scholarly journals Diversity and Abundance of Mosquitoes Inhabiting Waste Tires in a Subtropical Swamp in Urban Florida

2018 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-49 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily T. N. Dinh ◽  
Robert J. Novak

ABSTRACT Automobile tires discarded in urban forest fragments may be a public health hazard, as they can support a population of vector mosquitoes. However, little is known about what factors may affect mosquito abundance and diversity within waste tires in a freshwater wetland forest. This study aimed to determine whether mosquito population dynamics in this environment in Florida differed over a year due to the site of collection and variation in vegetation greenness and elevation. We constructed negative binomial regression models to determine which of these characteristics were significant (α = 0.05) in affecting mosquito count data. Our findings suggest that in this specific environment, none of the covariates scrutinized had significant impacts on modulating overall mosquito and Aedes albopictus (the dominant species) abundance; waste tire habitats in urban freshwater wetland forests may be a year-round public health hazard.

2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 16
Author(s):  
William Milczarski ◽  
Peter Tuckel ◽  
Richard Maisel

Purpose: To provide an updated and comparative analysis of injury-related falls from bicycles, skateboards, roller skates and non-motorized scooters.Methods: The study uses two national databases – the Nationwide Emergency Department Sample and the Nationwide Inpatient Sample  – and subnational databases for New York, California, and Maryland.  Univariate and multivariate analyses (negative binomial regression) are performed to identify effects of age, gender, racial-ethnic background, and region on the incidence of injury-related falls from each of the four devices.Results: The rate of injuries due to falls from bicycles far surpasses the rates due to falls from the other devices.  When a measure of “exposure” is taken into consideration, however, the rate of injuries from skateboards outstrips the rates from bicycles or roller skates.  The profile of patients who are injured from falls from each of the four devices is distinctive.  Asian-Americans are greatly underrepresented among those who suffer a fall-related injury from any of the four devices.  The incidence of injuries attributable to falls varies considerably by geographic region.Conclusions: Public health officials need to be mindful that while certain activities such as scootering might be gaining in popularity, the number of injuries sustained from bicycles still dwarfs the number attributable to falls from skateboards, roller skates, and scooters combined.  Thus special attention needs to be paid to both prevent falls from bicycles and specific treatment modalities.  It is important for public health officials to gather injury data at the local level to allocate prevention and treatment resources more efficiently.


2016 ◽  
Vol 145 (3) ◽  
pp. 482-490 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. DESVARS-LARRIVE ◽  
X. LIU ◽  
M. HJERTQVIST ◽  
A. SJÖSTEDT ◽  
A. JOHANSSON ◽  
...  

SUMMARYSweden reports large and variable numbers of human tularemia cases, but the high-risk regions are anecdotally defined and factors explaining annual variations are poorly understood. Here, high-risk regions were identified by spatial cluster analysis on disease surveillance data for 1984–2012. Negative binomial regression with five previously validated predictors (including predicted mosquito abundance and predictors based on local weather data) was used to model the annual number of tularemia cases within the high-risk regions. Seven high-risk regions were identified with annual incidences of 3·8–44 cases/100 000 inhabitants, accounting for 56·4% of the tularemia cases but only 9·3% of Sweden's population. For all high-risk regions, most cases occurred between July and September. The regression models explained the annual variation of tularemia cases within most high-risk regions and discriminated between years with and without outbreaks. In conclusion, tularemia in Sweden is concentrated in a few high-risk regions and shows high annual and seasonal variations. We present reproducible methods for identifying tularemia high-risk regions and modelling tularemia cases within these regions. The results may help health authorities to target populations at risk and lay the foundation for developing an early warning system for outbreaks.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mavra Qamar ◽  
Sierra Cheng ◽  
Rebecca Plouffe ◽  
Stephanie Nanos ◽  
David N Fisman ◽  
...  

Abstract BackgroundSuicide prevention is a salient public health responsibility, as it is one of the top ten leading causes of premature mortality in the United States. Risk factors of suicide transcend the individual and societal level as risk can increase based on climatic variables. Previous studies have been country-based. Currently, studies focused solely on regions, provinces, or states, such as California, are limited. The present study holds two purposes: i) to assess the effect of maximum temperature on suicides, and ii) to evaluate the effect of number of monthly heat events on suicide rates, in California from 2008-2017.MethodsThe exposure was measured as the average Californian daily maximum temperature within each month, and the number of monthly heat events, which was calculated as a count of the days exhibiting a >15% increase from the historical monthly temperature. The outcome was measured as California’s monthly suicide rate. Negative binomial regression models assessed the relationship between maximum temperature and suicides, and heat events and suicide. A seasonal decomposition of a time series and auto-correlogram further analyzed the seasonality of suicide and the trend from 2008-2017. ResultsThere were 40,315 deaths by suicide in California between 2008-2017. Negative binomial regression indicated a 6.1% increase in suicide incidence rate ratio (IRR) per 10°F increase in maximum temperature (IRR=1.00590 per 1°F, 95% CI: 1.00387, 1.00793, p<0.0001) and a positive, non-significant association between suicide rates and number of heat events adjusted for month of occurrence (IRR 1.00148 per heat event, 95% CI: 0.99636, 1.00661, p=0.572). The time series analysis and auto-correlogram suggested seasonality of deaths by suicide.ConclusionThe present study provided preliminary evidence that will generate future directions for research. We must seek to further illuminate the relationship of interest and apply our findings to public health interventions that will lower the rates of death by suicide as we are confronted with the effects of climate change.


Pathogens ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 1595
Author(s):  
Krpasha Govindasamy ◽  
Eric M. C. Etter ◽  
Peter Geertsma ◽  
Peter N. Thompson

Bovine brucellosis is a zoonotic disease of global public health and economic importance. South Africa has had a national bovine brucellosis eradication scheme since 1979; however, no published report on elimination progress from any province exists. We analysed laboratory test results of all cattle herds participating in the Gauteng Provincial Veterinary Services’ eradication scheme between 2013 and 2018. Herd reactor status and within-herd seroprevalence, modelled using mixed-effects logistic and negative binomial regression models, respectively, showed no significant change over the period. However, provincial State Vet Areas, Randfontein (OR = 1.6; 95% CI: 1.2–2.1; p < 0.001) and Germiston (OR = 1.9; 95% CI: 1.5–2.5, p = 0.008) had higher odds of reactor herds than the Pretoria Area and within-herd prevalence count ratios for these areas were 1.5-fold greater than the Pretoria State Vet Area (p < 0.001). Reactor herds were associated with increased herd size (p < 0.001) and larger herd sizes were associated with lower within-herd prevalence (p < 0.001). Despite no evidence of significant progress toward bovine brucellosis elimination in Gauteng province, variability in bovine brucellosis prevalence between State Vet Areas exists. A public health and farmer-supported strategy of ongoing district-based surveillance and cattle vaccination targeting small- to medium-sized herds combined with compulsory test and slaughter of reactors in larger herds is recommended for the province.


2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. S794-S795
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Traub ◽  
Louise Rollin ◽  
Prabhu Gounder

Abstract Background Deaths caused by seasonal influenza are impossible to measure directly and are typically estimated using statistical models. We applied a previously developed model to Los Angeles County (LAC) data for the 2013–2014 through 2017–2018 influenza seasons. Methods Excess deaths attributable to influenza were estimated using a negative binomial regression model incorporating laboratory surveillance data and weekly counts of deaths with an underlying respiratory or circulatory cause of death. We obtained death data from the National Vital Statistics System. Population estimates for LAC were prepared by Hedderson Demographic Services for LAC Internal Services Department. The weekly total number of respiratory specimens tested and number positive for influenza or respiratory syncytial virus were provided by nine healthcare systems in LAC. Influenza-associated deaths in all ages are reportable to LAC Department of Public Health; confirmed reports are counted as observed deaths. Results The midyear LAC population increased from 10,019,362 in 2013 to 10,272,648 in 2017. The median number of observed influenza deaths reported to public health was 81 in 2015–2016 (minimum [min]: 56 in 2015–2015, maximum [max]: 288 in 2017–2018). The median number of seasonal deaths with an underlying respiratory or circulatory cause was 27,455 (min: 25,828, max: 28,732). The median estimate of influenza-attributable deaths was 1,478 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 823–2,613) in 2015–2016, with a min of 1,045 deaths (CI: 629–2,258) in 2013–2014 and a max of 1,905 (CI: 1,075–3,269) in 2017–2018. Conclusion Although influenza-associated deaths at all ages are reportable in LAC, a variety of barriers to reporting exist. Our estimates indicate that influenza-associated deaths in LAC are underreported. The more comprehensive modeled estimate of the burden of influenza can better inform local policy and planning decisions. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.


2021 ◽  
Vol 79 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fares Qeadan ◽  
Nana Akofua Mensah ◽  
Benjamin Tingey ◽  
Rona Bern ◽  
Tracy Rees ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The spread of the COVID-19 pandemic throughout the world presents an unprecedented challenge to public health inequities. People who use opioids may be a vulnerable group disproportionately impacted by the current pandemic, however, the limited prior research in this area makes it unclear whether COVID-19 and opioid use outcomes may be related, and whether other environmental and socioeconomic factors might play a role in explaining COVID-19 mortality. The objective of this study is to evaluate the association between opioid-related mortality and COVID-19 mortality across U.S. counties. Methods Data from 3142 counties across the U.S. were used to model the cumulative count of deaths due to COVID-19 up to June 2, 2020. A multivariable negative-binomial regression model was employed to evaluate the adjusted COVID-19 mortality rate ratios (aMRR). Results After controlling for covariates, counties with higher rates of opioid-related mortality per 100,000 persons were found to be significantly associated with higher rates of COVID-19 mortality (aMRR: 1.0134; 95% CI [1.0054, 1.0214]; P = 0.001). Counties with higher average daily Particulate Matter (PM2.5) exposure also saw significantly higher rates of COVID-19 mortality. Analyses revealed rural counties, counties with higher percentages of non-Hispanic whites, and counties with increased average maximum temperatures are significantly associated with lower mortality rates from COVID-19. Conclusions This study indicates need for public health efforts in hard hit COVID-19 regions to also focus prevention efforts on overdose risk among people who use opioids. Future studies using individual-level data are needed to allow for detailed inferences.


2019 ◽  
Vol 49 (2) ◽  
pp. 122-130
Author(s):  
Marcelo MENIN ◽  
Rafaela Fernanda Batista FERREIRA ◽  
Izomar Barbosa MELO ◽  
Marcelo GORDO ◽  
Gustavo Yomar HATTORI ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Few studies in the Amazon region have evaluated anuran diversity in urban forest fragments or in areas with differing degrees of anthropogenic impact. We determined the composition and abundance of the anurofauna in urban and rural sites within the municipality of Itacoatiara in central Amazonia, Brazil. Specimens were sampled from January 2012 to May 2013 in 10 urban sites and five rural sites. A total of 1,538 anurans (930 in rural sites and 608 in urban sites) were recorded, belonging to 29 species in five families. Species richness was higher in rural sites, with 10 exclusive species. All species found in urban sites were also found in rural sites, however, species abundance varied considerably between the habitats. Sampling- and individual-based rarefaction curves showed a tendency toward stabilization of species richness only in the urban sites. We concluded that the anuran assemblages in the urban sites are depauperate due to the absence of many species associated to pristine terra firme or várzea and igapó forests. Habitat loss and quality degradation in urban landscapes are the main factors threatening amphibian diversity. The anuran assemblages in our study areas were similar to those recorded in other Amazonian habitats. Conservation measures involving anurans in this region should consider the preservation of habitat mosaics, including both pristine terra firme, várzea and igapó forests.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mavra Qamar ◽  
Sierra Cheng ◽  
Rebecca Plouffe ◽  
Stephanie Nanos ◽  
David N Fisman ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Suicide prevention is a salient public health responsibility, as it is one of the top ten leading causes of premature mortality in the United States. Risk factors of suicide transcend the individual and societal level as risk can increase based on climatic variables. Previous studies have been country-based. Currently, studies focused solely on regions, provinces, or states, such as California, are limited. The present study holds two purposes: i) to assess the effect of maximum temperature on suicides, and ii) to evaluate the effect of number of monthly heat events on suicide rates, in California from 2008-2017.Methods: The exposure was measured as the average Californian daily maximum temperature within each month, and the number of monthly heat events, which was calculated as a count of the days exhibiting a >15% increase from the historical monthly temperature. The outcome was measured as California’s monthly suicide rate. Negative binomial regression models assessed the relationship between maximum temperature and suicides, and heat events and suicide. A seasonal decomposition of a time series and auto-correlogram further analyzed the seasonality of suicide and the trend from 2008-2017. Results: There were 40,315 deaths by suicide in California between 2008-2017. Negative binomial regression indicated a 6.1% increase in suicide incidence rate ratio (IRR) per 10°F increase in maximum temperature (IRR=1.00590 per 1°F, 95% CI: 1.00387, 1.00793, p<0.0001) and a positive, non-significant association between suicide rates and number of heat events adjusted for month of occurrence (IRR 1.00148 per heat event, 95% CI: 0.99636, 1.00661, p=0.572). The time series analysis and auto-correlogram suggested seasonality of deaths by suicide.Conclusion: The present study provided preliminary evidence that will generate future directions for research. We must seek to further illuminate the relationship of interest and apply our findings to public health interventions that will lower the rates of death by suicide as we are confronted with the effects of climate change.


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