#broadlyepi

[broadlyepi]

Announcing MMWR Booster!

Hey everyone! Starting on January 1 of 2024, BroadlyEpi will be releasing at least 2 articles per day that are super condensed, easy to read summaries of Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Reports. The goal is over the course of several years to summarize every Report from 2023-2010 in a way that is fun, approachable, and under 500 words. All summaries will also have reference and citations front and center. While this is meant for Public Health folks, I hope it also might be useful to anyone who wants to have an understanding of what's going on in everything from global health to vaccines to injury and violence prevention. Any posts in future that feature a Booster will be tagged with #MMWR Booster. Happy New Year!

[twinstrangersp]

Fanworks Highlight: Audio Works

Our first thread will be highlighting audio pieces of work! Our listeners are so extremely creative, and we're thrilled to be able to showcase some of the amazing piece of works they've created that are inspired by the characters and world of Syntax!

First is a favorite you may have heard of before -- the music aficionado, N0n-B1nary (@broadlyepi)! They've created several lo-fi tracks inspired by Syntax characters, and we even use one of their tracks in our spin-off series, Semantics! (Which you can hear on Apollo+, wink wink)

To listen to their amazing music, find their Spotify here, where they have an entire EP out: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5OeyUCCmEb7KOyvYSHFWGk?si=PevZ03JBShOocmz0Es2V9Q

And their Soundcloud here, where they upload new songs! https://soundcloud.com/n0n-b1nary

Thank you so much for making such incredible content inspired by our show! 🖤

Our second audio highlight is something we'd never thought we'd see -- a fan episode of Syntax! We've been given permission to share it to y'all, and we're so amazed by the creativity and storytelling! Thank you to Mad_ for creating it, and Quaker for helping him out!

You can find the fan-made episode here! Please remember that this is a non-canon work based off of the Syntax universe -- but it's entirely incredible, nonetheless! Thank you again for being so inspired!

If you'd like to see what people are inspired by, please check out Syntax's crowdfunding campaign for Season 3 -- we are so excited to get to work, and there's tons of incredible content to come!

[grad-premed-suffering]

Nine People I'd Like To Know Better

Thank you for the tag, @snoopyreadsliterature!

Last song I listened to: VICTORY LAP! by PLEASEBENiCE (she's my friend and really cool)

Currently watching: How to Get Away with Murder as my main series (yes I know I'm way behind the trend), rewatching Good Omens and Community for comfort

Spicy/savory/or sweet?: Sweet for sure! Any fruit-flavoured/ gummy thing is my weakness.

Relationship status: Single. I'm so overloaded right now that I don't need to add dating on top of it.

Current Obsession: YouTube video essays (I'm a big overthinker so I love the deep analysis over seemingly insignificant things) and my new dance classes!

Tagging some cool people below. No pressure, and anyone, feel free to participate as well! @shitifindinsteadofdoingmyphd @broadlyepi @birdbrainstudies @reaching-for-balance-in-life @ink-stained-clouds @o2studies @starlight-student @booklyhour @studymustelid

[twinstrangersp]

Fanworks Highlight: Written Works

Continuing with our fanwork highlights, today we're focusing on the written medium! Check out the read more for the featured works!

We're truly amazed by some of the writing that's come up in the Syntax discord server, first being a poem created by Hil! Screenshots below -- we're still so incredibly honored!

Next up is a short story, written by the same listener who made the fan episode we posted yesterday! Thank you again to Mad_ for being such a creative individual, and thinking up stories inspired by Syntax!

Lastly, we have something entirely interesting -- a listener-created bacteria originating in Gaia! This was created by @broadlyepi as well, who's talents definitely venture outside of just audio format! Thank you again <3

Thank you to everyone who has created something for us! We are absolutely floored by everyone's creativity, and we can't wait to show you more to be inspired about. You truly are the best listeners ever, and we hope you find more inspiration through our third season! Don't forget to check out our IGG campaign for more!

[broadlyepi]

MMWR Booster #10: Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 and Influenza Coinfection and Clinical Characteristics Among Children and Adolescents Aged <18 Years Who Were Hospitalized or Died with Influenza — United States, 2021–22 Influenza Season

Top 5 Takeaways

6% of pediatric influenza hospitalizations had concurrent SARS-CoV-2 (COVID) coinfection during the 2021–22 influenza season.

Coinfected patients exhibited a higher need for respiratory support (invasive or noninvasive) compared to those with influenza only.

Among pediatric deaths linked to influenza, 16% had SARS-CoV-2 coinfection; vaccination and antiviral use were notably low in these cases.

Data from the CDC's surveillance networks highlighted the importance of dual-testing for influenza and SARS-CoV-2 in pediatric patients with respiratory symptoms.

The report underscores the need for preventive strategies like vaccinations and mask use during high respiratory virus circulation periods.

link: BroadlyEpi.com

Enjoying these summaries? Check back every day at 8am and 4pm Pacific Time (UTC - 8) for a new MMWR Booster. A reblog would also be greatly appreciated, and thanks to everyone who already has! BroadlyEpi hopes to make Epidemiology and Public Health more approachable to anyone who's interested.

[broadlyepi]

BroadlyEpi Newsletter

Hello! This newsletter will have both last weeks content and some less recent articles as well (excluding archived MMWR Boosters as otherwise that’d be way too many links). I hope you’re all doing great!

MMWR Boosters (Current Edition):

MMWR Booster for: Outbreak Linked to Morel Mushroom Exposure — Montana, 2023, Weekly / March 14, 2024 / 73(10);219–224

MMWR Booster for: Notes from the Field: Surveillance for Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children — United States, 2023 , Weekly / March 14, 2024 / 73(10);225–228

MMWR Booster for: Surveillance of Waterborne Disease Outbreaks Associated with Drinking Water — United States, 2015–2020 , Surveillance Summaries / March 14, 2024 / 73(1);1–23

MMWR Booster for: Notes from the Field: Measles Outbreak — Cook County, Illinois, October–November 2023, Weekly / March 14, 2024 / 73(10);229–230

MMWR Booster for: Surveillance for Coccidioidomycosis, Histoplasmosis, and Blastomycosis During the COVID-19 Pandemic — United States, 2019–2021 / Weekly / March 21, 2024 / 73(11);239–244

MMWR Booster for: Tuberculosis Preventive Treatment Update — U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, 36 Countries, 2016–2023 / Weekly / March 21, 2024 / 73(11);233–238

MMWR Booster for: Notes from the Field: Expanded Laboratory Testing for Varicella — Minnesota, 2016–2023 / Weekly / March 21, 2024 / 73(11);245–246

Epi Explained, ThuRsday and PyFriday Tutorials:

Epi Explained: Understanding T-Tests, Relative Risk and SIR Models

ThuRsday Tutorial: How to Calculate T-Tests, Relative Risk and SIR Models in R

PyFriday Tutorial: How to Calculate T-Tests, Relative Risk, and SIR Models in Python

As a final general announcement, we’re happy to report that BroadlyEpi is now a major sponsor of the Twin Strangers Production network of Audio Drama Podcasts. If you haven’t checked out any of their great work, you absolutely should.

[broadlyepi]

MMWR Booster #35:  Epidemiologic and Clinical Features of Children and Adolescents Aged <18 Years with Monkeypox — United States, May 17–September 24, 2022

Top 5 Takeaways

Prevalence and Demographics: Monkeypox virus (MPXV) infections in children and adolescents aged <18 years constituted only 0.3% of all U.S. cases during the study period, with no critical illnesses or deaths reported. The majority of these cases were among non-Hispanic Black or African American and Hispanic or Latino children and adolescents.

Transmission Modes: Younger children typically acquired MPXV through skin-to-skin contact with infected caregivers, while adolescents were more frequently exposed through male-to-male sexual contact.

Clinical Features and Treatment: Most cases in children and adolescents were not severe, and the majority did not require hospitalization. Common symptoms included lesions on the trunk, and some received antiviral treatments.

Prevention and Public Health Implications: The study underscores the importance of prevention measures, such as vaccination and education about monkeypox transmission, particularly in household settings and among sexually active adolescents.

Equity in Health Care Access: The findings highlight the need for equitable access to monkeypox vaccination, testing, and treatment, particularly among Black and Hispanic communities.

Note:

This MMWR Article was created prior to the conventional renaming of Monkeypox to its more standard and appropriate name, Mpox. To avoid confusion, Monkeypox is retained when writing this article, but all future works should use Mpox.

Full summary link: BroadlyEpi.com

Enjoying these summaries? Check back every day at 8am and 4pm Pacific Time (UTC - 8) for a new MMWR Booster. A reblog would also be greatly appreciated, and thanks to everyone who already has! BroadlyEpi hopes to make Epidemiology and Public Health more approachable to anyone who's interested.

[broadlyepi]

MMWR Booster #13: Safety Monitoring of JYNNEOS Vaccine During the 2022 Mpox Outbreak — United States, May 22–October 21, 2022

Top 5 Takeaways:

Nearly 1 million JYNNEOS doses administered: From May 22 to October 21, 2022, around 987,294 doses were given in the U.S., showing a safety profile consistent with prelicensure studies.

Most common adverse events were nonserious: These included injection site reactions. Serious adverse events were rare in adults, and none identified in persons aged <18 years.

VAERS and VSD systems for monitoring: The Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) and Vaccine Safety Datalink (VSD) were used for safety surveillance.

Myocarditis and anaphylaxis rates: The VAERS reporting rate for myocarditis is lower than the background rate, and anaphylaxis rates are similar to other vaccines.

Continued safety surveillance: CDC and FDA will persist in monitoring JYNNEOS vaccine safety, and health care providers are encouraged to report adverse events.

Full summary link: BroadlyEpi.com

Enjoying these summaries? Check back every day at 8am and 4pm Pacific Time (UTC - 8) for a new MMWR Booster. A reblog would also be greatly appreciated, and thanks to everyone who already has! BroadlyEpi hopes to make Epidemiology and Public Health more approachable to anyone who's interested.

[broadlyepi]

MMWR Booster #12: Reduced Risk for Mpox After Receipt of 1 or 2 Doses of JYNNEOS Vaccine Compared with Risk Among Unvaccinated Persons — 43 U.S. Jurisdictions, July 31–October 1, 2022

Top 5 Takeaways:

Significantly Lower Incidence in Vaccinated Individuals: The study found that mpox incidence among unvaccinated individuals was 9.6 times higher than among those who received two doses of JYNNEOS vaccine, and 7.4 times higher than among those who received just one dose.

No Difference Between Administration Routes: Preliminary evidence suggests no significant difference in protection against mpox between subcutaneous and intradermal administration of the JYNNEOS vaccine.

Large Scale Study: The research analyzed mpox cases among men aged 18–49 years across 43 U.S. jurisdictions, covering a significant population and time frame.

Role of Vaccination in Mpox Prevention: The findings indicate that JYNNEOS vaccination provides protection against mpox, although the exact degree and duration of this protection are still to be determined.

Public Health Implications: The study supports the recommendation for vaccine-eligible individuals to complete the 2-dose vaccination series for optimal protection against mpox.

Full summary link: BroadlyEpi.com

Enjoying these summaries? Check back every day at 8am and 4pm Pacific Time (UTC - 8) for a new MMWR Booster. A reblog would also be greatly appreciated, and thanks to everyone who already has! BroadlyEpi hopes to make Epidemiology and Public Health more approachable to anyone who's interested.

[broadlyepi]

MMWR Booster #11: Progress Toward Poliomyelitis Eradication ― Afghanistan, January 2021–September 2022

Top 5 Takeaways

Reduction in Polio Cases: Afghanistan reported only two cases of wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) in 2022 up to September, a reduction from previous years, with no cases of type 2 circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus (cVDPV2) compared to 43 in 2021.

Vaccination Expansion Post-Political Transition: Post August 2021 political changes, 3.5–4.5 million previously unreachable children were vaccinated, though supplementary immunization activity (SIA) restrictions continue in the South Region.

Immunization Coverage: National immunization coverage with oral poliovirus vaccine among children aged 12–23 months was 71% in 2021, and injectable inactivated poliovirus vaccine coverage was 67%.

Challenges and Opportunities: Despite improvements, significant subnational coverage gaps, data quality issues, and ongoing SIA restrictions in high-risk areas pose challenges.

Cross-Border Transmission and Surveillance: Genetic analysis indicates cross-border poliovirus transmission with Pakistan. Afghanistan’s AFP surveillance network covers a vast network, but gaps in surveillance persist.

Full summary link: BroadlyEpi.com

Enjoying these summaries? Check back every day at 8am and 4pm Pacific Time (UTC - 8) for a new MMWR Booster. A reblog would also be greatly appreciated, and thanks to everyone who already has! BroadlyEpi hopes to make Epidemiology and Public Health more approachable to anyone who's interested.

[broadlyepi]

MMWR Booster #7: Progress Toward Measles and Rubella Elimination — India, 2005–2021

Top 5 Takeaways

Increased Vaccine Coverage: From 2005 to 2021, coverage with the first dose of a measles-containing vaccine (MCV) increased from 68% to 89%, and the second dose from 27% to 82%.

Decline in Disease Incidence: Measles and rubella incidence decreased by 62% and 48% respectively during 2017–2021.

Implementation of National Strategies: This includes the introduction of the rubella-containing vaccine (RCV) in 2017 and large-scale supplementary immunization activities (SIAs).

Challenges During COVID-19: The pandemic led to a decrease in routine vaccination coverage and challenges in surveillance sensitivity.

Future Goals: The “Roadmap to Measles and Rubella Elimination in India by 2023” aims to intensify efforts towards eliminating these diseases with a focus on district-level implementation.

link to full summary: BroadlyEpi.com

Enjoying these summaries? Check back every day at 8am and 4pm Pacific Time (UTC - 8) for a new MMWR Booster. A reblog would also be greatly appreciated, and thanks to everyone who already has! BroadlyEpi hopes to make Epidemiology and Public Health more approachable to anyone who's interested.

[broadlyepi]

Current MMWR Booster: MMWR Booster for: Cannabis Use Among Students in Grades 8, 10, and 12, by Sex — King County, Washington, 2008–2021

Top 5 Takeaways

Declining Cannabis Use Trends: Between 2008–2021, cannabis use among male and female students in grades 8, 10, and 12 in King County, Washington, showed a significant decline.

Sex-Specific Prevalence Shift: Initially, cannabis use was higher among male students. However, in 2021, for the first time, the prevalence of current cannabis use was lower among male students compared to female students.

Grade-wise Prevalence: The highest prevalence of both current and frequent cannabis use was observed among 12th grade students, followed by 10th and 8th graders.

Impact of Legalization and COVID-19: The legalization of nonmedical cannabis and the COVID-19 pandemic's shift to remote learning environments may have influenced the observed trends in cannabis use among students.

Focus on Tailored Interventions: Developing interventions that consider differences in risk and protective factors by sex or gender identity could improve equity in youth cannabis use reduction strategies.

Full summary link: BroadlyEpi.com

Enjoying these summaries? Check back every day at 8am and 4pm Pacific Time (UTC - 8) for a new MMWR Booster. A reblog would also be greatly appreciated, and thanks to everyone who already has! BroadlyEpi hopes to make Epidemiology and Public Health more approachable to anyone who's interested.

[broadlyepi]

Current MMWR Booster: Pseudomonas Infection Outbreak Associated with a Hotel Swimming Pool — Maine, March 2023

Top 5 Takeaways

Outbreak Identification and Response: In March 2023, Maine CDC investigated a Pseudomonas aeruginosa outbreak at a hotel pool. Among 35 guests surveyed, 23 developed symptoms like ear pain and rash after swimming during March 4-5.

Source of Infection: P. aeruginosa was identified in skin lesion cultures from three patients. SNP analysis suggested a common exposure source, likely the hotel swimming pool.

Hotel Pool Violations: Inspections revealed multiple violations at the hotel pool, including inadequate chlorine maintenance and no functioning disinfectant feeder, contributing to the outbreak.

Public Health Implications: The case underscores the importance of proper maintenance and public health compliance in preventing outbreaks at recreational water venues.

Prevention Strategies: Recommendations include maintaining chlorine concentration, rigorous management, and public health messaging to pool users, especially during peak seasons (January-April).

Full summary link: BroadlyEpi.com

Enjoying these summaries? Check back every day at 8am and 4pm Pacific Time (UTC - 8) for a new MMWR Booster. A reblog would also be greatly appreciated, and thanks to everyone who already has! BroadlyEpi hopes to make Epidemiology and Public Health more approachable to anyone who's interested.

[broadlyepi]

Current MMWR Booster: Mpox Outbreak — Los Angeles County, California, May 4–August 17, 2023, Weekly / January 18, 2024

Top 5 Takeaways

Rise in Mpox Cases: Los Angeles County saw an increase in mpox cases from May to August 2023, with 56 cases reported, marking a higher rate than previous months and in comparison to other U.S. regions.

Vaccination Gaps: A significant number of mpox patients were not fully vaccinated, with only 29% having received full vaccination, highlighting a need for increased vaccination efforts.

Demographic Profile: The outbreak primarily affected males who identify as gay or bisexual. The median age was 35, with notable racial disparities in vaccination rates among different ethnic groups.

Mild Reinfections Reported: Two mild cases of reinfection occurred among unvaccinated individuals who had a previous mpox diagnosis in 2022.

Public Health Response: Efforts included vaccination drives, particularly before Pride events, and ongoing surveillance and educational outreach to control the spread of mpox.

Full summary link: BroadlyEpi.com

Enjoying these summaries? Check back every day at 8am and 4pm Pacific Time (UTC - 8) for a new MMWR Booster. A reblog would also be greatly appreciated, and thanks to everyone who already has! BroadlyEpi hopes to make Epidemiology and Public Health more approachable to anyone who's interested.

[broadlyepi]

MMWR Booster #40:  Receipt of First and Second Doses of JYNNEOS Vaccine for Prevention of Monkeypox — United States, May 22–October 10, 2022

Top 5 Takeaways

JYNNEOS Vaccine Distribution: Over 931,000 JYNNEOS vaccine doses were administered in the U.S. from May 22 to October 10, 2022, as part of the monkeypox outbreak response.

Demographic Disparities: Initially, there were disparities in vaccination rates among racial and ethnic groups. However, these disparities decreased over time, with increased vaccination among Black and Hispanic communities.

Vaccination Completion Rates: Approximately 57.6% of those eligible for a second dose received it. Completion rates were highest among older adults, non-Hispanic White individuals, and residents of the Southern U.S.

Challenges in Vaccine Administration: Limitations in vaccine supply and distribution, as well as difficulties in linking first and second doses across jurisdictions, posed challenges in ensuring optimal vaccination coverage.

Public Health Implications: Addressing disparities and improving equitable access to vaccination are crucial for controlling the monkeypox outbreak and protecting at-risk populations.

Note:

This MMWR Article was created prior to the conventional renaming of Monkeypox to its more standard and appropriate name, Mpox. To avoid confusion, Monkeypox is retained when writing this article, but all future works should use Mpox.

Full summary link: BroadlyEpi.com

Enjoying these summaries? Check back every day at 8am and 4pm Pacific Time (UTC - 8) for a new MMWR Booster. A reblog would also be greatly appreciated, and thanks to everyone who already has! BroadlyEpi hopes to make Epidemiology and Public Health more approachable to anyone who's interested.

[broadlyepi]

MMWR Booster #39:  A Health Equity Approach for Implementation of JYNNEOS Vaccination at Large, Community-Based LGBTQIA+ Events — Georgia, August 27–September 5, 2022

Top 5 Takeaways

High Impact on MSM: Gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM), particularly Black MSM, were the most affected by the 2022 U.S. monkeypox outbreak.

Targeted Vaccination Efforts: Georgia implemented a targeted vaccination campaign using JYNNEOS vaccine at large LGBTQIA+ events, focusing on equity in vaccine distribution.

Effective Collaboration: Collaborative efforts between Georgia Department of Public Health, local health departments, and community organizations facilitated the vaccination of vulnerable communities.

Outreach and Access: Innovative strategies, including mobile vans and pop-up events at bars and clubs, were used to enhance vaccine reach and accessibility.

Challenges and Adaptations: The campaign faced challenges like vaccine hesitancy and logistical issues related to administering second doses, prompting ongoing efforts to improve equity and access.

Note:

This MMWR Article was created prior to the conventional renaming of Monkeypox to its more standard and appropriate name, Mpox. To avoid confusion, Monkeypox is retained when writing this article, but all future works should use Mpox.

Full summary link: BroadlyEpi.com

Enjoying these summaries? Check back every day at 8am and 4pm Pacific Time (UTC - 8) for a new MMWR Booster. A reblog would also be greatly appreciated, and thanks to everyone who already has! BroadlyEpi hopes to make Epidemiology and Public Health more approachable to anyone who's interested.