ◽  
Clinical Samples

Public Health Laboratory Network

2017 ◽  
Vol 38 (4) ◽  
pp. 194
Author(s):  
John R Bates
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Public Health Laboratory ◽  
Pivotal Role ◽  
Public Health Importance ◽  
Inaugural Meeting ◽  
The Public ◽  
Laboratory Network ◽  
Outbreak Investigations ◽  
First Time

The Public Health Laboratory Network had its inaugural meeting on 26 June 1997. The meeting was chaired by Professor Lyn Gilbert who played a pivotal role in establishing this group. This was the first time that all the state and territory public health laboratory directors had been called to meet together. Members expressed a strong desire to communicate more closely on issues of public health importance and recognised the importance of promoting the role of public health laboratories in outbreak investigations and routine and enhanced surveillance.

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