Links between dryland salinity, mosquito vectors, and Ross River Virus disease in southern inland Queensland—an example and potential implications

Soil Research ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 46 (1) ◽  
pp. 62 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. J. W. Biggs ◽  
P. Mottram
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Potential Role ◽  
Virus Disease ◽  
Ross River Virus ◽  
Mosquito Vectors ◽  
Vector Species ◽  
Dryland Salinity ◽  
Secondary Salinity ◽  
The Town

The impacts of dryland salinity on landscapes and agriculture are well documented, but few links have been made to public health. A cluster of cases of Ross River Virus (RRV) disease in the vicinity of a dryland salinity expression in the town of Warwick, Queensland, has highlighted the potential role of secondary salinity expressions as breeding zones for mosquitoes, including vector species of RRV. It is suggested that further work is required to investigate the matter in Queensland, particularly in relation to the expansion of urban populations in south-east Queensland into old agricultural lands containing secondary salinity expressions.

scholarly journals Evaluation of the first pharmacy-led weight management programme in Greece

2021 ◽  
Vol 29 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. i45-i46
Author(s):  
A Peletidi ◽  
R Kayyali
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Potential Role ◽  
Annual Report ◽  
World Health ◽  
Public Health Services ◽  
Cvd Risk ◽  
The World ◽  
Health Organization

Abstract Introduction Obesity is one of the main cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors.(1) In primary care, pharmacists are in a unique position to offer weight management (WM) interventions. Greece is the European country with the highest number of pharmacies (84.06 pharmacies per 100,000 citizens).(2) The UK was chosen as a reference country, because of the structured public health services offered, the local knowledge and because it was considered to be the closest country to Greece geographically, unlike Australia and Canada, where there is also evidence confirming the potential role of pharmacists in WM. Aim To design and evaluate a 10-week WM programme offered by trained pharmacists in Patras. Methods This WM programme was a step ahead of other interventions worldwide as apart from the usual measuring parameters (weight, body mass index, waist circumference, blood pressure (BP)) it also offered an AUDIT-C and Mediterranean diet score tests. Results In total,117 individuals participated. Of those, 97.4% (n=114), achieved the programme’s aim, losing at least 5% of their initial weight. The mean % of total weight loss (10th week) was 8.97% (SD2.65), and the t-test showed statistically significant results (P<0.001; 95% CI [8.48, 9.45]). The programme also helped participants to reduce their waist-to-height ratio, an early indicator of the CVD risk in both male (P=0.004) and female (P<0.001) participants. Additionally, it improved participants’ BP, AUDIT-C score and physical activity levels significantly (P<0.001). Conclusion The research is the first systematic effort in Greece to initiate and explore the potential role of pharmacists in public health. The successful results of this WM programme constitute a first step towards the structured incorporation of pharmacists in public’s health promotion. It proposed a model for effectively delivering public health services in Greece. This study adds to the evidence in relation to pharmacists’ CVD role in public health with outcomes that superseded other pharmacy-led WM programmes. It also provides the first evidence that Greek pharmacists have the potential to play an important role within primary healthcare and that after training they are able to provide public health services for both the public’s benefit and their clinical role enhancement. This primary evidence should support the Panhellenic Pharmaceutical Association, to “fight” for their rights for an active role in primary care. In terms of limitations, it must be noted that the participants’ collected data were recorded by pharmacists, and the analysis therefore depended on the accuracy of the recorded data, in particular on the measurements or calculations obtained. Although the sample size was achieved, it can be argued that it is small for the generalisation of findings across Greece. Therefore, the WM programme should be offered in other Greek cities to identify if similar results can be replicated, so as to consolidate the contribution of pharmacists in promoting public health. Additionally, the study was limited as it did not include a control group. Despite the limitations, our findings provide a model for a pharmacy-led public health programme revolving around WM that can be used as a model for services in the future. References 1. Mendis S, Puska P, Norrving B, World Health Organization., World Heart Federation., World Stroke Organization. Global atlas on cardiovascular disease prevention and control [Internet]. Geneva: World Health Organization in collaboration with the World Heart Federation and the World Stroke Organization; 2011 [cited 2018 Jun 26]. 155 p. Available from: http://www.who.int/cardiovascular_diseases/publications/atlas_cvd/en/ 2. Pharmaceutical Group of the European Union. Pharmacy with you throughout life:PGEU Annual Report [Internet]. 2015. Available from: https://www.pgeu.eu/en/library/530:annual-report-2015.html

scholarly journals A revolutionary step; Role of Qatar`s central hubs in managing the Covid-19 Pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 30-32
Author(s):  
Z Habib ◽  
◽  
Y Hafeez ◽  
Imen Mbarek ◽  
M Ul Haque ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
High Risk ◽  
Virus Disease ◽  
Public Health Emergency ◽  
The State ◽  
Corona Virus ◽  
The World

WHO declared Corona Virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) as a public health emergency on the 30th of January 2020. Soon afterward, COVID-19 cases started to emerge from all parts of the world. The state of Qatar was extremely vigilant from the very outset. Special measures were introduced immediately to restrict the influx of people from high-risk countries such as China and Iran. The Ministry of public health (MOPH), Qatar started preparing for an impending pandemic in the meantime. The first cluster of COVID-19 positive cases was declared on March the 11th 2019. A total of 238 cases were declared positive on this day. It raised the alarm to roll over all those preparations on the ground into practice

scholarly journals TIR-Domain-Containing Adapter-Inducing Interferon-β (TRIF)-Dependent Antiviral Responses Protect Mice against Ross River Virus Disease

mBio ◽  
2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiang Liu ◽  
Adam Taylor ◽  
Yee Suan Poo ◽  
Wern Hann Ng ◽  
Lara J. Herrero ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Virus Disease ◽  
South Pacific ◽  
International Travel ◽  
Social Costs ◽  
Ross River Virus ◽  
Pacific Region ◽  
Mosquito Vectors ◽  
Interferon Β ◽  
Tir Domain ◽  
Antiviral Responses

RRV has been prevalent in the South Pacific region for decades and causes substantial economic and social costs. Though RRV is geographically restricted, a number of other alphaviruses have spread globally due to expansion of the mosquito vectors and increased international travel.

The Role of Health Education and Behavior in Public Health Genetics

2005 ◽  
Vol 32 (5) ◽  
pp. 583-588 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sharon L. R. Kardia ◽  
Catharine Wang
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Education ◽  
Potential Role ◽  
Public Health Practice ◽  
Genetic Research ◽  
Public Health Genetics ◽  
Special Issue ◽  
And Behavior ◽  
The Continuum

This article highlights the important role of health behavior and health education (HBHE) research in public health genetics. Broadly defined, public health genetics is the integration of genetic advancements and technologies in the study and practice of public health. The potential role of HBHE within this area is presented across two intersecting continua—namely, the continuum between research and practice and the continuum between individual/personalized medicine and population health. The authors begin this article with an overview of current issues arising from the use of genetic information to improve the public’s health and provide a framework for understanding the multidimensional role of HBHE research in translating genetic research into medical and public health practice. An introduction to the nine articles and two practice notes included in this special issue is also provided to draw attention to the crosscutting themes and issues presented.

scholarly journals Ape malaria transmission and potential for ape-to-human transfers in Africa

2016 ◽  
Vol 113 (19) ◽  
pp. 5329-5334 ◽  
Author(s):  
Boris Makanga ◽  
Patrick Yangari ◽  
Nil Rahola ◽  
Virginie Rougeron ◽  
Eric Elguero ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Host Specificity ◽  
Potential Role ◽  
Vector Species ◽  
High Preference ◽  
Seasonal Factors ◽  
Human Landing ◽  
Forest Regions ◽  
Specific Association ◽  
Anopheline Mosquitoes

Recent studies have highlighted the large diversity of malaria parasites infecting African great apes (subgenus Laverania) and their strong host specificity. Although the existence of genetic incompatibilities preventing the cross-species transfer may explain host specificity, the existence of vectors with a high preference for a determined host represents another possibility. To test this hypothesis, we undertook a 15-mo-long longitudinal entomological survey in two forest regions of Gabon, where wild apes live, at different heights under the canopy. More than 2,400 anopheline mosquitoes belonging to 18 species were collected. Among them, only three species of Anopheles were found infected with ape Plasmodium: Anopheles vinckei, Anopheles moucheti, and Anopheles marshallii. Their role in transmission was confirmed by the detection of the parasites in their salivary glands. Among these species, An. vinckei showed significantly the highest prevalence of infection and was shown to be able to transmit parasites of both chimpanzees and gorillas. Transmission was also shown to be conditioned by seasonal factors and by the heights of capture under the canopy. Moreover, human landing catches of sylvan Anopheles demonstrated the propensity of these three vector species to feed on humans when available. Our results suggest therefore that the strong host specificity observed in the Laveranias is not linked to a specific association between the vertebrate host and the vector species and highlight the potential role of these vectors as bridge between apes and humans.

scholarly journals CURRENCY NOTES AND ASSOCIATED RISK OF NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES: STUDY ON THE NIGERIAN NAIRA

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (12) ◽  
pp. 252-258
Author(s):  
Ukpong Iniodu George ◽  
Joshua Esther Ifenyinwa
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Public Education ◽  
Potential Role ◽  
Neglected Tropical Diseases ◽  
Tropical Diseases ◽  
Enterobius Vermicularis ◽  
Oral Pathogens ◽  
And Control ◽  
Hookworm Ova

Currency notes could play a role in the transmission of faeco-oral pathogens. This study aimed at identifying the possible role of the Nigerian Naira in the transmission of some neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) and the implication on their intervention and control in Nigeria. Method: 250 samples of all denominations of mint, dirty and mutilated Naira notes were examined for presence of parasites using the rinse method. Result: 58.4% of notes were contaminated with 161 cysts and ova of a protozoan (45.3%) and helminths (54.7%): Entamoeba histolytica cysts (43.7%), Enterobius vermicularis ova (5.4%), Ascaris lumbricoides ova (34.7%) and Hookworm ova (12.6%). Parasite contamination was independent of currency denomination (X2 =45.4; P=0.05). Mutilated notes harboured more parasites (51.5%) than dirty notes (44.9%). Mint notes had zero contamination. This was statistically significant (X2 =5.6; P<0.05). Polymer notes were more contaminated (51.37%) than paper notes. This study has identified a public health risk and the potential role of the Naira notes in the epidemiology of some NTDs in the study area. Public education on the health implications of the abuse of the Naira, beyond reasons of patriotism is required now. The Central Bank should ensure quick withdrawal of mutilated notes from circulation.

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