scholarly journals COVID-19 outbreak among temporary foreign workers in British Columbia, March to May 2020

2021 ◽  
Vol 47 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-10
Author(s):  
Silvina Mema ◽  
Gillian Frosst ◽  
Kristen Hanson ◽  
Cheryl Yates ◽  
Amanda Anderson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Foreign Workers ◽  
Epidemiological Investigation ◽  
Public Health Response ◽  
Temporary Foreign Workers ◽  
Health Response ◽  
Cleaning And Disinfection ◽  
Agricultural Setting

Background: During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, temporary foreign workers (TFWs) provided a critical role to maintaining the food supply in Canada, yet workers faced a number of challenges that made them particularly vulnerable to COVID-19. The objective of this study was to describe the epidemiological investigation and public health response to a COVID-19 outbreak among TFWs in an agricultural setting in British Columbia from March to May 2020. Methods: An outbreak was declared on March 28, 2020 following detection of two cases of COVID-19 among a group of 63 TFWs employed by a nursery and garden centre. Outbreak control measures included immediate isolation of cases, case finding via outreach screening and testing, cohorting of asymptomatic workers and enhanced cleaning and disinfection. The outbreak was declared over on May 10, 2020. Results: A total of 26 COVID-19 cases were identified among the group of TFWs; no cases were identified among local workers. Cases were primarily male (77%) with a median age of 41 years. Symptom onsets ranged from March 8 to April 9, 2020. One case required overnight hospitalization for pneumonia. Conclusion: This was the first COVID-19 community outbreak identified in British Columbia and the first COVID-19 outbreak identified among TFWs in Canada. This outbreak began prior to implementation of provincial and federal quarantine orders for international travellers. A provincial policy was later developed that requires TFWs to quarantine in government-funded accommodation prior to deployment to agricultural settings.

scholarly journals Family cluster of three cases of monkeypox imported from Nigeria to the United Kingdom, May 2021

2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (32) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gemma Hobson ◽  
James Adamson ◽  
Hugh Adler ◽  
Richard Firth ◽  
Susan Gould ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
United Kingdom ◽  
Index Case ◽  
West African ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Public Health Response ◽  
Imported Case ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Health Response ◽  
The Family

Most reported cases of human monkeypox occur in Central and West Africa, where the causing virus is endemic. We describe the identification and public health response to an imported case of West African monkeypox from Nigeria to the United Kingdom (UK) in May 2021. Secondary transmission from the index case occurred within the family to another adult and a toddler. Concurrent COVID-19-related control measures upon arrival and at the hospital, facilitated detection and limited the number of potential contacts.

scholarly journals Colder and drier winter conditions are associated with greater SARS-CoV-2 transmission: a regional study of the first epidemic wave in north-west hemisphere countries

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jordi Landier ◽  
Juliette Paireau ◽  
Stanislas Rebaudet ◽  
Eva Legendre ◽  
Laurent Lehot ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Absolute Humidity ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Regional Study ◽  
Public Health Response ◽  
North West ◽  
Winter Conditions ◽  
Health Response ◽  
Unit Increase ◽  
Second Wave

AbstractHigher transmissibility of SARS-CoV-2 in cold and dry weather conditions has been hypothesized since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic but the level of epidemiological evidence remains low.During the first wave of the pandemic, Spain, Italy, France, Portugal, Canada and USA presented an early spread, a heavy COVID-19 burden, and low initial public health response until lockdowns. In a context when testing was limited, we calculated the basic reproduction number (R0) in 63 regions from the growth in regional death counts. After adjusting for population density, early spread of the epidemic, and age structure, temperature and humidity were negatively associated to SARS-CoV-2 transmissibility. A reduction of mean absolute humidity by 1g/m3 was associated with a 0.15-unit increase of R0. Below 10°C, a temperature reduction of 1°C was associated with a 0.16-unit increase of R0.Our results confirm a dependency of SARS-CoV-2 transmissibility to weather conditions in the absence of control measures during the first wave. The transition from summer-to winter-like conditions likely contributed to the intensification of the second wave in north-west hemisphere countries. Adjustments of the levels of social mobility restrictions need to account for increased SARS-CoV-2 transmissibility in winter conditions.

Readers' Forum: Public Health Implications Regarding the Epidemiology and Microbiology of Public Whirlpools

1985 ◽  
Vol 6 (10) ◽  
pp. 418-420 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stuart P. Castle
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Disease Transmission ◽  
Hot Water ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Medical Community ◽  
Public Health Response ◽  
Injury Death ◽  
Health Response ◽  
Public Health Officials ◽  
Severity Of The Disease

AbstractHigh temperature bathing in hot tubs, spas and whirlpools poses four potential public health concerns: injury/death, disease transmission, possible teratogenic effects, and congestive heart failure or dysrhythmias for individuals with cardiac problems. Health departments need criteria before initiating environmental and epidemiologic investigations. These criteria must include severity of the disease and number of individuals possibly exposed. In addition, public health officials are obligated to define the magnitude of the problem, inform affected individuals and institute appropriate control measures. Optional information should be collected during an environmental and epidemiologic investigation to clarify the mechanisms of disease transmission and design control measures. The public health response to improving hot water bathing safety and sanitation should be directed at primary prevention. Educational efforts would be directed toward whirlpool operators, users and the medical community. Included should be a review of regulations addressing the construction and operation of public spas and whirlpools.

scholarly journals Drug Checking for Novel Insights into the Unregulated Drug Supply

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nabarun Dasgupta ◽  
Mary C Figgatt
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
People Who Use Drugs ◽  
Drug Supply ◽  
Public Health Response ◽  
Epidemiologic Surveillance ◽  
Crucial Component ◽  
Health Response ◽  
Drug Checking ◽  
Nuanced Understanding

Abstract Tobias et al. (Am J Epidemiol. XXXX;XXX(XX):XXXX–XXXX) present a novel analysis of time trends in fentanyl concentrations in the unregulated drug supply in British Columbia, Canada. The pre-existing knowledge about unregulated drugs had previously come from law enforcement seizures and post-mortem toxicology. As both of these data sources are subject to selection bias, large scale drug checking programs are poised to be a crucial component of the public health response to the unrelenting increase in overdose in North America. As programs expand, we offer two guiding principles. First, the primary purpose of these programs is to deliver timely results to people who use drugs to mitigate health risks. Second, innovation is needed to go beyond criminal justice paradigms in laboratory analysis for a more nuanced understanding of health concerns. We provide examples of the role adulterants play in our understanding of drug harms. We also describe the applications and limitations of common laboratory assays, with implications for epidemiologic surveillance. While the research and direct service teams in British Columbia have taken groundbreaking steps, there is still a need to establish best practices for communicating results to sample donors in an approachable yet non-alarmist tone.

scholarly journals Cold and dry winter conditions are associated with greater SARS-CoV-2 transmission at regional level in western countries during the first epidemic wave

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jordi Landier ◽  
Juliette Paireau ◽  
Stanislas Rebaudet ◽  
Eva Legendre ◽  
Laurent Lehot ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Absolute Humidity ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Epidemiological Evidence ◽  
Public Health Response ◽  
North West ◽  
Winter Conditions ◽  
Health Response ◽  
Unit Increase ◽  
Second Wave

AbstractHigher transmissibility of SARS-CoV-2 in cold and dry weather conditions has been hypothesized since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic but the level of epidemiological evidence remains low. During the first wave of the pandemic, Spain, Italy, France, Portugal, Canada and USA presented an early spread, a heavy COVID-19 burden, and low initial public health response until lockdowns. In a context when testing was limited, we calculated the basic reproduction number (R0) in 63 regions from the growth in regional death counts. After adjusting for population density, early spread of the epidemic, and age structure, temperature and humidity were negatively associated with SARS-CoV-2 transmissibility. A reduction of mean absolute humidity by 1 g/m3 was associated with a 0.15-unit increase of R0. Below 10 °C, a temperature reduction of 1 °C was associated with a 0.16-unit increase of R0. Our results confirm a dependency of SARS-CoV-2 transmissibility to weather conditions in the absence of control measures during the first wave. The transition from summer to winter, corresponding to drop in temperature associated with an overall decrease in absolute humidity, likely contributed to the intensification of the second wave in north-west hemisphere countries. Non-pharmaceutical interventions must be adjusted to account for increased transmissibility in winter conditions.

scholarly journals A rapid review of early guidance to prevent and control COVID-19 in custodial settings

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lindsay A. Pearce ◽  
Alaina Vaisey ◽  
Claire Keen ◽  
Lucas Calais-Ferreira ◽  
James A. Foulds ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Prevention And Control ◽  
Grey Literature ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Rapid Review ◽  
Public Health Response ◽  
Case Identification ◽  
Physical Environments ◽  
Health Response ◽  
Prevention And Control Measures ◽  
And Control

Abstract Background With over 11 million people incarcerated globally, prevention and control of COVID-19 in custodial settings is a critical component of the public health response. Given the risk of rapid transmission in these settings, it is important to know what guidance existed for responding to COVID-19 in the early stages of the pandemic. We sought to identify, collate, and summarise guidance for the prevention and control of COVID-19 in custodial settings in the first six months of 2020. We conducted a systematic search of peer-reviewed and grey literature, and manually searched relevant websites to identify publications up to 30 June 2020 outlining recommendations to prevent and/or control COVID-19 in custodial settings. We inductively developed a coding framework and assessed recommendations using conventional content analysis. Results We identified 201 eligible publications containing 374 unique recommendations across 19 domains including: preparedness; physical environments; case identification, screening, and management; communication; external access and visitation; psychological and emotional support; recreation, legal, and health service adaptation; decarceration; release and community reintegration; workforce logistics; surveillance and information sharing; independent monitoring; compensatory measures; lifting control measures; evaluation; and key populations/settings. We identified few conflicting recommendations. Conclusions The breadth of recommendations identified in this review reflects the complexity of COVID-19 response in custodial settings. Despite the availability of comprehensive guidance early in the pandemic, important gaps remain in the implementation of recommended prevention and control measures globally, and in the availability of evidence assessing their effectiveness on reducing COVID-19 disease, impact on people in custody and staff, and implementation.

scholarly journals Infection control measures in ophthalmology during the COVID-19 outbreak: A narrative review from an early experience in Italy

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 621-628 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniele Veritti ◽  
Valentina Sarao ◽  
Francesco Bandello ◽  
Paolo Lanzetta
Keyword(s):  
Control Measures ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Public Health Response ◽  
Healthcare Facilities ◽  
Infection Control Measures ◽  
Health Response ◽  
Close Proximity ◽  
Containment Measures ◽  
Eye Examination ◽  
Novel Coronavirus

Introduction The novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) is infecting people and spreading easily from person-to-person. Cases have been detected in most countries worldwide. Italy is one of the most affected countries as of 30 March 2020. Public health response includes a rapid reorganization of the Italian National Healthcare System in order to reduce transmission of COVID-19 within hospitals and healthcare facilities, while optimizing the assistance to patients with severe COVID-19 complications. Methods We analysed the actions that were taken in three ophthalmology centres in northern Italy during the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak and how these measures affected patient’s attendance. In addition, due to the rapidly evolving scenario, we reviewed the evidence available during the course of this pandemic. Results A full reorganization of ophthalmology services is mandatory according to current existing infection containment measures in order to continue dispensing urgent procedures without endangering the community with amplification of the diffusion chain. Ophthalmologists are considered at elevated risk of exposure when caring patients and vice versa, due to their close proximity during eye examination. High volumes of procedures typically generated by ophthalmologists with concurrent implications on the risk of infection are considered when re-assessing healthcare facilities reorganization. Conclusion Containment measures in the event of pandemic due to infective agents should be well known by healthcare professionals and promptly applied in order to mitigate the risk of nosocomial transmission and outbreak.

scholarly journals Preventing community-wide transmission ofCryptosporidium: a proactive public health response to a swimming pool-associated outbreak – Auglaize County, Ohio, USA

2015 ◽  
Vol 143 (16) ◽  
pp. 3459-3467 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. R. COPE ◽  
A. PROSSER ◽  
S. NOWICKI ◽  
M. W. ROBERTS ◽  
J. M. ROBERTS ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Case Control Study ◽  
Temporal Distribution ◽  
The United States ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Recreational Water ◽  
Public Health Response ◽  
Illness Onset ◽  
First Case ◽  
Health Response ◽  
Control Study

SUMMARYThe incidence of recreational water-associated outbreaks in the United States has significantly increased, driven, at least in part, by outbreaks both caused byCryptosporidiumand associated with treated recreational water venues. Because of the parasite's extreme chlorine tolerance, transmission can occur even in well-maintained treated recreational water venues (e.g. pools) and a focal cryptosporidiosis outbreak can evolve into a community-wide outbreak associated with multiple recreational water venues and settings (e.g. childcare facilities). In August 2004 in Auglaize County, Ohio, multiple cryptosporidiosis cases were identified and anecdotally linked to pool A. Within 5 days of the first case being reported, pool A was hyperchlorinated to achieve 99·9%Cryptosporidiuminactivition. A case-control study was launched to epidemiologically ascertain the outbreak source 11 days later. A total of 150 confirmed and probable cases were identified; the temporal distribution of illness onset was peaked, indicating a point-source exposure. Cryptosporidiosis was significantly associated with swimming in pool A (matched odds ratio 121·7, 95% confidence interval 27·4–∞) but not with another venue or setting. The findings of this investigation suggest that proactive implementation of control measures, when increasedCryptosporidiumtransmission is detected but before an outbreak source is epidemiologically ascertained, might prevent a focal cryptosporidiosis outbreak from evolving into a community-wide outbreak.

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