#vaccine preventable diseases surveillance

[covid-safer-hotties]

also preserved on our archive

By Korin Miller

Many COVID-19 variants have come and gone since the pandemic began, but some get more buzz than others. Now, there’s another new variant getting attention from the infectious disease community. It’s called XEC, and it’s currently spreading in Europe.

XEC is an Omicron variant that descended from subvariants KS.1.1 and FLiRT variant KP.3.3, according to Scripps Research’s Outbreak.info. XEC has several spike mutations, which is what the virus uses to infect you—and it might be more infectious that previous strains because of it.

So, will the new variant hit the U.S.? What symptoms should be on your radar? Here’s the deal.

Meet the experts: Amy Edwards, MD, associate professor at Case Western Reserve University and director of the Pediatric COVID Recovery Clinic at UH Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital; Mark Cameron, PhD, an associate professor in the Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences at the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. Emily Smith, ScD, MPH, is an epidemiologist and an assistant professor at the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health.

What symptoms should I watch for? XEC is a pretty new variant and, with that, there isn’t a ton of information right now on symptoms people have experienced with it. However, early reports don’t suggest that it causes dramatically different symptoms from other strains of COVID-19.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), symptoms may include:

Fever or chills

Cough

Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

Sore throat

Congestion or runny nose

New loss of taste or smell

Fatigue

Muscle or body aches

Headache

Nausea or vomiting

Diarrhea

When will the new variant hit the U.S.? While the XEC variant is getting a lot of attention in Europe, it’s already hit the U.S. As of Sept. 3, data show that there have been 23 cases of COVID-19 caused by the XEC variant in the U.S., with three happening in California.

The virus was first detected here on July 14, but hasn’t been detected since Aug. 16. That doesn’t mean it’s no longer here, though. Because so many people do home tests (or don’t test at all) when they have symptoms of COVID-19, it can be tricky to get information on different strains of COVID-19.

Will it become the dominant COVID variant? That’s not clear. As of this second, XEC isn’t even a blip on the CDC’s radar. The CDC’s variant surveillance system shows that KP.3.1.1 is the dominant strain in the U.S., followed by KP.2.3, and LB.1. XEC isn’t even listed on the surveillance.

That doesn’t mean it won’t spread, though.

“Just like JN.1 emerged from BA.2.86 late last year to drive new COVID infections through last fall and winter, XEC may have similar potential,” says Mark Cameron, PhD, an associate professor in the Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences at the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. “But we need to know more about the XEC variant and perhaps those still to come.”

But lately we’ve seen several variants circulate heavily at the same time, points out Amy Edwards, MD, associate professor at Case Western Reserve University and director of the Pediatric COVID Recovery Clinic at UH Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital. “Dominant is a strong word,” she says. “With so many very contagious variants, I think the days of having one dominant variant is gone.”

How can I protect myself? The CDC currently recommends that everyone aged 6 months and up get the updated COVID-19 vaccine, making that a good place to start. “As yet another Omicron family member, being up to date on the latest COVID-19 booster is a protective measure we can take right now,” Cameron says.

"The main thing we can do to slow a new variant or new wave is to get our booster shots this fall," says Emily Smith, ScD, MPH, an epidemiologist and an assistant professor at the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health. "Generally, we find the boosters give us broad protection, even against new variants."

It’s also a good idea to wear a mask in crowded indoor areas when levels of COVID-19 are high in your area, especially if you’re consider high risk for complications of the virus. And, of course, if you develop symptoms of the virus, it’s a good idea to test yourself to see if you have the virus so you can lower the odds you’ll spread it to others.

If you do, in fact, have COVID-19 and are considered high risk for serious complications from the virus, you may want to contact your primary care physician about taking an antiviral medication like Paxlovid.

[howdoesone]

How does one track and monitor vaccine coverage in a population?

Tracking and monitoring vaccine coverage in a population is essential for evaluating the success of immunization programs and identifying areas that require improvement. It allows public health authorities to assess the reach and impact of vaccination efforts, identify gaps in coverage, and make informed decisions to enhance immunization rates. This article explores the methods and considerations…

[collapsedsquid]

In the U.K., the Health Security Agency recently raised its threat level to 4 out of 6, the stage immediately before large-scale human outbreaks. In Europe, countries are proactively vaccinating dairy and poultry workers against infection, with 15 nations already securing a total of 40 million doses through the European Commission. In the United States, despite having a stockpile of those vaccines, we are not distributing them, instead focusing on standing up voluntary supplies of seasonal flu vaccines to frontline workers. (The hope is that this will prevent animal infections of human flu that might aid in the further mutation of H5N1.) The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has cited the low number of cases to justify its inaction, but it has also moved remarkably slowly to promote the kind of widespread surveillance testing that could actually identify cases. Only recently has the agency begun to mobilize real funding for a testing push, after a period of months in which various federal groups batted around responsibility and ultimate authority like a hot potato. And as was the case early in the Covid-19 pandemic, the C.D.C.’s preferred test for bird flu “has issues.” Three months into the outbreak, only 45 people had even been tested; six weeks later, the total number of people tested had grown only to “230+.” [...] Most farms aren’t supplying N95 masks, goggles or aprons to protect workers, either, and when Amy Maxmen of KFF News surveyed farm workers to ask why they weren’t getting tested, “no one had heard of bird flu, never mind gotten P.P.E. or offers of tests,” she reported. “One said they don’t get much from their employers, not even water. If they call in sick, they worry about getting fired.” Last month, a crew was deployed to slow the spread of the disease by killing every last chicken of 1.78 million on a large Colorado farm where H5N1 had broken out and six of the workers contracted the virus, partly because the gear they’d been provided was hard to use in the punishing 104-degree heat. In June, Robert Redfield, former director of the C.D.C., echoed many epidemiologists in predicting that “it’s not a question of if, it’s more of a question of when we will have a bird flu pandemic.” In July, Brown’s Jennifer Nuzzo warned that the steady beat of new cases “screams at us that this virus is not going away.” Tulio de Oliveira, a bioinformatician who studies global disease surveillance, marveled that the American effort to track the spread of the disease was absolutely amateurish and the country’s apparent indifference “unbelievable.”

[rathockey]

Have some COVID resources!! I recently started looking into the current state of COVID when I saw that cases were surging again and realized I was pretty uninformed about the current state of things, so I figure other people might be too.

So I‘m linking a few resources I‘ve bookmarked that has some good info about COVID and how to protect yourself and others.

Few things that stuck out to me:

1. We should all be masking at the very least indoors and in crowded outdoor settings (like concerts/festivals/etc)! PLEASE please mask if you are able to. N95/KN95 if you can! Surgical masks and cloth masks are better than nothing, but really try to get the respirator masks. You can reuse them as long as they don‘t get wet or crumpled.

2. The vaccine helps with severity but is actually not that great at preventing infection. Another good reason to be masking up - reducing the viral load you get exposed to helps the vaccine out.

3. Advocate for air purifiers in indoor spaces. We should be breathing clean air!

4. All COVID infections are severe or should be treated as such- ‚mild‘ cases included. Any infection is going to do damage to your body, and repeated infections increase your risk of Long COVID.

5. If you get COVID and you are able to, REST! Mind and body. This will go a long way to preventing long COVID. I know not everyone is in a position that they can do this, but take whatever time you can and let your body rest and heal.

And here are the resources I‘ve found:

This has a great PDF with a lot of good info and sources for all of it, as well as a small zine version you can hand out - https://linktr.ee/act_up_mask_up

This is a map with wastewater data, so you can see how things are trending nationwide (US only sorry!) and in various regions. Check and see if your state or city has its own tracker as well - I know Chicago does.

And here is a site that provides information to some questions/statements people say in attempts to get people to „move past“ COVID. This also has a lot of good information about the current state of COVID.

In conclusion (because this is a middle school paper now i guess)

MASK!

Get the boosters! There are new vaccines being developed that will hopefully help us stay ahead of these variants that keep evolving, but the best way to help those are to mask! Less infections mean less variants :)

AND ADVOCATE FOR BETTER COVID PROTECTIONS AND PROTOCOLS!!! We can only do so much as individuals, we have to lobby for governmental and systemic changes.

Also pls reblog this (and feel free to add your own resources! especially if you have resources for non-usamericans, mine are all pretty US focused unfortunately)

[gumjrop]

The Weather

Similar to this time last year, COVID wastewater levels in many states have decreased and now remain at low levels except for the states of Tennessee and Missouri, which are at high levels. Arkansas, Alabama, Delaware, Minnesota, and Virginia have moderate viral levels detected by wastewater surveillance. This reminds us that it is important to continue the practice of precautions, especially among those most vulnerable to a COVID infection.

When considering trends in wastewater levels across all four regions, they have stopped decreasing as seen in the provisional data (gray shaded area). The national wastewater levels are indicated as “Low.” While lower wastewater levels indicate decreased spread, the risk for infection remains moderate especially as current wastewater levels remain slightly higher than previous low periods.

Wins

During the past few weeks, we have taken several actions against removing vital public health measures, especially the change in COVID isolation guidelines. This included the People’s CDC press conference from March 13, a recording and our press release are available. We also have a pre-proof of the People’s CDC External Review in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine Focus that additionally highlights the shortcomings of the CDC’s approach to public health and recommends a more equitable pandemic response. This week, we have assembled an expert letter asking the CDC to correct their COVID isolation guidelines.

Community groups continue to show us that it is possible to push back against corporate efforts to further privatize healthcare – and win. In Massachusetts, the Boston Center for Independent Living and SEIU 1199 led a successful drive to prevent cuts to publicly funded personal care attendants (PCAs) for disabled people. When we fight, we win.  

Variants

Currently, JN.1 remains the dominant variant in the US, and is 83.7% of circulating variants as of 4/13/2024, down from 88.5% on 2/3/2024. JN.1.13 has increased to 9.1%, up from 0.7% on 2/3/2024. Other variants comprise 7.2% of the remaining total. A recent study, published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases, provided additional information on recent COVID variants that shed higher levels of wastewater; however, this cannot discount that COVID transmission remains at higher risk during rises in wastewater levels.

Hospitalizations

Total new hospital admissions caused by COVID have decreased to 7,318 during the week of April 6, 2024. Although the number of new hospital admissions are lower than the past, many counties in the US continue to experience increases in new hospital admissions. Over 25% of all counties are experiencing an increase in new COVID hospital admissions between the last week of March 2024 and the first week of April 2024. Most concerning, we still do not know the total number of hospital-acquired infections, since reporting over these numbers halted in May 2023. Despite this decrease in new hospital admissions and wastewater levels are currently at low levels nationwide, total hospitalizations do not completely reflect the current amount of circulating virus.

Prevention and Precautions

The CDC recently released guidelines to improve ventilation and implementation of air purification to prevent the spread of infectious diseases, specifically airborne pathogens. A group of scientists have also jointly published a policy statement in the academic journal Science supporting the establishment of higher standards for ventilation and the importance of air purification in indoor settings. Two studies published in the last month have validated the significance and value of both ventilation and air purification in schools and childcare centers to prevent the spread of COVID.

Vaccine uptake remains limited. Only 22.8% of adults and 14.1% of children have received the updated COVID vaccine as of 4/11/2024 -  a slight increase from 21.1% of adults and 12.8% of children on 3/10/2024. The Bridge Program remains available for those underinsured or without insurance for no-cost access to these vaccines, but may end December 31, 2024.

Long COVID

Senator Bernie Sanders, as chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pension Committee, proposed draft legislation to address Long COVID. This proposal aims to allocate $1 billion annually for a decade to the NIH for Long COVID research, establish a centralized research entity and advisory board, create a rapid grant process for clinical trials, develop a patient data database, and enhance public education on Long COVID. We ask that you share your thoughts to their official contact by email specifically on allocating funding for effective treatments and specific measures in the prevention of Long COVID by April 23, 2024. Currently, Long COVID Alliance has compiled a list of active opportunities in studies and clinical trials that people with Long COVID may participate in, which may help the clinical community contribute knowledge of Long COVID and potentially support the development of effective treatments.

Take Action

An invaluable home-based program that supports testing, evaluation, and treatment for COVID, Test to Treat program, is ending on April 16, 2024. Send a letter to your local representatives to ask them to help save the program that helps so many at-risk people!

It’s been over a month since the CDC released new, irresponsible guidelines on COVID isolation which are not substantiated by scientific evidence. Our fight to take public health out of the hands of corporate interests and protect our collective well-being continues. As part of our strategy to push back, we’ve put together an expert letter to CDC Director Mandy Cohen telling her to reinstate science-based COVID isolation guidelines. We urge the CDC to consider the highly variable length of infectiousness in their recommendations and to adopt a test-based approach for ending isolation. This letter is for public health professionals, scientists, healthcare workers, disability advocates, and others who consider themselves experts in public health. Sign this letter asking the CDC to correct their updated COVID isolation guidelines.

Avian Flu (Awareness Update)

The People’s CDC is monitoring Avian Influenza (AKA “Bird Flu”) as it has been spreading in many avian and mammalian species around the world at alarming rates. The current strain of concern is subtype H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b and is highly pathogenic in poultry, causing systemic infections and rapid onset of illness and death among avian species (1). As such, this is called a highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). This specific clade emerged in 2020 and has now been detected on every continent (2,3,4, 5). Over 500 species of birds and 360 species of other animals have been infected worldwide. Hundreds of thousands of wild animals have died from avian influenza since its emergence in 2020 (1, 6). Here in the U.S., at least 28 outbreaks have occurred in cattle farms (6, 7).

While human cases remain low, case fatality in humans has historically been around 50% (6). The outbreak among many non-bird animals is alarming and allows for opportunities for viral mutations that may lead to further infections among humans (1,6). The ecological consequences of such mass death around the world are currently unknown but guaranteed to be devastating as food webs are severely disrupted and conservation efforts suffer (1, 5). Humans are already feeling the direct impact of this as farmers are forced to cull entire flocks of poultry to control the spread, which may result in increased prices in the food supply (6). Humans will probably continue to feel the impacts of this historic spread, regardless of the number of human cases. We will continue to monitor the situation and share updates as the situation develops.

UC Davis

CDC

CDC

Viruses

Nature

Vox

BNO News

[follow-up-news]

The Africa Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization launched on Friday a continent-wide response plan to the outbreak of mpox, three weeks after WHO declared outbreaks in 12 African countries a global emergency. The estimated budget for the six-month plan is almost $600 million, with 55% allocated to the response to mpox in 14 affected nations and boosting readiness in 15 others, Africa CDC director-general Dr. Jean Kaseya told reporters on Friday. The other 45% is directed towards operational and technical support through partners. The organization didn’t give an indication of who would be funding it. The plan focuses on surveillance, laboratory testing and community engagement, Kaseya said, underscoring the fact that vaccines aren’t enough to fight the spreading outbreak. The organization said that since the start of 2024, there have been 5,549 confirmed mpox cases across the continent, with 643 associated deaths, representing a sharp escalation in both infections and fatalities compared to previous years. The cases in Congo constituted 91% of the total number. Most mpox infections in Congo and Burundi, the second most affected country, are in children under age 15. The plan comes a day after the first batch of mpox vaccines arrived in the capital of Congo, the center of the outbreak. The 100,000 doses of the JYNNEOS vaccine, manufactured by the Danish company Bavarian Nordic, have been donated by the European Union through HERA, the bloc’s agency for health emergencies. Another 100,000 are expected to be delivered on Saturday, Congolese authorities said.

[mightyflamethrower]

lorida’s surgeon general has warned healthcare providers against using Pfizer and Moderna’s COVID-19 mRNA vaccines due to concerns over genetic contamination.

Joseph Ladapo requested that providers prioritise other non-mRNA vaccines and treatments to ensure patient safety. He also called for the FDA to take greater regulatory responsibility in ensuring the integrity of the human genome.

Gov. Ron DeSantis has echoed concerns over mRNA vaccines and recently stated that Floridians would not be used as “guinea pigs” for unproven booster shots.

In November, Ladapo asked the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to investigate reports of foreign DNA material in Pfizer and Moderna’s vaccines. Ladapo argued that if mRNA vaccines were efficient delivery vehicles for mRNA, they may also be vehicles for delivering contaminant DNA, resulting in a process known as DNA integration. However, on Dec. 14, the FDA Director of the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Peter Marks, wrote to Ladapo stating that animal studies over the past decade and global surveillance data showed no evidence of genotoxicity or genomic disruption.

Despite Ladapo’s concerns, the FDA stated that the practical risk of DNA integration was “quite implausible” and refuted the idea that mRNA vaccines presented a viable risk.

Ladapo contested the FDA’s claims, arguing that they had not performed adequate DNA integration assessments and that genotoxicity studies were an insufficient tool for assessing DNA integration risk. According to Ladapo, “If the risks of DNA integration have not been assessed for mRNA COVID-19 vaccines, these vaccines are not appropriate for use in human beings.”

The COVID vaccine destroyed my health. Since I had the vaccine I have not felt good two days in a row. It has caused me to have open heart surgery, ruptured my appendix, and left me with Stage Three Kidney disease. I am not the only one. My biggest fear is SDS. It's like my heart has become a living time bomb. Ironically I caught Covid two months AFTER the vaccine so.......so it didn't even work. --KD

--

[school56df]

Monkeypox Vaccine How Global Health Systems Are Responding

 Introduction

Monkeypox Vaccine , a viral zoonotic sickness that ordinarily impact animals but may be transmitted to humans has garnered international interest because of its recent outbreaks. In India, the nation of Haryana has confronted its own demanding situations related to this sickness. This articles delves into the emergence of monkeypox in Haryana, the kingdom responses to the outbreak and the results of public health and safety.

Overview of Monkeypox

It is caused by the Monkeypox Symptoms  virus, a member of the Orthopoxvirus genus, which additionally consists of smallpox. The disease became first recognized in laboratory monkey in 1958, and the first human case became pronounced inside the Democratic Republic of Congo in 1970. It is characterised by signs and symptoms similar to smallpox, although generally milder. These signs and symptoms include fever, headache, muscles aches, Backaches, swollen lymph nodes, chills and exhaustion. A hallmark of the disorder is the development of a rash that progresses via extraordinary levels, subsequently forming scrabs.

The ailment is generally Monkeypox treatment transmitted to people through contact with inflamed animals, which include rodent or primates, or via direct touch with physical fluids or infected materials. Human to human transmission can occur via breathing droplets or touch with pores and skin lesions. 

Monkeypox in India and Haryana

Monkeypox virus vaccine in current years there had been sporadic instances of monkeypox said worldwide, including in diverse areas of India. Haryana, a state in northern India, has now not been proof against this worldwide fitness difficulty. The first big cases in Haryana were reported in mid-2023, marking a high-quality development in the country’s public fitness panorama.

The initial cases in Haryana raised alarms among fitness authorities due to the potential for fast spread and the results for public fitness. As monkeypox is not as well-known or as widely understood as different illnesses like COVID-19, its emergence supplied unique challenges for both healthcare vendors and the general public.

Initial Response and Measures

Upon the identification of monkeypox cases in Haryana, the state authorities, in conjunction with countrywide health agencies, carried out a sequence of measures to manipulate the spread of the sickness. 

Surveillance and Monitoring

Health authorities multiplied surveillance efforts to track the unfold of monkeypox. This involved monitoring folks who had come into touch with confirmed cases and carrying out follow-up assessments to pick out any new infections.

Public Awareness Campaigns

Recognizing the importance of public recognition, the government launched instructional campaigns to tell residents about monkeypox signs, transmission strategies, and preventive measures. This protected disseminating information thru numerous media channels 

Healthcare Preparedness:

Hospitals and healthcare centers had been ready with the important assets to address monkeypox instances. This included training healthcare workers on a way to recognize, diagnose, and deal with monkeypox, in addition to ensuring that appropriate isolation and infection manage measures have been in vicinity.

Travel and Movement Restrictions

In areas where monkeypox instances have been concentrated, localized journey and movement restrictions had been imposed to prevent in addition unfold. This was in particular relevant in densely populated urban regions in which the hazard of transmission changed into higher.

Coordination with National and International Agencies

Haryana's reaction was coordinated with national health authorities, along with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, and global businesses just like the World Health Organization (WHO). This ensured that the country’s moves had been aligned with broader public fitness techniques and first-rate practices.

Challenges Faced

Limited Awareness and Stigma

It  became no longer well known among the overall public, main to confusion and misinformation. Additionally, the stigma related to infectious diseases now and again impeded open discussion and well timed reporting of symptoms.

Healthcare System Strain

Managing an epidemic requires significant assets and may strain the healthcare machine. Hospitals and clinics had to balance their ordinary responsibilities with the improved demands of coping with monkeypox cases.

Public Compliance

 Ensuring public compliance with fitness advisories and restrictions become another project. Some people can also were reluctant to stick to guidelines or may had been skeptical approximately the severity of the ailment.

Data Management

Accurate information collection and management are important for powerful disease control. The want for actual-time information on case numbers, contacts, and geographic unfold offered logistical challenges.

Impact on Public Health

Increased Health Awareness

The outbreak highlighted the significance of being vigilant approximately emerging infectious illnesses. It spurred discussions on enhancing public fitness infrastructure and disorder preparedness.

Strengthened Health Policies

The experience brought about a reassessment and strengthening of health regulations and protocols associated with infectious ailment management, specifically zoonotic diseases.

Enhanced Surveillance Systems

The outbreak underscored the want for strong surveillance structures to come across and respond to comparable outbreaks within the destiny.

Community Engagement

The response efforts emphasised the position of network engagement in handling fitness crises. Educating the general public and concerning network leaders were essential additives of the reaction approach.

Preventive Measures and Future Outlook

Ongoing Education

Continuous public schooling on monkeypox and different rising illnesses is critical. Awareness campaigns ought to cope with signs, preventive practices, and the importance of looking for scientific interest.

Strengthened Surveillance

Maintaining and improving surveillance systems enables in early detection and speedy reaction to ability outbreaks.

Research and Development

 Investing in studies to higher apprehend  and expand powerful vaccines and remedies is critical for lengthy-time period prevention and manipulate.

International Collaboration

 Monkeypox prevention global collaboration is critical for coping with sicknesses that cross borders. Sharing information, sources, and information can help in efficaciously addressing outbreaks.

[allthebrazilianpolitics]

Brazil to start widespread dengue vaccinations

Brazil plans to vaccinate millions of people against dengue after becoming the first country to incorporate Qdenga, manufactured by Japan's Takeda Pharma, into its public health system.

Infection by dengue virus, transmitted by Aedes aegypti mosquitos, has surged in recent years in Brazil, with many blaming higher temperatures and prolonged rainy seasons. Data from WHO show that Brazil registered close to 3 million cases in 2023, of more than 5 million cases globally.

Concerned about these increasing numbers, Brazil's Health Ministry has approved vaccination following the authorisation of Qdenga for people aged 4–60 years by Brazil's Health Regulatory Agency in March, 2023. “Our hope is that this arbovirus becomes a vaccine-preventable disease”, says Ethel Maciel, Secretary of Health and Environmental Surveillance for Brazil's Ministry of Health.

“Brazil has been fighting the dengue virus for at least four decades. It's been four decades of a war, in which the virus has been winning”, says Alexandre Naime Barbosa, Vice President of the Brazilian Society of Infectiology. “Not only are we losing this war, but the number of deaths is increasing, which shows the ineffectiveness of the conventional strategies we are using, which is combating the vector”, he said.

Continue reading.

[covid-safer-hotties]

9 Places You're Most Likely to Catch COVID as Summer Wave Surges - Published Aug 19, 2024

The answer "damn near everywhere people go" may shock you.

COVID’s surge shows no sign of slowing down as the biggest summer wave in two years continues. In fact, COVID levels are “very high” in 27 states, according to the CDC’s wastewater data. “Currently, the COVID-19 wastewater viral activity level is very high nationally, with the highest levels in the Western US region,” Dr. Jonathan Yoder, deputy director of the CDC’s Wastewater Surveillance Program, said to CNN. “This year’s COVID-19 wave is coming earlier than last year, which occurred in late August/early September.” Fortunately, death rates and hospitalization rates are nothing like they were during previous waves due to greater immunity and vaccines. But catching COVID still comes with risks, including LONG COVID, which can result in chronic, debilitating illness. So how do you stay safe? Use caution before entering these nine places you’re most likely to catch COVID now, as the summer wave surges.

Crowded indoor events COVID spreads primarily through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs, sneezes, talks, or breathes, especially in close-contact settings or poorly ventilated areas. “People who are higher risk for getting very sick from COVID-19 should consider taking extra precautions for the next few weeks, like limiting time in crowded indoor settings or wearing a mask in crowded indoor settings. People rarely get COVID-19 outdoors, so outdoor events remain quite safe,” say the experts at the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department.

Airports, airplanes and public transportation Given the COVID rates right now, the CDC urges travelers to “get up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines before you travel and take steps to protect yourself and others. Consider wearing a mask in crowded or poorly ventilated indoor areas, including on public transportation and in transportation hubs. Take additional precautions if you were recently exposed to a person with COVID-19. Don’t travel while sick.” They go even further for certain folks: “If you have a weakened immune system or are at increased risk for severe disease, talk to a healthcare professional before you decide to travel. If you travel, take multiple prevention steps to provide additional layers of protection from COVID-19, even if you are up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines. These include improving ventilation and spending more time outdoors, avoiding sick people, getting tested for COVID-19 if you develop symptoms, staying home if you have or think you have COVID-19, and seeking treatment if you have COVID-19.”

Shopping malls Studies are just now coming out with an analysis of what happened during the height of the pandemic. Although times are different now, these results can be instructive. For example, one study published in April 2024 “examines the transmission of COVID-19 through casual contact in retail stores using data from Denmark. By matching card payment data with COVID-19 test results, researchers tracked over 100,000 instances where infected individuals made purchases in stores. They found that customers exposed to an infected person in the same store within a 5-minute window had a significantly higher infection rate in the following week. The study concludes that retail store transmissions contributed notably to the spread of COVID-19, particularly during the period when the Omicron variant was dominant.”

Religious gatherings The transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus during religious events has nothing to do with religion and everything to do with a communal gathering in which people, well, commune. “The smallest SARS-CoV-2 droplets can remain airborne and travel farther than six feet. The scientific community does not agree upon what is a ‘safe distance,’ but standing near an infectious person is riskier than standing farther away,” says the AMA. Additionally, “the amount of virus a person is exposed to can influence the chance of infection and the severity; consequently, staying in one place for a longer time creates a higher risk of infection.”

Movie theaters The box office is back, as hits like Deadpool & Wolverine, It Ends With Us, and Alien: Romulus pack them in after a few dark pandemic years of low attendance, the rare Barbenheimer proving the exception to the rule. For movie buffs, it’s a thrill. But check your theater’s ventilation before lining up around the block. One study published this year “investigates the risk factors for COVID-19 transmission during an outbreak in a movie theater in Incheon, South Korea, in November 2021. It involved 48 confirmed cases, primarily among theater attendees, with a high attack rate of 84.8% during one screening. The study found that inadequate ventilation and close proximity among audience members were key contributors to the spread of the virus despite most attendees being fully vaccinated. The study emphasizes the importance of proper ventilation in enclosed spaces like theaters to prevent airborne transmission of COVID-19.”

Healthcare facilities “Some hospitals across the United States are reinstating indoor masking rules amid rising cases and hospitalizations of respiratory illnesses including COVID-19 and influenza,” reported ABC News earlier this year. "Ultimately, health systems, hospitals, places that deliver care are going to see some of the most vulnerable and at-risk individuals -- many, with underlying conditions," Dr. John Brownstein, an epidemiologist and chief innovation officer at Boston Children's Hospital and an ABC News contributor, told the network. "Those are especially the places where we want to protect individuals, and so when we have this rapid rise in respiratory illness, those are going to be the first places to try to use measures to reduce chances of transmission, both to protect patients, those receiving care, as well as workforce."

Gyms and fitness studios Common sense will tell you transmission of an airborne disease may increase the more frequently people breathe in and out—as you might do at the gym. One “study looked at the number of aerosol particles 16 people exhaled at rest and during workouts. These tiny bits of airborne matter — measuring barely a few hundred micrometers in diameter, or about the width of a strand of hair, and suspended in mist from our lungs — can transmit coronavirus if someone is infected, ferrying the virus lightly through the air from one pair of lungs to another,” reported the New York Times during the pandemic. “The study found that, at rest, the men and women breathed out about 500 particles per minute. But when they exercised, that total soared 132-fold, topping out above 76,000 particles per minute, on average, during the most strenuous exertion.”

Bars and Nightclubs Just when some of us wanted to drink the most, bars were verboten during the height of the pandemic. There was a good reason to use caution. One study published last year “analyzed over 44,000 COVID-19 cases in Tokyo in 2020, focusing on transmission in various settings, including healthcare and nightlife venues like bars and nightclubs. It found that nightlife settings were more likely to involve clusters of five or more infections and were more likely to lead to further spread compared to other settings. The highest case-fatality rate was observed in healthcare settings. The findings suggest that targeting interventions in nightlife venues could be crucial for controlling COVID-19 transmission, especially during the early stages of an outbreak.”

Restaurants and cafés Last year, the Washington Post asked virus experts if they’d eat in restaurants. Joanna Dolgoff, a pediatrician and spokesperson for the American Academy of Pediatrics, offered an answer that may be a decent North Star for you today. “At this time, I will continue to eat in restaurants as long as they are well-ventilated and not overly crowded. If somebody near me shows signs of illness, I will be prepared to leave immediately. If covid cases continue to spike and if illness becomes more severe, I will stop eating inside restaurants until cases subside,” she said.

[gossip-with-yourbestie]

WHO Declares Mpox a Global Health Emergency

In response to the alarming rise in mpox cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and its spread to neighboring countries, the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared a global health emergency. This is the highest alert level under international health regulations.

On Wednesday, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced the decision after a special meeting of experts. “The emergency committee has advised that the current situation constitutes a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), and I have accepted this advice,” Tedros stated at a press conference.

The PHEIC designation is a serious move, signaling the need for a coordinated global response to tackle the outbreak and prevent further loss of life. Tedros expressed concern over the emergence of a new mpox strain in eastern DRC and its detection in neighboring countries like Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda.

The situation is dire. This year alone, over 14,000 cases and 524 deaths have been reported in the DRC, surpassing last year’s totals. The new pox strain, clade 1b, which seems to spread primarily through sexual contact, is particularly troubling.

Dimie Ogoina, who led the emergency committee, described the upsurge as “an extraordinary event,” warning that without stronger surveillance, the full scale of the crisis remains unclear. Maria Van Kerkhove, WHO’s head of emerging diseases, stressed that halting pox transmission is possible with concerted effort but emphasized the need for a better understanding of the disease’s spread.

Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, was first identified in the DRC in 1970. It is a viral infection that spreads from animals to humans and can also be transmitted between people through close contact. Symptoms include fever, muscle aches, and distinctive skin sores.

This is the second PHEIC declaration for pox, following the global outbreak in 2022 linked to the clade 2b strain, which primarily affected men who have sex with men. That outbreak, which lasted from July 2022 to May 2023, saw nearly 140 deaths from around 90,000 cases. The current clade 1b strain is more severe, with a higher fatality rate.

PHEICs have only been declared a few times since 2009, for issues like H1N1, polio, Ebola, Zika, and COVID-19. Marion Koopmans from Erasmus University highlighted that while a PHEIC raises international alarm, the core needs—improving diagnostic capabilities, public health responses, treatment support, and vaccination—remain the same. The DRC and its neighbors face significant resource challenges in addressing this outbreak.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is ramping up preparedness efforts across Africa, particularly in the hard-hit eastern DRC, to help contain the disease in the most affected areas.

[liberty1776]

Video Link According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the agency “is actively engaged in safety surveillance” of the COVID shots. They also claim that medical doctors and epidemiologists at the FDA and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention “continuously screen and analyze” reports filed with the Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System (VAERS) “to identify potential signals that would indicate the need for further study.”1 Facts suggest otherwise. Even officials at the FDA itself have stated that VAERS is not operating as intended, and that safety signals are not being addressed. Among them are Peter Marks, director of the … Continue reading →

[homeopathypharma]

Surveillance Systems for Early Lumpy Skin Disease Detection and Rapid Response

Introduction

Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) is a highly contagious viral infection that primarily affects cattle and has the potential to cause significant economic losses in the livestock industry. Rapid detection and effective management of LSD outbreaks are essential to prevent its spread and mitigate its impact. In recent years, advancements in surveillance systems have played a crucial role in early LSD detection and rapid response, leading to improved LSD care and control strategies.

The Threat of Lumpy Skin Disease

Lumpy Skin Disease is caused by the LSD virus, a member of the Poxviridae family. It is characterized by fever, nodules, and skin lesions on the animal's body, leading to reduced milk production, weight loss, and decreased quality of hides. The disease can spread through direct contact, insect vectors, and contaminated fomites, making it a major concern for livestock industries globally.

To know more about : -

Surveillance Systems for Early Detection

Traditional methods of disease detection relied on visual observation and clinical diagnosis. However, these methods can delay the identification of LSD cases, allowing the disease to spread further. Modern surveillance systems leverage technology to enhance early detection. These systems utilize a combination of methods, including:

Remote Sensing and Imaging: Satellite imagery and aerial drones equipped with high-resolution cameras can monitor large livestock areas for signs of skin lesions and changes in animal behavior. These images are analyzed using machine learning algorithms to identify potential LSD outbreaks.

IoT and Wearable Devices: Internet of Things (IoT) devices such as temperature sensors, accelerometers, and RFID tags can be attached to cattle. These devices continuously collect data on vital parameters and movement patterns, allowing for the early detection of abnormalities associated with LSD infection.

Data Analytics and Big Data: Surveillance data from various sources, including veterinary clinics, abattoirs, and livestock markets, can be aggregated and analyzed using big data analytics. This enables the identification of patterns and trends that may indicate the presence of LSD.

Health Monitoring Apps: Mobile applications allow farmers and veterinarians to report suspected cases of LSD and track disease progression. These apps facilitate real-time communication and coordination, aiding in early response efforts.

Rapid Response and LSD Care

Early detection is only half the battle; a rapid and coordinated response is equally crucial. Surveillance systems are not only capable of identifying potential outbreaks but also play a pivotal role in implementing effective LSD care strategies:

Isolation and Quarantine: Detected infected animals can be isolated and quarantined promptly, preventing the further spread of the disease. Surveillance data helps identify high-risk areas and individuals for targeted quarantine measures.

Vaccination Campaigns: Based on surveillance data indicating disease prevalence in specific regions, targeted vaccination campaigns can be initiated to immunize susceptible animals and halt the spread of LSD.

Vector Control: Surveillance systems can track insect vectors responsible for transmitting the LSD virus. This information enables the implementation of vector control measures to reduce disease transmission.

Resource Allocation: Effective response requires proper resource allocation. Surveillance data helps authorities allocate veterinary personnel, medical supplies, and equipment to affected areas efficiently.

Challenges and Future Directions

While surveillance systems offer promising solutions, challenges remain. Limited access to technology, particularly in rural areas, can hinder the implementation of these systems. Data privacy concerns and the need for robust cybersecurity measures are also crucial considerations.

In the future, the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning can further enhance the accuracy of disease prediction models. Real-time genetic sequencing of the virus can provide insights into its mutations and evolution, aiding in the development of more effective vaccines.

Conclusion

Surveillance systems have revolutionized the way we detect, respond to, and manage Lumpy Skin Disease outbreaks. The ability to identify potential cases early and respond rapidly has significantly improved LSD care and control strategies. As technology continues to advance, these systems will play an increasingly vital role in safeguarding livestock industries against the threat of Lumpy Skin Disease and other contagious infections. Effective collaboration between veterinary professionals, farmers, researchers, and technology developers will be key to successfully harnessing the potential of surveillance systems for the benefit of animal health and the global economy.

Read more : -

[gumjrop]

The Weather

Amid the CDC’s COVID-minimizing and dangerous rollback to isolation guidance, a new Pew Research poll shows that 27% of Americans are very or somewhat concerned that they will get COVID and require hospitalization, and 40% (nearly half) of Americans are very or somewhat concerned that they will unwittingly spread COVID to others. This number rises substantially for low income brackets, and Black, Hispanic, and Asian adults. Concern about hospitalization was highest in adults with a high school education or less. Despite efforts by the CDC, the Biden Administration, and corporate media to downplay the public’s concern about COVID, these numbers show that a substantial proportion of Americans care about protecting one another.

A popular program providing free rapid antigen tests through the USPS ended on March 9, 2024. Despite the limitations of rapid antigen tests, these home tests continue to be a vital way to quickly identify COVID cases, both to prevent further onward spread as well as to identify the need for treatment with Paxlovid. You can use our letter campaign to let your elected officials know we still need free rapid home tests.

COVID wastewater levels are decreasing, with no states registering “Very High” levels as of 3/15/2024. Eight states are currently at “High” and 15 are at “Moderate” levels of SARS-CoV-2 detected in wastewater.

Wastewater levels show a downward trend in the provisional data (gray shaded area) in all regions. The national wastewater levels are overall indicated as “Low.” Lower wastewater activity is an indication of lower overall viral spread, which is certainly a good thing. However, the “Low” designation is not a representation of low risk in our day-to-day lives, and continued masking and multilayered precautions continue to be necessary to protect ourselves and our communities. State and local trends can also provide additional information, where available.

A recent Axios article highlights the expanding broad utility of wastewater testing for COVID and other infectious diseases, as well as the uncertain footing of the funding and infrastructure for this essential surveillance tool. We encourage you to write your elected officials to let them know you want to keep and expand wastewater testing in your area and nationally.

Wins

On March 13, the People’s CDC hosted a press conference to push back on the CDC’s elimination of COVID isolation guidance and demand accountability to the public (watch the video or read the press release). The online publication (pre-proof) of the People’s CDC External Review in the peer-reviewed scientific journal American Journal of Preventive Medicine Focus was also announced, which is an important authoritative resource highlighting both shortcomings of the CDC’s approach and recommendations for a more transparent, effective, and equitable pandemic response going forward. The full External Review report can be found on the People’s CDC website.

March 15 was Long COVID Awareness Day, and Senator Bernie Sanders along with six cosponsors (Tim Kaine, Edward Markey, John Hickenlooper, Tina Smith, Robert Casey, and Tammy Baldwin) introduced Resolution 590 to formally recognize March 15 as Long COVID Awareness Day. You can ask your senators to support this resolution using this letter campaign. Senator Sanders released a video promising legislation to increase funding for Long COVID research and clinical care, as well as emphasizing the importance of prevention, including vaccination and masking. For more info on Long COVID Awareness Day, see the “Long COVID” section below.

When we make our voices heard, whether with the press, with scientific publications, or with elected officials, we win.

Variants

In the CDC’s most recent Nowcast predictions, JN.1 continues to be the most prevalent variant in the United States (86.5%), with a predicted decrease in JN.1 and sublineage JN.1.13 increasing (9.5%).

Vaccines

The CDC has recommended spring boosters for people age 65 and older, at least 4 months after the previous updated dose. As of 3/2/2024, only about 42.4% of adults age 65 and older had gotten an updated vaccine, and many who were vaccinated in the fall may not realize they are eligible for another dose. 

In addition to the spring boosters recommended for people aged 65 and older, immunocompromised people are eligible for more frequent vaccination. The CDC states, “You can self-attest to your moderately or severely immunocompromised status, which means you do not need any documentation of your status to receive COVID-19 vaccines you might be eligible to receive.”

As a reminder, the currently available COVID vaccine formulations (2023-2024, first available in fall 2023) are effective against the JN.1 variant, with about 54% protection against symptomatic disease. For people of all ages, immunity wanes after 6 months, and, although current eligibility is more limited, we continue to support access to vaccination at least every 6 months for all ages.

If you have not received one of the updated COVID vaccines released last Fall, you can use this tool to find local vaccine providers that are Bridge Access Participants. The Bridge program is currently available through December 31, 2024. 

COVID in Kids

In a recent report in the CDC’s MMWR publication, cases of Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) in 2023 were highlighted. MIS-C is an inflammatory response to a COVID infection that usually occurs 2-6 weeks following an infection. MIS-C may be serious and can affect the heart, lungs, kidneys, brain, skin, eyes, or gastrointestinal tract. Although rates of MIS-C have slowed since 2020-2021, 112 cases were reported in 2023, with 82.1% of those occurring in unvaccinated children. Among cases in vaccinated children, 60% occurred in children who had not received a booster within the last year. As of 3/2/2024, only about 13.5% of eligible children aged 6 months to 17 years have received a 2023-2024 COVID vaccine. More info on Long COVID in kids is presented below under “Long COVID.” 

It is clear that kids need protection from COVID, and current efforts are inadequate. We demand that public health authorities take action to protect our children. You can find more information to support protecting kids in our Urgency of Equity toolkit.

Long COVID

March 15 marked the second annual International Long Covid Awareness Day. Across the globe, Long Covid survivors, their allies, and the community fight for increased research, treatment, and visibility for people living with Long Covid. 

Searching #LongCovidAwarenessDay on most social media platforms will connect you to posts from people all over the world describing their experience navigating their ongoing symptoms while trying to educate others about the barriers they face in seeking accessible and effective treatments.

Up to 5.8 million children in the US may be affected by Long COVID. A recent study published in the journal Pediatrics from the American Academy of Pediatrics shows that vaccination reduces the risk of Long COVID in children by about 40%. 

Take Action

Super Tuesday has come and gone with nominees in most parties now established for races at the local, state, and national level later this year on November 5th.

People’s CDC wants to remind you that regardless of the outcomes of these elections, we must always continue to organize and fight back against the state’s abandonment of science in favor of corporate interests.

We urge you to use and share our letter campaign demanding that elected officials renew and expand programs to provide free Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs). You can also continue to urge elected officials to support maintaining and extending COVID isolation guidance via our letter campaign. Over 13,000 letters have already been sent, and you can use the same template to send follow up letters.

Whether it’s joining a local mutual aid organization or fighting for increased accessibility measures (required masking, improved air quality, and multilayered precautions) in groups you are already part of, your actions can make your communities safer for all people.

[pandemic-info]

...A diverse, multidisciplinary panel of 386 academic, health, non-governmental organization, government and other experts [convened] in COVID-19 response from 112 countries and territories to recommend specific actions to end this persistent global threat to public health.

The panel developed a set of 41 consensus statements and 57 recommendations to governments, health systems, industry and other key stakeholders across six domains: communication; health systems; vaccination; prevention; treatment and care; and inequities.

...[3] of the highest-ranked recommendations call for the adoption of whole-of-society and whole-of-government approaches, while maintaining proven prevention measures using a vaccines-plus approach that employs a range of public health and financial support measures to complement vaccination.

...

As of September 2022, more than 620 million cases of COVID-19 and over 6.5 million deaths have been reported, although mortality estimates range as high as 20 million. The healthcare for millions more people has been delayed, often as a result of overwhelmed health systems. Highly transmissible variants continue to spread globally, while surveillance for variants of concern remains largely inadequate. Reinfection risks are not fully understood. Low vaccination rates may compound the risk from waning immunity. Long COVID has emerged as a serious chronic condition that represents a considerable burden of disease and still lacks adequate understanding and appropriate preventive or curative solutions.

"Although many governments and individuals no longer have the same level of concern as earlier in the pandemic, many public health leaders, including members of this panel, continue to regard COVID-19 as a persistent and dangerous health threat."

(Below are just a few of the statements with highest consensus, pulled from the tables in the paper;)

Grades are based on the percentage of combined agreement (agree + somewhat agree). U, unanimous (100%) agreement; A, 90%–99% agreement; B, 78%–89% agreement; C, 67%–77% agreement.

Communication:

Public health authorities contribute to the dissemination of false information when their communications do not reflect current scientific understanding that transmission of SARS-CoV-2 is primarily airborne. - A (90-99% agreement)

Sources of false information undermine the social cohesion needed for an effective public health response. - A

A government’s decision to reduce COVID-19 pandemic control measures does not mean that the threat to public health has ended. - A

Health systems:

The world has not implemented an evidence-based, globally agreed-upon set of minimum COVID-19 pandemic response standards addressing monitoring, prevention, treatment and care. - A

Vaccination:

Vaccine hesitancy, which ranges from delay to refusal despite the availability of vaccine services, remains a major challenge to ending the COVID-19 pandemic as a public health threat. - A

Vaccination alone is insufficient to end the COVID-19 pandemic as a public health threat. - A

Prevention:

SARS-CoV-2 is an airborne virus that presents the highest risk of transmission in indoor areas with poor ventilation. - A

The assumption that endemicity automatically means that variants will have lower virulence is not scientifically sound and should not be a basis for public policy decision-making. - A

Relying on individual, voluntary compliance with transmission prevention measures is insufficient to end COVID-19 as a public health threat. - A

Infection rates tend to increase when governments discontinue social measures, including non-pharmaceutical interventions, regardless of the level of vaccination. - A

Wide use of high-filtration and well-fitting facemasks (for example, N95, KF94, KN95, FFP2/3) is important to reduce transmission, particularly in high-risk settings. - A

Treatment and care:

Prioritizing the treatment of severe COVID-19 over the prevention of SARS-CoV-2 transmission risks increasing infections, long COVID and the overall burden of disease.

Pandemic inequities

The COVID-19 pandemic disproportionately impacts the most vulnerable populations within communities, countries and globally.

There is a disproportionate consumption of health system resources by those voluntarily unvaccinated.

Few governments have adequately engaged vulnerable populations to inform pandemic response priorities.

Communication (Table 4):

Community leaders, scientific experts and public health authorities should collaborate to develop public health messages that build and enhance individual and community trust and use the preferred means of access and communication for different populations. - U (unanimous)

Vaccination (T6):

Vaccination messaging should clearly explain the efficacy and limitations of current vaccines in preventing SARS-CoV-2 transmission and reducing the severity of COVID-19. - A

Calculations for immunity should take into consideration the time following the date of vaccination and/or infection and be regularly updated with new scientific evidence. - A

Prevention (T6)

Governments should regulate and incentivize the development and deployment of structural prevention measures (for example, ventilation, air filtration) to mitigate airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2, with an early emphasis on high-risk settings. - A

Measures that are no longer scientifically valid for COVID-19 prevention should be immediately removed from COVID-19 guidance and policy. - A

Risk communications should clearly emphasize that transmission of SARS-CoV-2 is primarily caused by inhalation of the virus. - A

Prevention of SARS-CoV-2 transmission in the workplace, educational institutions and centres of commerce should remain a high priority, reflected in public health guidance and supported through multiple social measures and structural interventions (for example, remote work/schooling policies, ventilation, air filtration, facemask wearing). - A

Treatment and care (T7):

Global case definitions for SARS-CoV-2 and for COVID-19 morbidity and mortality should be standardized. - U

Promote multisectoral collaboration to accelerate the development of new therapies for all stages of COVID-19 (for example, outpatient, hospitalization and long COVID). - A

Clinical trials and longitudinal cohorts should include statistically sufficient samples from all age groups, genders and vulnerable populations. - A

Prioritize research funding for long COVID to develop diagnostic tools, treatment and care, and knowledge about extrinsic factors (for example, stigma and discrimination). - A

Pandemic inequities (T7):

Recognizing that local and regional contexts are important for equitable responses to the pandemic, governments should engage communities and multidisciplinary experts who understand the local context when developing operational plans for ending COVID-19 as a public health threat. - A

Synthesis of the study’s findings into six cross-cutting themes:

SARS-CoV-2 still moves among us—despite some governments moving on—requiring continued efforts and resources to save lives. Reservoirs exist from which variants of concern may yet emerge; possible endemicity does not necessarily mean lower disease severity.

Vaccines are an effective tool against COVID-19 but will not alone end COVID-19 as a public health threat. Vaccination as a sole pandemic response strategy has limitations due to immune escape, waning immunity, inequitable access, vaccine hesitancy, and the absence of immunization strategies. A multifaceted public health vaccines-plus approach is needed, including testing, surveillance, treatment, community engagement and implementation of social prevention measures (such as facemasks, distancing and quarantine), structural interventions (such as ventilation and air filtration) and financial incentives (for example, support measures).

Multisectoral collaboration that centres on communities and fosters trust is needed. Ending COVID-19 as a public health threat requires whole-of-society and whole-of-government approaches engaging trusted community leaders and organizations, scientific experts, businesses, and other disciplines and sectors...

Responsive health systems are crucial for responding to the COVID-19 pandemic and require coordinated government support. The persistent demand on health systems requires protecting the physical and mental wellbeing of healthcare workers; reducing economic barriers for equipment and treatment, including addressing supply-chain factors; strengthening primary care; and adopting a comprehensive, intersectoral, multilevel approach to preparedness and response activities.

Adverse forces challenge efforts to end the COVID-19 public health threat. Counteract sovereign state actors who are openly antagonistic toward science and public health and other entities with vested interests that disseminate false information. Public health authorities should build trust in evidence-based communications and partner with those monitoring and holding accountable disseminators of false information.

None of us is safe until everyone is safe. Pandemic inequities must end. This includes taking into account pre-existing social determinants of health, addressing access to affordable vaccines, tests, other supplies and treatment, and paying special attention to the needs of vulnerable groups (such as older and immunocompromized individuals, children and healthcare workers).

"None of us is safe until everyone is safe. Pandemic inequities must end."

[rafil2229-blog]

https://youtu.be/t6XUaj2-ISQ

Fighting Dengue: Prevention and Treatment Strategies

Dengue Fever Alert: What You Need to Know in 2024

Join me as I dive into the challenge of uncovering everything you need to know about Dengue Fever in 2024!

Join me as I dive into the challenge of uncovering everything you need to know about Dengue Fever in 2024!

Dengue fever is no stranger to the global health landscape, and in 2024, it's more crucial than ever to stay informed about this mosquito-borne illness. With the prevalence of dengue fever on the rise, it's essential to understand the risks, symptoms, and preventive measures to protect yourself and your loved ones.

Dengue fever is a significant public health concern due to its rapid transmission, vague symptoms, and potential for severe complications. The primary carrier of the disease, the Aedes mosquito, is found in almost every corner of the globe, making it a universal threat. In recent years, dengue fever has spread to new regions, resulting in a substantial increase in reported cases. The lack of a definitive cure and the limited availability of effective treatment options only add to the complexity of this issue.

The symptoms of dengue fever can be deceivingly mild, often resembling those of the flu. However, in severe cases, the disease can lead to life-threatening complications, such as hemorrhaging and organ failure. It's crucial to recognize the warning signs early on to ensure prompt medical attention.

Dengue fever has a profound impact on public health, particularly in regions with limited healthcare resources. The disease can overwhelm healthcare systems, diverting valuable resources away from other critical health concerns.

Geographically, dengue fever is most prevalent in tropical and subtropical regions, where the Aedes mosquito thrives. The lifecycle of this mosquito is short, allowing it to breed rapidly and spread the disease quickly. However, there are preventive measures that can be taken to reduce the risk of transmission.

Removing standing water around homes and public areas, using mosquito repellents, and wearing protective clothing can significantly decrease the likelihood of getting bitten. Additionally, eliminating breeding sites and implementing integrated mosquito management strategies can help curb the spread of the disease.

Recently, a significant outbreak of dengue fever in Southeast Asia has highlighted the urgent need for improved public health infrastructure and robust surveillance systems. Research findings have also underscored the importance of developing effective vaccines and treatments to combat this disease.

A recent study published in a renowned medical journal revealed a promising breakthrough in the development of a dengue fever vaccine. The study demonstrated a significant reduction in the number of reported cases in vaccinated populations, offering new hope in the fight against this disease.

The outbreak has also sparked renewed efforts to improve public awareness and education about dengue fever. In response, health experts are stressing the importance of individual and collective responsibility in preventing the spread of the disease.

In 2024, it's more critical than ever to stay informed about dengue fever and take proactive steps to protect ourselves and our communities. By understanding the risks, symptoms, and preventive measures, we can work together to combat this global health threat.

To recap, dengue fever is a formidable public health challenge that requires our collective attention and action. Stay informed, take preventive measures, and let's work together to create a safer, healthier world for everyone.

If you have any thoughts or experiences related to dengue fever, please share them in the comments below. And if you're interested in learning more about mosquito-borne diseases, be sure to check out my previous video on the topic. Thanks for watching