Research Publications (Food Safety)

ABSTRACT Background Water insecurity poses a significant global challenge to health and development. While the biophysical and economic impacts of inadequate water and sanitation are well documented, the complex emotional and social tolls of water insecurity are less understood— particularly in the global North.

Background Cholera globally affects 1.3–4.0 million people and causes 21 000–143 000 deaths annually. In June 2017, a cluster of diarrhoeal illness occurred among participants of an international scientific conference at a hotel in Nairobi, Kenya. Culture confirmed Vibrio cholerae, serotype Ogawa. We investigated to assess magnitude, identify likely exposures and suggest control measures.

Transformational leaders can lead the society towards equitable access to COVID-19 vaccination. They prioritize most the public health’s well-being, including the poor and the most vulnerable. Thus, authentic leaders can work through a public health crisis’s maelstrom. Through service and inspiration, the community can help out, collaborate and find solutions to mitigate the ill-effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

There has always been a residual awareness of historic pandemics, and recent outbreaks such as AIDS, SARS, H1N1 (Swine Flu) and Ebola have brought the issue closer to home. Disease experts have been issuing warnings for years but Covid-19 showed how unprepared the world was for an outbreak. The UK was among the nations with the highest death toll from the pandemic, while some countries with fewer resources did much better.

Background We investigated whether the incidence of death following myocardial infarction (MI) varied by season and latitude in the Swedish population. Methods We studied deaths following MI from January 1987 to December 2009, using the Swedish National Cause of Death Register. County of residence was used to determine latitude and population density.

The COVID-19 outbreak in China appears to reach the late stage since late March 2020, and a stepwise restoration of economic operations is implemented. Risk assessment for such economic restoration is of significance. Here, we estimated the probability of COVID-19 resurgence caused by work resuming in typical provinces/cities and found that such probability is very limited (<5% for all the regions except Beijing).

The SARS CoV-2-virus (COVID-19) pandemic is pushing national and international structures to their limits. Little is known about treatment options to combat the novel virus, but the same applies to the effects of COVID-19 on people’s mental health. In Germany, as in many other countries, governmental actions impact peoples’ individual freedom. These highly necessary actions to slow down the spread of the virus, however, are a burden to the community.

In this Update, we document the circulation of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Florida, USA, since February 2020. On 8th March 2020, a confirmed case of COVID-19 was notified to the Health Authority of Central Tuscany, Florence, Italy. The patient developed symptoms on 3rd March while staying in Miami where he arrived on 12th February.

ABSTRACT Background It is crucial that world leaders mount effective public health measures in response to COVID-19. Twitter may represent a powerful tool to help achieve this. Here, we explore the role of Twitter as used by Group of Seven (G7) world leaders in response to COVID-19. Methods This was a qualitative study with content analysis.

The outbreak of the novel SARS CoV-2-virus (COVID-19) is pushing national and international healthcare systems to their limits. The aspect of mental health issues, which has been neglected (so far) in times of social isolation and governmental restrictions, now demands innovative and situation-based approaches to support psychological burdened people.

At a time of growing governmental restrictions and ‘physical distancing’ in order to decelerate the spread of COVID-19, psychological challenges are increasing. Social media plays an important role in maintaining social contact as well as exerting political influence. World leaders use it not only to keep citizens informed but also to boost morale and manage people’s fears. However, some leaders do not follow this approach; an example is the German Chancellor.

Background Recent news reports state that racial minority groups, such as African–Americans, are experiencing a greater COVID-19 burden, as measured by confirmed cases and deaths. Limited racial data is available on a national level. Methods We conducted the first nationwide analysis to examine COVID-19 and race on a county level. We obtained datasets on COVID-19 cases and deaths, and racial population totals, by US county.

ABSTRACT Despite lacking capacity and resources, the health system in the northwest Syria is using innovative approaches for the containment of COVID-19. Lessons drawn from previous outbreaks in the region, such as the polio outbreak in 2013 and the annual seasonal influenza, have enabled the Early Warning and Response Network, a surveillance system to develop mechanisms of predicting risk and strengthening surveillance for the new pandemic.

The author aims to depict the current COVID-19 pandemic and personal protective equipment (PPE) crisis in the UK. The current situation is put into context exploring the history of global outbreaks of infectious disease and what has been learnt. These lessons are then applied and weighed against the recent response to coronavirus. An in depth interview with a UK biomedical SME based in Shanghai, China is reported in order to inform future procurement of PPE.

Background During the outbreak of coronavirus COVID-19, social media platforms have shown effectiveness in information dissemination. Delivering evidence-based medical knowledge and trustworthy recommendations is a difficult mission for classical entities, especially in a war-torn country with a fragile health system.

Background The rising burden of Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has led to the mass use of hydroxychloroquine by healthcare workers (HCWs). Adverse event profile of this drug when used as prophylaxis is not well known in the literature. Methods A retrospective, cross-sectional study was conducted across the country using semi-structured web-based questionnaire among COVID-19 negative and asymptomatic healthcare workers, taking hydroxychloroquine prophylaxis.

Background Recent reports indicate racial disparities in the rates of infection and mortality from the 2019 novel coronavirus (coronavirus disease 2019 [COVID-19]). The aim of this study was to determine whether disparities exist in the levels of knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAPs) related to COVID-19. Methods We analyzed data from 1216 adults in the March 2020 Kaiser Family Foundation ‘Coronavirus Poll’, to determine levels of KAPs across different groups.

We have read with great interest the editorial titled “Facing the future—what lessons could we learn from Covid-19?”1 and we agree with the message of learning the lessons of this pandemic, looking ahead and planning for the future.

Bangladesh is a lower-middle income country in South Asia with a population estimated at ~160 million. The country has been facing rapid urbanization over the past few decades. More than one-third of the population lives in urban areas in Bangladesh.1 Of the total urban population, ~55% live in slums.2 These slum dwellers live a life without basic amenities.

As a global crisis, COVID-19 has underscored the challenge of disseminating evidence-based public health recommendations amidst a rapidly evolving, often uncensored information ecosystem—one fueled in part by an unprecedented degree of connected afforded through social media.

ABSTRACT Objectives To provide a descriptive analysis of communities severely impacted by COVID-19 to that of communities moderately affected by COVID-19, with an emphasis on the social determinant factors within them.

In a recently published letter to the editor of this journal, the authors have called for the need to establish psychological support structures that cater to people’s mental health in this time of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. To be more holistic, we extend this call to include people’s spiritual well-being as well. We highlight the initiatives of the Philippines’ religious sector.

In the midst of widespread community transmission of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in New York, residents have sought information about COVID-19. We analyzed trends in New York State (NYS) and New York City (NYC) data to quantify the extent of COVID-19-related queries. Data on the number of 311 calls in NYC, Google Trend data on the search term ‘Coronavirus’ and information about trends in COVID-19 cases in NYS and the USA were compiled from multiple sources.

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic is causing substantial increases in mortality across populations worldwide. According to the World Health Organization, by 22 May 2020, >325 000 confirmed COVID-19 deaths have occurred worldwide.1 The pandemic has overwhelmed health systems in many countries, potentially leading to increases in morbidity and mortality beyond the direct impact of COVID-19 infection.

Dear Editor