scholarly journals Metagenomic sequencing at the epicenter of the Nigeria 2018 Lassa fever outbreak

Science ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 363 (6422) ◽  
pp. 74-77 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. E. Kafetzopoulou ◽  
S. T. Pullan ◽  
P. Lemey ◽  
M. A. Suchard ◽  
D. U. Ehichioya ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Transmission Rate ◽  
Lassa Fever ◽  
World Health ◽  
Metagenomic Sequencing ◽  
Public Health Response ◽  
The Public ◽  
Real Time Analysis ◽  
Health Response ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
First Time

The 2018 Nigerian Lassa fever season saw the largest ever recorded upsurge of cases, raising concerns over the emergence of a strain with increased transmission rate. To understand the molecular epidemiology of this upsurge, we performed, for the first time at the epicenter of an unfolding outbreak, metagenomic nanopore sequencing directly from patient samples, an approach dictated by the highly variable genome of the target pathogen. Genomic data and phylogenetic reconstructions were communicated immediately to Nigerian authorities and the World Health Organization to inform the public health response. Real-time analysis of 36 genomes and subsequent confirmation using all 120 samples sequenced in the country of origin revealed extensive diversity and phylogenetic intermingling with strains from previous years, suggesting independent zoonotic transmission events and thus allaying concerns of an emergent strain or extensive human-to-human transmission.

scholarly journals Genomic surveillance of a resurgence of COVID-19 in Guangzhou, China

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhou-Bin Zhang ◽  
Peng Li ◽  
Hong-Jie Liu ◽  
Jia-Yong Zhong ◽  
Yingfeng Zheng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
World Health ◽  
Public Health Response ◽  
Daily Growth ◽  
The Public ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
Dramatic Decline ◽  
Health Response ◽  
Imported Cases ◽  
Different Populations ◽  
Health Organization

Abstract In the middle of March, the World Health Organization declared the outbreak of COVID-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection a global pandemic. While China experienced a dramatic decline in daily growth rate of COVID-19, multiple importations of new cases from other countries and their related local infections caused a rapid rise. Between March 12 and April 15, we collected nasopharyngeal samples from 109 imported cases from 25 countries and 69 local cases in Guangzhou, China. In order to characterize the transmission patterns and genetic evolution of this virus among different populations, we sequenced the genome of SARS-CoV-2. The imported viral strains were assigned to lineages distributed in Europe (33.0%), America (17.4%), Africa (25.7%), or Southeast/West Asia (23.9%). Importantly, 10 imported cases from Africa formed two novel sub-lineages not identified in global tree previously. A detailed analysis showed that the imported viral strains from Philippines and Pakistan were closely related and within the same sub-lineage, whereas Ethiopia had varied lineages in the African phylogenetic tree. In spite of the diversity of imported SARS-CoV-2, 60 of 69 local infections could be traced back to two specific small lineages imported from Africa. A combined genetic and epidemiological analysis revealed a high-resolution transmission network of the imported SARS-CoV-2 in local communities, which might help inform the public health response and genomic surveillance in other cities and regions. Finally, we observed in-frame deletions on seven loci of SARS-CoV-2 genome, some of which were intra-host mutations, and they exhibited no enrichment on the S protein. Our findings provide new insight into the viral phylodynamics of SARS-CoV-2 and beta coronavirus.

scholarly journals Directrices sobre la respuesta de salud pública a la farmacorresistencia del VIH previa al tratamiento. Julio 2017

2019 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Drug Resistance ◽  
World Health Organization ◽  
World Health ◽  
Public Health Response ◽  
The Public ◽  
Health Response ◽  
Las Mujeres ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
América Del Sur

En la presente publicación se formulan orientaciones sobre la respuesta de salud pública a la farmacorresistencia del VIH (FRVIH) a inhibidores no nucleosídicos de la retrotranscriptasa (INNRT), previa al tratamiento, en personas con exposición previa a los fármacos antirretrovirales (ARV) o sin antecedente de esta exposición que inician o reinician un tratamiento antirretroviral (TAR) de primera línea. El documento aporta además el consenso alcanzado sobre la prevalencia o el umbral de FRVIH a INNRT previa al tratamiento a partir de los cuales se deben tomar medidas específicas de salud pública. La presente publicación constituye un suplemento al capítulo 4 de las Directrices unificadas sobre el uso de los antirretrovirales para el tratamiento y la prevención de la infección por el VIH (directrices unificadas de la OMS del 2016 sobre el uso de los ARV)… En la presente revisión se observó además que la FRVIH a INNRT previa al tratamiento era mucho más frecuente en las personas que iniciaban TAR de primera línea y que tenían un antecedente de exposición a fármacos ARV (como las mujeres expuestas durante la PTMI y las personas que reanudaban el TAR después de un período de interrupción) en comparación con las personas que iniciaban el TAR y que nunca habían estado expuestas a los ARV, en todas las regiones de la OMS. En las siete encuestas representativas a escala nacional sobre la FRVIH previa al tratamiento en África, América del Sur y Asia en las que se daba seguimiento a la resistencia en estos dos grupos se obtuvieron resultados similares. En todas las encuestas nacionales de la OMS sobre la FRVIH previa al tratamiento, la resistencia a INNRT fue notablemente mayor en las personas que iniciaban el TAR y que habían tenido una exposición previa al TAR (22%), que en las personas que nunca habían recibido fármacos ARV (8%) (p <0,0001)… Versión oficial en español de la obra original en inglés: Guidelines on the public health response to pretreatment HIV drug resistance: July 2017. © World Health Organization 2017. ISBN: 978-92-4-155005-5.

scholarly journals Public health response to two incidents of confirmed MERS-CoV cases travelling on flights through London Heathrow Airport in 2014 – lessons learnt

2015 ◽  
Vol 20 (18) ◽  
Author(s):  
F Parry-Ford ◽  
N Boddington ◽  
R Pebody ◽  
N Phin ◽  
Collective on behalf of the Incident Management Team
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
International Health ◽  
The United States ◽  
World Health ◽  
Contact Tracing ◽  
Public Health Response ◽  
The Public ◽  
Health Response ◽  
Health Organization

In May 2014, Public Health England was alerted to two separate laboratory-confirmed cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection who transited through London Heathrow Airport while symptomatic on flights from Saudi Arabia to the United States of America. We present the rationale for the public health response to both incidents, and report results of contact tracing. Following a risk assessment, passengers seated two seats around the cases were prioritised for contact tracing and a proactive media approach was used to alert all passengers on the planes of their possible exposure in both incidents. In total, 64 United Kingdom (UK) residents were successfully contacted, 14 of whom were sat in the priority area two seats all around the case(s). Five passengers reported respiratory symptoms within 14 days of the flight, but all tested were negative for MERS-CoV. Details of non-UK residents were passed on to relevant World Health Organization International Health Regulation focal points for follow-up, and no further cases were reported back. Different approaches were used to manage contact tracing for each flight due to variations in the quality and timeliness of the passenger contact information provided by the airlines involved. No evidence of symptomatic onward transmission was found.

Role of Media in Health Literacy

2021 ◽  
pp. 172-179
Author(s):  
Seçil Özkan ◽  
Hülya Şirin
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Good Health ◽  
World Health ◽  
Public Health Response ◽  
The Public ◽  
Health Gains ◽  
Health Response ◽  
The Media ◽  
Health Organization

The World Health Organization defines health literacy as the cognitive and social skills which determine the motivation and ability of individuals to gain access to understand and use information in ways which promote and maintain good health. Health literacy improves the life expectancy and quality and removes health inequalities. Health literacy includes the stages of reading, listening, analyzing, participating, and making decisions and adapting to life. An infodemic is an overabundance of information. It includes deliberate attempts to disseminate wrong information to undermine the public health response and advance alternative agendas of groups or individuals. Mis- or disinformation can be harmful to people's health, threaten precious health gains, and lead to poor observance of public health measures, thus endangering countries' ability to stop the pandemic. Media is one of the important sectors in health and health literacy. The concepts of infodemic became a current issue with the COVID-19 pandemic and revealed how important the role the media plays in intervening the health problems is.

Developing a Skilled Workforce: Impact of a Postgraduate Programme on Dementia Knowledge, Attitudes and Training Needs

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-2
Author(s):  
C. Scerri
Keyword(s):  
Action Plan ◽  
World Health Organisation ◽  
World Health ◽  
Public Health Response ◽  
The Public ◽  
Knowledge Based ◽  
Healthcare Profession ◽  
Health Response ◽  
Health And Social Care ◽  
Global Action

In 2017, the World Health Organisation (WHO) launched the global action plan on the public health response to dementia. Among its many aims, the plan recommends the need to create a knowledge-based healthcare profession that delivers evidence-based, culturally-appropriate and human rights-orientated health and social care, including long-term services for individuals with dementia.

scholarly journals SSHAP: 6 Ways to Incorporate Social Context and Trust in Infodemic Management

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Megan Schmidt-Sane ◽  
Tabitha Hrynick ◽  
Jennifer Cole ◽  
Santiago Ripoll ◽  
Olivia Tulloch
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Social Context ◽  
World Health ◽  
Social Scientists ◽  
Public Health Response ◽  
Participatory Approaches ◽  
Health Response ◽  
The World ◽  
Local Solutions ◽  
Health Organization

Information epidemiology or infodemiology is the study of infodemics - defined by the World Health Organization as an overabundance of information, some accurate and some not, that occurs during a pandemic or other significant event that may impact public health. Infodemic management is the practice of infodemiology and may sit within the risk communication and community engagement (RCCE) pillar of a public health response. However, it is relevant to all aspects of preparedness and response, including the development and evaluation of interventions. Social scientists have much to contribute to infodemic management as, while it must be data and evidence driven, it must also be built on a thorough understanding of affected communities in order to develop participatory approaches, reinforce local capacity and support local solutions.

scholarly journals Global Telemedicine Implementation and Integration Within Health Systems to Fight the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Call to Action

10.2196/18810 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. e18810 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robin Ohannessian ◽  
Tu Anh Duong ◽  
Anna Odone
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
National Health ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
The United States ◽  
Response Strategy ◽  
World Health ◽  
Public Health Response ◽  
Levels Of Care ◽  
Health Response ◽  
Health Organization

On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak as a pandemic, with over 720,000 cases reported in more than 203 countries as of 31 March. The response strategy included early diagnosis, patient isolation, symptomatic monitoring of contacts as well as suspected and confirmed cases, and public health quarantine. In this context, telemedicine, particularly video consultations, has been promoted and scaled up to reduce the risk of transmission, especially in the United Kingdom and the United States of America. Based on a literature review, the first conceptual framework for telemedicine implementation during outbreaks was published in 2015. An updated framework for telemedicine in the COVID-19 pandemic has been defined. This framework could be applied at a large scale to improve the national public health response. Most countries, however, lack a regulatory framework to authorize, integrate, and reimburse telemedicine services, including in emergency and outbreak situations. In this context, Italy does not include telemedicine in the essential levels of care granted to all citizens within the National Health Service, while France authorized, reimbursed, and actively promoted the use of telemedicine. Several challenges remain for the global use and integration of telemedicine into the public health response to COVID-19 and future outbreaks. All stakeholders are encouraged to address the challenges and collaborate to promote the safe and evidence-based use of telemedicine during the current pandemic and future outbreaks. For countries without integrated telemedicine in their national health care system, the COVID-19 pandemic is a call to adopt the necessary regulatory frameworks for supporting wide adoption of telemedicine.

scholarly journals WHO gives guidance on threat of bioterrorism

2002 ◽  
Vol 6 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
B Twisselmann
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
World Health Organization ◽  
World Health ◽  
Chemical Weapons ◽  
Public Health Response ◽  
Member States ◽  
Health Response ◽  
The World ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
National Preparedness

In recent months, several member states of the World Health Organization (WHO) have sought advice on the threat of bioterrorist attacks, as reported in last week’s Weekly Epidemiological Record (1). WHO’s guidance to countries on strengthening national preparedness and effective responses to such events is set out in the document Public health response to biological and chemical weapons.

scholarly journals Diseases in the Tabloids: Mapping Newspaper Narratives on Lassa Fever Epidemic in Nigeria

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 95
Author(s):  
Joshua Aghogho Erubami ◽  
Patience Elohor Oziwele ◽  
Edith Ugochi Ohaja ◽  
Martins Ndubisi Ezugwu ◽  
Uchenna Chijindu Anorue
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Mass Media ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Lassa Fever ◽  
Public Health Response ◽  
Endemic Disease ◽  
The Public ◽  
Newspaper Editors ◽  
Health Response ◽  
Multistage Sampling

Lassa fever is a recurrent endemic disease in Nigeria with increasing seroprevalence in many parts of the country. In the absence of effective preventive vaccines, the mass media are being deployed as independent and complementary interventions to sensitise the public on appropriate measures for mitigating the spread of the disease. This study evaluates the different coverage patterns and frames that dominate newspaper narratives on Lassa fever epidemic in Nigeria. Multistage sampling technique was used to select 420 editions of six leading Nigerian newspapers published between January 2015 and December 2019. Findings showed that although the epidemic was frequently mentioned in newspaper articles, its coverage was mainly episodic with little media prominence, and its framing was too inadequate to compel the desired public health response. Hence, the study recommends that journalists and newspaper editors must dutifully engage in the publication of Lassa fever outbreak preparedness articles to significantly curb the spread of the disease in Nigeria.

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