2015 Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) nosocomial outbreak in South Korea: insights from modeling
Basic reproduction number, South Korea, MERS-CoV, nosocomial infection, Outbreak turning point, mathematical model
Background. Since the emergence of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in 2012, more than 1,300 laboratory confirmed cases of MERS-CoV infections have been reported in Asia, North Africa, and Europe by July 2015. The recent MERS-CoV nosocomial outbreak in South Korea quickly became the second largest such outbreak with 186 total cases and 36 deaths in a little more than one month, second only to Saudi Arabia in country-specific number of reported cases.Methods. We use a simple mathematical model, the Richards model, to trace the temporal course of the South Korea MERS-CoV outbreak. We pinpoint its outbreak turning point and its transmissibility via basic reproduction number R0 in order to ascertain the occurrence of this nosocomial outbreak and how it was quickly brought under control.Results. The estimated outbreak turning point of ti = 23.3 days (95% CI [22.6–24.0]), or 23–24 days after the onset date of the index case on May 11, pinpoints June 3–4 as the time of the turning point or the peak incidence for this outbreak by onset date. R0 is estimated to range between 7.0 and 19.3.Discussion and Conclusion. The turning point of the South Korea MERS-CoV outbreak occurred around May 27–29, when control measures were quickly implemented after laboratory confirmation of the first cluster of nosocomial infections by the index patient. Furthermore, transmissibility of MERS-CoV in the South Korea outbreak was significantly higher than those reported from past MERS-CoV outbreaks in the Middle East, which is attributable to the nosocomial nature of this outbreak. Our estimate of R0 for the South Korea MERS-CoV nosocomial outbreak further highlights the importance and the risk involved in cluster infections and superspreading events in crowded settings such as hospitals. Similar to the 2003 SARS epidemic, outbreaks of infectious diseases with low community transmissibility like MERS-CoV could still occur initially with large clusters of nosocomial infections, but can be quickly and effectively controlled with timely intervention measures.
Depois de dois anos de intensas tratativas, a 68a Assembleia Geral da Organização das Nações Unidas (ONU) instituiu 2015 como o Ano Internacional dos Solos (AIS-2015). O objetivo dessa celebração é conscientizar os atores da sociedade civil e dos setores privado e governamental sobre a importância da proteção dos solos para a manutenção dos ecossistemas, a qualidade de vida e o desenvolvimento sustentável. A Organização das Nações Unidas para a Alimentação e Agricultura (FAO) foi designada para coordenar a implementação do AIS-2015 no âmbito da Aliança Mundial pelos Solos em colaboração com os governos e a Secretaria da Convenção das Nações Unidas de Luta Contra a Desertificação (UNCCD). No Brasil, o Ministério da Agricultura, Pecuária e Abastecimento (Mapa) é o órgão responsável por difundir o AIS-2015. O Mapa criou um comitê, unindo Governo Federal e sociedade civil, para promover o assunto. Com isso, uma série de eventos foi planejada para o decorrer do ano, assim como aconteceu com a agricultura familiar no ano passado (FAO, 2015).
Empresa de Pesquisa Agropecuária e Extensão Rural de Santa Catarina - Epagri
https://publicacoes.epagri.sc.gov.br/RAC/article/view/157
2015: el Año Internacional de los Suelos
año internacional, funciones ecosistémicas, suelo
Este comentario resulta pertinente por considerarse que la celebración del Año Internacional de los Suelos durante el 2015, con certeza, posicionará al recurso suelo en la dimensión que le corresponde dentro de la agricultura sostenible a nivel mundial. Asimismo, este acontecimiento coincide con la conmemoración del 60 Aniversario del Centro de Investigaciones Agronómicas de la Universidad de Costa Rica, en donde se ha realizado la mayor parte de la investigación edafológica del país. En el comentario se efectúa un análisis de las funciones ecosistémicas del suelo, las acciones mundiales que se están llevando a cabo para lograr ese posicionamiento y concretamente, las actividades locales que se realizaron durante este año en nuestro país, con el fin de lograr que esta visión integral del suelo sea la que conduzca a una convivencia más exitosa de sus funciones y así, a una verdadera conservación del recurso.
http://revistas.ucr.ac.cr/index.php/agrocost/article/view/21815
2019 Coronavirus Pandemic in Turkey and Across the World
SARS-CoV-2, coronavirus pandemic, COVID-19, Turkey
The novel coronavirus, which was called 2019-nCoV at the beginning of the outbreak, was named SARS-CoV-2 later. The clinical disease caused by the virus was also called Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic on 11.03.2020. As of 26.03.2020, there have been 462.684 confirmed cases and 20.834 deaths globally, and these numbers are expected to increase in the coming days. The dynamics of virus spread are investigated with various models and outbreakparameters such as incubation time and basic reproduction number (R0) is tried to be illuminated. According to official numbers, as of 03.26.2020, there have also been 3629 cases and 75 deaths in Turkey. COVID-19 Guideline prepared by the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Turkey is constantly updated with additional prevention and treatment strategies. Various predictions are made for the future course of the pandemic, and the contribution of the spread of the virus in Africa and seasonal changes on this issue has been investigated.
Flora Infeksiyon Hastalıkları ve Klinik Mikrobiyoloji Dergisi
Infectious and parasitic diseases, Microbiology
2019 Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19): Paving the Road for Rapid Detection and Point-of-Care Diagnostics
COVID-19, Wuhan, 2019 novel coronavirus, point-of-care detection, SARS-CoV-2, (loop-mediated isothermal amplification) lamp assay, Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)
We believe a point-of-care (PoC) device for the rapid detection of the 2019 novel Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) is crucial and urgently needed. With this perspective, we give suggestions regarding a potential candidate for the rapid detection of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), as well as factors for the preparedness and response to the outbreak of the COVID-19.
Trieu Nguyen, Dang Duong Bang, Anders Wolff
2019 Novel Coronavirus Infection: Gastrointestinal Manifestations
coronavirus, Gastrointestinal symptoms, digestive symptoms, SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19, Fecal shedding, feco-oral transmission
The world is witnessing a major public health crisis in the wake of the third coronavirus strain pandemic, a novel coronavirus (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2). Although initially thought to be a pure respiratory pathogen, recent reports have highlighted not only the extrapulmonary effects of the virus but also, importantly, the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) effects. Various studies have looked into the effects of this novel coronavirus infection (coronavirus-19 disease [COVID-19]) on GIT involvement with reports of more frequent involvement than previously expected. With feco-oral transmission, debate being conclusively proven with fecal samples testing positive for COVID-19 and longer shedding time, it only underlines the importance of GIT involvement. Moreover, the presence of other GI diseases, such as inflammatory bowel disease, with COVID-19 infection might wreak havoc leading to poor patient outcomes.
Abdul Khaliq, Jayanta Samanta, Jahnvi Dhar, Rakes Kochhar
Diseases of the digestive system. Gastroenterology
2019 novel coronavirus of pneumonia in Wuhan, China: emerging attack and management strategies
2019ncov, Transmission, isolation, Respiratory and eye protection, Hand Hygiene
Abstract An ongoing outbreak of 2019-nCoV pneumonia was first identified in Wuhan, Hubei province, China at the end of 2019. With the spread of the new coronavirus accelerating, person-to-person transmission in family homes or hospitals, and intercity spread of 2019-nCoV occurred. At least 40,261 cases confirmed, 23,589 cases suspected, 909 cases death and 3444 cases cured in China and worldwide 24 countries confirmed 383 cases being diagnosed, 1 case death in February 10th, 2020. At present, the mortality of 2019-nCoV in China is 2.3%, compared with 9.6% of SARS and 34.4% of MERS reported by WHO. It seems the new virus is not as fatal as many people thought. Chinese authorities improved surveillance network, made the laboratory be able to recognize the outbreak within a few weeks and announced the virus genome that provide efficient epidemiological control. More comprehensive information is required to understand 2019-nCoV feature, the epidemiology of origin and spreading, and the clinical phenomina. According to the current status, blocking transmission, isolation, protection, and alternative medication are the urgent management strategies against 2019-nCoV.
Jun She, Jinjun Jiang, Ling Ye, Lijuan Hu, Chunxue BAI, Yuanlin Song
A novel epidemic is challenging the global health care system. Starting from probably November to December 2019, another Coronavirus entered the arena of human pathogens, to be then defined 2019- nCoV [...].
2019-nCoV: The Identify-Isolate-Inform (3I) Tool Applied to a Novel Emerging Coronavirus
2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) is an emerging infectious disease closely related to MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV that was first reported in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China in December 2019. As of January 2020, cases of 2019-nCoV are continuing to be reported in other Eastern Asian countries as well as in the United States, Europe, Australia, and numerous other countries. An unusually high volume of domestic and international travel corresponding to the beginning of the 2020 Chinese New Year complicated initial identification and containment of infected persons. Due to the rapidly rising number of cases and reported deaths, all countries should be considered at risk of imported 2019-nCoV. Therefore, it is essential for prehospital, clinic, and emergency department personnel to be able to rapidly assess 2019-nCoV risk and take immediate actions if indicated. The Identify-Isolate-Inform (3I) Tool, originally conceived for the initial detection and management of Ebola virus and later adjusted for other infectious agents, can be adapted for any emerging infectious disease. This paper reports a modification of the 3I Tool for use in the initial detection and management of patients under investigation for 2019-nCoV. After initial assessment for symptoms and epidemiological risk factors, including travel to affected areas and exposure to confirmed 2019-nCoV patients within 14 days, patients are classified in a risk-stratified system. Upon confirmation of a suspected 2019-nCoV case, affected persons must immediately be placed in airborne infection isolation and the appropriate public health agencies notified. This modified 3I Tool will assist emergency and primary care clinicians, as well as out-of-hospital providers, in effectively managing persons with suspected or confirmed 2019-nCoV.
eScholarship Publishing, University of California
Medicine, Medical emergencies. Critical care. Intensive care. First aid
2019-NCoV: What every neurologist should know?
Stroke, epilepsy, Multiple Sclerosis, headache, neurological manifestations, 2019 novel coronavirus
The 2019 novel Corona Virus pandemic beginning from Wuhan, China primarily affects the respiratory tract but its has impacted clinical practice across a range of specialities including neurology. We review the bearing of the 2019 NCoV infection on neurological practice. Neurological manifestations are less common than respiratory manifestations, yet conspicuous, affecting nearly over a third of hospitalized individuals. These may be classified in to early – headache, dizziness, hyposmia and hypogeusia and late – encephalopathy. Rarely but surely, a very small proportion of infected individuals might present with stroke. Certain neurological conditions, including cerebrovascular disease in both China and Italy and dementia in Italy predispose to infection and more severe manifestations, requiring intensive care unit admission. There is no convincing evidence that the manifestations, course and outcome of various neurological disorders is impacted by 2019 nCoV infection. Concerns of an increased risk of febrile seizures offset by a reduced frequency of infection in the paediatric age group. Individuals with multiple sclerosis might potentially experience both true and pseudorelapses. Besides a direct effect, 2019 nCoV has tremendously affected neurological care by disrupting the continuity of care and the availability of neurological medicines worldwide. Neurologists should respond to this challenge by developing and sustaining innovative methods of providing care as well as alerting the society at large to adopt measures to contain the spread of 2019 nCoV.
Gagandeep Singh, Monika Singla, Rajinder Bansal, Parveen Goel, Nitika Mahajan, Balveen Singh, Venkatesh Sajja, Parth Bansal, Birinder Paul, Rahul Midha
Neurology. Diseases of the nervous system