scholarly journals Psoriasis, biological drugs and Coronavirus Disease 2019: Real life experience of two Italian provinces

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Martina Vispi ◽  
Teresa Corradin ◽  
Camilla Peccianti ◽  
Luca Feci ◽  
Laura Casini ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Life Experience ◽  
Close Contact ◽  
Real Life ◽  
World Health ◽  
Risk Category ◽  
Biological Drugs ◽  
Italian Provinces ◽  
The Media ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Observation Period

On January 30, 2020, World Health Organization (WHO) stated that a new coronavirus disease outbreak [COronaVIrus Disease - 19 (COVID-19)] was an international public health emergency. Many news, often fake ones, about the derived pandemic rapidly spread along the media, thus leading many dermatological patients to identify as “risk category” and sometimes discontinue treatments by themselves. The Dermatology Units in Grosseto and Pordenone simultaneously carried out a data collection by remote-conducted visits, evaluating the incidence of COVID-19 in psoriatic patients. Only 1 patient (close contact of a case) as part of the psoriasis analyzed group was tested and turned out to be positive for SARS-CoV-2, developing no symptoms during the observation period. The collected information may suggest that psoriasis, biotechnologically treated or not, cannot promote or aggravate the clinical trend of the SARS-CoV-2 infection, hence stopping systemic therapy in negative or clinically free SARS-CoV-2 patients is not recommended in general.

Myths about COVID-19

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (SPL1) ◽  
pp. 907-912
Author(s):  
Deepika Masurkar ◽  
Priyanka Jaiswal
Keyword(s):  
World Health ◽  
Indian Society ◽  
Common People ◽  
The World ◽  
New Type ◽  
The Media ◽  
Personal Level ◽  
Novel Virus ◽  
The Common ◽  
Health Organization

Recently at the end of 2019, a new disease was found in Wuhan, China. This disease was diagnosed to be caused by a new type of coronavirus and affected almost the whole world. Chinese researchers named this novel virus as 2019-nCov or Wuhan-coronavirus. However, to avoid misunderstanding the World Health Organization noises it as COVID-19 virus when interacting with the media COVID-19 is new globally as well as in India. This has disturbed peoples mind. There are various rumours about the coronavirus in Indian society which causes panic in peoples mind. It is the need of society to know myths and facts about coronavirus to reduce the panic and take the proper precautionary actions for our safety against the coronavirus. Thus this article aims to bust myths and present the facts to the common people. We need to verify myths spreading through social media and keep our self-ready with facts so that we can protect our self in a better way. People must prevent COVID 19 at a personal level. Appropriate action in individual communities and countries can benefit the entire world.

scholarly journals How Loud and Clear Rung the Alarm Bell: The Communication Efforts of WHO on the Beginning of COVID-19 Outbreak

2021 ◽  
pp. 002073142110249
Author(s):  
Huriye Toker
Keyword(s):  
Risk Communication ◽  
International Development ◽  
International Health ◽  
Well Being ◽  
World Health ◽  
The Public ◽  
News Releases ◽  
The Media ◽  
Credible Information ◽  
Health Organization

As seen clearly from the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, health is an important foreign policy and diplomatic issue connected with security, economic well-being, and international development. According to risk communication researchers, effective, transparent, and timely information sharing is the most important tool after vaccines for responding to pandemics. This study aims to start a scholarly discussion on the risk communication efforts of the World Health Organization (WHO) during the COVID-19 outbreak. We analyzed WHO’s communication efforts during the first 3 months of the COVID-19 pandemic. As the leading international health organization, WHO was responsible for providing rapid, up-to-date, and credible information for the public and the media. The selected research items were 42 news releases and statements provided by WHO between December 31, 2019, and March 30, 2020. These were subjected to qualitative and quantitative content analyses using the NVivo 12 qualitative analysis software program for coding. The data were coded under 6 variables (date of publication, topics, frequency, wording of the COVID-19 outbreak, sourcing, and themes of the releases). While 54.7% of WHO's communications were devoted to the COVID-19 outbreak, more than half were not issued until March. That is, instead of early risk communication and clear warnings about the outbreak, WHO acted overcautiously, preferring messages related to solidarity and cooperation during the most devastating pandemic of the 21st century.

scholarly journals Preliminary study of coronavirus disease 2019 on pets in pandemic in Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia

2021 ◽  
pp. 2979-2983
Author(s):  
Hamong Suharsono ◽  
Ali Ghufron Mukti ◽  
Ketut Suryana ◽  
I. Wayan Masa Tenaya ◽  
Dilasdita Kartika Pradana ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Close Contact ◽  
Genetic Material ◽  
Rna Isolation ◽  
World Health ◽  
Intermediate Hosts ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
Pcr Products ◽  
Preliminary Study ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Respiratory Droplets

Background and Aim: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an acute infectious respiratory disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) and has spread rapidly globally, resulting in a pandemic. In humans, the main routes of transmission are respiratory droplets and close contact with infected individuals or through contact with an object infected with the virus, followed by touching mouth, nose, or eyes. It is assumed that SARS-CoV-2 was originated in wild animals and was then transmitted to humans. Although some wildlife and domestic animals can be naturally or experimentally infected with the virus, the intermediate hosts that transmitted it to humans are still unknown. Understanding the dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 associated with possible zoonotic transmission of intermediate hosts is considered critical. Reportedly, cats or dogs living with COVID-19-positive humans tested positive for the disease, suggesting that the virus was transmitted to the animals from humans. Information regarding the epidemiological investigation and comprehensive studies is limited. Therefore, it is still unclear how high is the correlation of infection in humans and pet animals, especially those living together. The aim of this study was to investigate the possibility of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the pets of patients with COVID-19 who were hospitalized at the Wangaya hospital, Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia. Materials and Methods: A total of seven clinically asymptomatic pets (six dogs of different races and sexes and a cat [age, 360-2920 days]) were included in this study. These animals belonged to patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection from August to November 2020. Nasal swab and nasopharyngeal samples were collected from the pets individually under anesthetic condition and were collected 6-12 days after confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection in owners and hospitalization at the Wangaya Hospital. The swab samples were then processed for RNA isolation and tested using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for SARS-CoV-2, in accordance with the World Health Organization manual 2020. Results: RT-PCR results for all seven RNA samples, prepared from the swab samples, were negative. For the samples, all PCR products were below the threshold limit, suggesting no genetic material belonging to the samples tested. Conclusion: This was the first preliminary study of COVID-19 on pets in pandemic using RT-PCR. The study tested a very limited quantity of samples, and all of them were negative. However, the way in which the samples were prepared was considered appropriate. Therefore, in further studies, testing of more samples of pets of more individuals with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection is required.

scholarly journals A cluster of rubella in Malta, December 2007 - January 2008

2008 ◽  
Vol 13 (16) ◽  
Author(s):  
G Spiteri ◽  
A-M Fenech Magrin ◽  
M Muscat
Keyword(s):  
Close Contact ◽  
Control Unit ◽  
World Health ◽  
Work Place ◽  
Reference Laboratory ◽  
The Third ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Travel Abroad ◽  
In The Beginning ◽  
And Control

A cluster of rubella has been identified by the Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Unit (IDCU) of Malta in the beginning of January 2008. Two men and a woman aged between 23 and 28 years were affected. The index case had onset of illness on 23 December 2007. The second case had onset of rash on 3 January and the third case displayed symptoms on 6 January 2008. Two of the three cases were laboratory-confirmed (IgM positive), the third displayed typical symptoms and was a close contact of a laboratory-confirmed case but was IgM and IgG negative. None of the affected patients had received vaccination against rubella and there was no history of recent travel abroad. All three cases were linked through a work place. Blood samples were submitted to the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Reference Laboratory for Measles and Rubella, Luxembourg, for further investigations. None of the cases had any complications. To date no further cases have been identified.

scholarly journals Pandemic 2011: coming soon to a location near you.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer Sacco
Keyword(s):  
Media Coverage ◽  
World Health ◽  
First Case ◽  
The World ◽  
Spanish Flu ◽  
Seasonal Flu ◽  
The Media ◽  
One Year ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Lower Death Rate

"H1 N1 is a virus that has been sensationalized by the media since the first case was discovered in Mexico during the spring of 2009. People around the world feared that the virus would mutate into something as severe as the 1918 Spanish flu, one of the deadliest plagues in history. However experts had discovered by June of 2009 that the Spanish flu was not comparable to H1 N1. Yet for six months newspaper reporters continued to compare the ew epidemic to the Spanish flu, thus keeping alive the threat of an unstoppable pandemic. One year has passed since the first case of H1 N1 was confirmed. After all of the attention that H1 N1 received, it proved to be not much different than a typical seasonal flu, resulting in a lower death rate (Schabas and Rau, 2010). Recently, a number of investigations have begun to determine if the World Health Organization (WHO) overemphasized the level of risk, resulting in a large quantity of sensationalized media coverage, and citizens in a state of panic.

International Aspects of the COVID-19 Infodemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 76 (5S) ◽  
pp. 572-580
Author(s):  
Oksana A. Pivovarova ◽  
Sergej J. Gorbatov ◽  
Ekaterina О. Korotkova ◽  
Natalya N. Kamynina
Keyword(s):  
Social Networks ◽  
World Health ◽  
Bibliographic Databases ◽  
Effective Response ◽  
Social Media Platforms ◽  
Response Measures ◽  
The Media ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
International Aspects ◽  
Strict Selection

At present, the speed and scale of the dissemination of false health information has increased significantly, due to the Internet and social networks, which has become a serious problem and challenge for the worlds public health systems. The issue of spreading implausible news has become most acute against the background of the COVID-19 pandemic. Since February 2020, the World Health Organization has introduced the term infodemiс, which characterizes the rapid growth of unreliable and false reports of a pandemic by analogy with the spread of the virus. The purpose of this article is to study the issues of the emergence and ways of spreading misinformation about health, to consider approaches for taking effective response measures in the conditions of infodemiс. The article was prepared using a systematic review of research publications based on strict selection criteria in the bibliographic databases PubMed, ScienceDirect, as well as online resources that addressed the issues of dissemination and countering false information in the field of healthcare. Countering disinformation needs to be done through correcting information, purposeful refutations based on evidence, implementing initiatives to improve the media literacy of the population, as well as by improving the supervision of social networks. Coordinated interaction between governmental and international organizations, the scientific community, the media, and global Internet social media platforms is crucial in this process.

scholarly journals Use of mask in COVID-19 era: absence of evidence is not evidence of absence

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 89-90
Author(s):  
Rano Mal Piryani ◽  
Suneel Piryani ◽  
Jay Narayan Shah
Keyword(s):  
United States Of America ◽  
Close Contact ◽  
Healthy Person ◽  
World Health ◽  
Source Control ◽  
Community Settings ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Risk Of Exposure ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Healthy Persons

World Health Organization (WHO) in its interim guidance of 6 April 2020 advises policy makers on the use of masks for healthy people in community settings. The rationale for mask use by healthy person is prevention from COVID-19, when there is risk of exposure, like working in close contact with public, people with comorbidities, where physical distancing cannot be maintained such as travelling in buses, staying in slum areas. Furthermore, WHO says the purpose and reason for mask use should be clear– whether it is to be used for source control (used by infected persons) or prevention of COVID-19 (used by healthy persons).1 Centers for Disease Control (CDC) United States of America (USA) updated its advisory on 4 Apr 2020, and recommended everyone (except some) should wear at least a cloth face covering when they have to go out in public. It will protect other people in case you are infected.2,3 This advisory of no strict demand on use of face masks could be possibly due to unavailability of disposable masks.

The Asian Tsunami: Pan-American Health Organization Disaster Guidelines in Action in India

2006 ◽  
Vol 21 (5) ◽  
pp. 310-315 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nobhojit Roy
Keyword(s):  
World Health Organization ◽  
Psychosocial Support ◽  
Salt Water ◽  
Panic Attacks ◽  
World Health ◽  
Incident Management ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
The Media ◽  
Pan American ◽  
Health Organization

AbstractIntroduction:On 26 December 2004, an earthquake (9.0 Richter, 10 kilometers below the sea) near Sumatra, Indonesia, triggered a tsunami, which traveled at approximately 800 km per hour to strike the Indian coastline. The disaster response at a 100-bed hospital situated on the beach front (2,028 km from the epi-center) is described.This paper underlines the benefit of the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO)/World Health Organization (WHO) Guidelines for Natural Disasters in the Indian setting.Methods:The demand on the healthcare system in the affected study area (50 km2, 40,000 population) was assessed in terms of preparedness, response time, casualties, personnel, and resources. Other disaster issues studied included: (1) the disposal of the dead; (2) sanitation; (3) water supply; (4) food; (5) the role of the media; and (6) rehabilitation. Two hospital paramedics administered a disaster-related questionnaire in the local language to the victims (or an accompanying person) upon arrival at the hospital. Personalinterviews with administrative officials involved in incident management, aid, volunteers, and response, also were conducted.The outreach programs consisted of medical camps, health education, re-chlorination of contaminated drinking water, and spraying bleaching powder on wet floor areas.Results:The total death toll in the area was 62 (with 56, four, and two bodies being recovered on Day 1, 2, and 3 respectively). There were 17 deceased males and 45 females. The bodies immediately were handed over to the relatives upon identification or sent to the mortuary. The attendance in the makeshift accident-and-emergency department on the day of the Tsunami was 219, surged to 339 patients on Day 2, and returned to baseline census on Day 7. Essentially, injuries were minor, and two children with pulmonary edema secondary to salt-water drowning recovered fully. The hospital was cleaned of debris and seaweed on Day 3 and the equipment was restored, but it remained only partially functional. This is because many staff members did not come to work because of rumors that another tsunami was imminent.There were no outbreaks of water-borne illnesses. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms such as panic attacks, nightmares, insomnia, fear of water, being startled by loud sounds, and palpitations were detected in 17% of the patients.Conclusions:After an event, medical rescue personnel often are instructed by well-meaning authorities to conduct interventions and response, which have high visibility in the media. However, strictly adhering to the Pan-American Health Organization/World Health Organization guidelines proved to be cost-effective in terms of resource allocations and disaster responses in the Tsunami-affected areas. Unnecessary mass vaccinations, mass disposal of dead bodies without identification, and an influx of untrained volunteers were avoided. Inappropriate aid by developed nations often is unmindful of the victims'needs and self-esteem. The survivors demonstrated natural coping mechanisms and resilience, which only required time and psychosocial support.

scholarly journals Air Pollution and COVID-19: The Role of Particulate Matter in the Spread and Increase of COVID-19’s Morbidity and Mortality

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (12) ◽  
pp. 4487 ◽  
Author(s):  
Silvia Comunian ◽  
Dario Dongo ◽  
Chiara Milani ◽  
Paola Palestini
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Particulate Matter ◽  
Close Contact ◽  
Atmospheric Particulate Matter ◽  
World Health ◽  
Angiotensin Converting Enzyme 2 ◽  
Positive Correlation ◽  
Pulmonary Cells ◽  
Health Organization

Sars-Cov-2 virus (COVID-19) is a member of the coronavirus family and is responsible for the pandemic recently declared by the World Health Organization. A positive correlation has been observed between the spread of the virus and air pollution, one of the greatest challenges of our millennium. COVID-19 could have an air transmission and atmospheric particulate matter (PM) could create a suitable environment for transporting the virus at greater distances than those considered for close contact. Moreover, PM induces inflammation in lung cells and exposure to PM could increase the susceptibility and severity of the COVID-19 patient symptoms. The new coronavirus has been shown to trigger an inflammatory storm that would be sustained in the case of pre-exposure to polluting agents. In this review, we highlight the potential role of PM in the spread of COVID-19, focusing on Italian cities whose PM daily concentrations were found to be higher than the annual average allowed during the months preceding the epidemic. Furthermore, we analyze the positive correlation between the virus spread, PM, and angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), a receptor involved in the entry of the virus into pulmonary cells and inflammation.

scholarly journals The World Health Organization in Crisis—Lessons to be Learned Beyond the Ebola Outbreak

2016 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-29 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nadja Meisterhans
Keyword(s):  
Global Health ◽  
World Health Organization ◽  
Legal Theory ◽  
World Health ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Democratic Reform ◽  
The World ◽  
The Media ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Do So

Blaming the World Health Organization (who) for its failures in the Ebola crisis was a common reaction of the media. However, exclusively denouncing the who for the spread of Ebola falls short as it does not recognize the structural deficits of those recent governance procedures financing global health that lead to a chronic underfunding of the who. Against this background, the article reflects perspectives of a democratic reform of global health funding. It concludes that only the who can provide a leadership on global health matters, but to do so it depends on states willing to rebuild the who’s capacities to act. To address the global health crisis properly, the revitalization of who’s constitutional mandate is critically necessary. The discussion is based on normative legal theory, which argues that processes of globalization have transformed international law into a global rule of law, placing specific duties on states and international institutions.

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