Pandemic inequalities: emerging infectious diseases and health equity

The frequency and scale of Emerging Infectious Diseases (EIDs) with pandemic potential has been increasing over the last two decades and, as COVID-19 has shown, such zoonotic spill-over events are an increasing threat to public health globally. There has been considerable research into EIDs – especially in the case of COVID-19. However, most of this has focused on disease emergence, symptom identification, chains of transmission, case prevalence and mortality as well as prevention and treatment. Much less attention has been paid to health equity concerns and the relationship between socio-economic inequalities and the spread, scale and resolution of EID pandemics. This commentary article therefore explores socio-economic inequalities in the nature of EID pandemics. Drawing on three diverse case studies (Zika, Ebola, COVID-19), it hypothesises the four main pathways linking inequality and infectious disease (unequal exposure, unequal transmission, unequal susceptibility, unequal treatment) – setting out a new model for understanding EIDs and health inequalities. It concludes by considering the research directions and policy actions needed to reduce inequalities in future EID outbreaks.

Managing The COVID-19 Pandemic in The Community-Based Mountain Eruption Zone, Cangkringan Sub-District, in Yogyakarta

Background: First case in Indonesia was reported in March 2, 2020 and until November, it has infected more than 400.000 people, with more than 300.000 recovered and 15.000 deaths in total. Especially in Cangkringan District and surrounding area, the latest natural disaster is happening in the midst of a COVID-19 pandemic that is eruption of Mount Merapi which encourage local government and outposts to prepare camps for people nearby who suffered from Mount Merapi eruption. Meanwhile, in evacuation camp, the chance of infected by COVID-19 is high and it is a main problem and a purpose of this research.Methods: Methods that is conducted in this research by obtaining vulnerability level data against the outbreak and making a probability map of virus transmission mainly in the eruption red zone.Result: The outcome of this research is COVID-19 mitigation map within eruption red zone of this regency and recommendations about how to control the outbreak among refugees.Conclusion: Therefore, evacuation can be conducted in the midst of pandemic situation because the transmission case is low.

Apakah pengumuman resmi kasus pertama Covid-19 oleh Presiden Joko Widodo memiliki kandungan informasi? Event study pada saham-saham LQ-45

This study analyzes the phenomenon of the first case of Covid-19 transmission in Indonesia and its impact on the capital market in Indonesia. This study aims to test whether there is a negative PCAD pattern after the first announcement of the covid-19 virus transmission case on the Indonesian capital market and to prove that the Indonesian capital market experienced a significant decline in returns after the first announcement period of the covid-19 virus transmission. Stocks that are included as LQ45 stocks are being utilized and event study is the method to analyze the market response during the window period (t-10, t+10) and uses the independent sample t-test to compare the average abnormal return. mean (AAR) and mean cumulative abnormal return (CAAR). The results of this study indicate that the market takes a wait & see strategy, PCAD shows the form of a negative sign after the event and there is a difference between AAR and CAAR 10-days before and 10-days after the event. Overall, this research shows that the market has responded negatively to information related to the Covid-19 virus.

Vulnerability assessment of public rental housing (Rusunawa) residents in facing the risk of COVID-19 transmission (Case study of Surabaya)

This study focused on assessing the vulnerability of public rental housing (Rusunawa) residents facing the risk of COVID-19 transmission. The level of vulnerability was measured through a Weighted Scoring Method (WSM), which considered various aspects that set Rusunawa apart, such as elderly population, occupancy rate, overcrowding, the number of confirmed positive cases in an area, access to clean water service and jobs vulnerable to the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Results showed that each of the Rusunawa had different levels of vulnerability, which was categorized into 4 clusters: Most Vulnerable (Dupak Bangunrejo and Siwalankerto), Vulnerable (Wonorejo, Pesapen, Jambangan and Dukuh Menanggal), Slightly Vulnerable (Penjaringansari, Keputih and Bandarejo) and Least Vulnerable (Romokalisari, Gununganyar and Tambak Wedi). Dupak Bangunrejo Rusunawa was identified to be one of the most vulnerable Rusunawa towards COVID-19 transmission in comparison to other Rusunawa due to a high amount of older people, high occupancy rate and population density. In contrast, Siwalankerto Rusunawa was caused due to a higher amount older people in conjunction with its residents working in job sectors vulnerable to the virus and the number of confirmed COVID--19 positive case in its area.

Human-to-Cat SARS-CoV-2 Transmission: Case Report and Full-Genome Sequencing from an Infected Pet and Its Owner in Northern Italy

There have been previous reports of the human-to-cat transmission of SARS-CoV-2, but there are only a few molecular studies that have compared the whole genome of the virus in cats and their owners. We here describe a case of domestic SARS-CoV-2 transmission from a healthcare worker to his cat for which nasopharyngeal swabs of both the cat and its owner were used for full-genome analysis. The results indicate that quarantine measures should be extended to pets living in SARS-CoV-2-infected households.