The role of the (in)accessibility of social media data for infodemic management: a public health perspective on the situation in the European Union in March 2024

Public health institutions rely on the access to social media data to better understand the dynamics and impact of infodemics – an overabundance of information during a disease outbreak, potentially including mis-and disinformation. The scope of the COVID-19 infodemic has led to growing concern in the public health community. The spread of harmful information or information voids may negatively impact public health. In this context, social media are of particular relevance as an integral part of our society, where much information is consumed. In this perspective paper, we discuss the current state of (in)accessibility of social media data of the main platforms in the European Union. The European Union’s relatively new Digital Services Act introduces the obligation for platforms to provide data access to a wide range of researchers, likely including researchers at public health institutions without formal academic affiliation. We examined eight platforms (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Snapchat, TikTok, X, YouTube) affected by the new legislation in regard to data accessibility. We found that all platforms apart from TikTok offer data access through the Digital Services Act. Potentially, this presents a fundamentally new situation for research, as before the Digital Services Act, few platforms granted data access or only to very selective groups of researchers. The access regime under the Digital Services Act is, however, still evolving. Specifics such as the application procedure for researcher access are still being worked out and results can be expected in spring 2024. The impact of the Digital Services Act on research will therefore only become fully apparent in the future

Risk of Guillain–Barré syndrome after vaccination against human papillomavirus: a systematic review and meta-analysis, 1 January 2000 to 4 April 2020

Background: Guillain–Barré syndrome (GBS) is a rare autoimmune disease that can follow viral infections and has in a few cases been linked to vaccinations. Pre-licensure clinical trials did not observe an association between human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination and GBS, a post-marketing study from 2017 reported an increased relative risk. Aim: We assessed the risk of GBS after HPV vaccination through a systematic literature review and meta-analysis. Methods: We searched Embase, MEDLINE and Cochrane for studies reporting on the risk of GBS after HPV vaccination in individuals aged ≥ 9 years, published between 1 January 2000 and 4 April 2020, excluding studies without a comparator group. Seven studies reporting relative effect sizes were pooled using random-effects meta-analysis. We assessed quality of evidence using the GRADE approach. Study protocol was registered (PROSPERO No. #CRD42019123533). Results: Of 602 identified records, we included 25 studies. Based on over 10 million reports, cases of GBS were rare. In 22 studies no increased risk was observed, while in three studies a signal of increased risk of GBS after HPV vaccination was identified. Meta-analysis yielded a pooled random-effects ratio of 1.21 (95% CI: 0.60–2.43); I2 = 72% (95% CI: 36–88). This translates to a number needed to harm of one million to be vaccinated to generate one GBS case. Quality of evidence was very low. Conclusions: The absolute and relative risk of GBS after HPV vaccination is very low and lacks statistical significance. This is reassuring for the already implemented vaccination programmes and should be used in respective communication activities.Peer Reviewe

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and associated non-pharmaceutical interventions on other notifiable infectious diseases in Germany: An analysis of national surveillance data during week 1–2016 – week 32–2020

Background The COVID-19 pandemic and associated non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) affect healthcare seeking behaviour, access to healthcare, test strategies, disease notification and workload at public health authorities, but may also lead to a true change in transmission dynamics. We aimed to assess the impact of the pandemic and NPIs on other notifiable infectious diseases under surveillance in Germany. Methods We included 32 nationally notifiable disease categories with case numbers >100/year in 2016–2019. We used quasi-Poisson regression analysis on a weekly aggregated time-series incorporating trend and seasonality, to compute the relative change in case numbers during week 2020–10 to 2020–32 (pandemic/NPIs), in comparison to week 2016–01 to 2020–09. Findings During week 2020–10 to 2020–32, 216,825 COVID-19 cases, and 162,942 (-35%) cases of other diseases, were notified. Case numbers decreased across all ages and notification categories (all p<0•05), except for tick-borne encephalitis, which increased (+58%). The number of cases decreased most for respiratory diseases (from -86% for measles, to -12% for tuberculosis), gastro-intestinal diseases (from -83% for rotavirus gastroenteritis, to -7% for yersiniosis) and imported vector-borne diseases (-75% dengue fever, -73% malaria). The less affected infections were healthcare associated pathogens (from -43% infection/colonisation with carbapenem-non-susceptible Acinetobacter, to -28% for Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus invasive infection) and sexually transmitted and blood-borne diseases (from -28% for hepatitis B, to -12% for syphilis). Interpretation During the COVID-19 pandemic a drastic decrease of notifications for most infectious diseases and pathogens was observed. Our findings suggest effects of NPIs on overall disease transmission that require further investigation.Peer Reviewe

Barriers to Initiation of Pediatric HIV Treatment in Uganda: A Mixed-Method Study

Although the advantages of early infant HIV diagnosis and treatment initiation are well established, children often present late to HIV programs in resource-limited settings. We aimed to assess factors related to the timing of treatment initiation among HIV-infected children attending three clinical sites in Uganda. Clinical and demographic determinants associated with early disease (WHO clinical stages 1-2) or late disease (stages 3-4) stage at presentation were assessed using multilevel logistic regression. Additionally, semistructured interviews with caregivers and health workers were conducted to qualitatively explore determinants of late disease stage at presentation. Of 306 children initiating first-line regimens, 72% presented late. Risk factors for late presentation were age below 2 years old (OR 2.83, P = 0.014), living without parents (OR 3.93, P = 0.002), unemployment of the caregiver (OR 4.26, P = 0.001), lack of perinatal HIV prophylaxis (OR 5.66, P = 0.028), and high transportation costs to the clinic (OR 2.51, P = 0.072). Forty-nine interviews were conducted, confirming the identified risk factors and additionally pointing to inconsistent referral from perinatal care, caregivers' unawareness of HIV symptoms, fear, and stigma as important barriers. The problem of late disease at presentation requires a multifactorial approach, addressing both health system and individual-level factors

Routinedaten aus der medizinischen Versorgung für die Notaufnahme-Surveillance: 1,5 Jahre Notaufnahme-Situationsreport

SUMO ist ein am Robert Koch-Institut entwickeltes und betriebenes System, welches Gesundheitsdaten für Public Health-Surveillance verarbeitet und bereitstellt. Der Notaufnahme-Situationsreport enthält Daten der Routinedokumentation aus einer Auswahl deutscher Notaufnahmen und bildet die aktuelle Inanspruchnahme dieser Notaufnahmen ab.SUMO is a system that has been developed and implemented at the Robert Koch Institute. It processes and provides health data for surveillance and public health research. The Emergency Department Situation Report presents data from the routine documentation of selected emergency departments in Germany, and shows the current utilisation of those emergency departments

Notaufnahmesurveillance am RKI mittels Routinedaten aus dem AKTIN-Notaufnahmeregister

Die syndromische Surveillance mit Daten aus dem AKTIN-Notaufnahmeregister hat das Ziel, die aktuelle Inanspruchnahme einer Auswahl von Notaufnahmen in Deutschland zu beobachten und verschiedene Indikatoren, wie z. B. die Gründe für eine Vorstellung in der Notaufnahme, abzubilden. Seit Beginn der COVID-19-Pandemie werden Notaufnahmedaten aus dem AKTIN-Notaufnahmeregister für die syndromische Surveillance genutzt. Der Beitrag erläutert den aktuellen Stand der Notaufnahmesurveillance am RKI und das im Februar 2022 weiterentwickelte, wöchentliche Berichtsformat.Peer Reviewe

Social media for field epidemiologists (#SoMe4epi): How to use Twitter during the #COVID19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has fundamentally changed the way that public health professionals work and communicate. Over a very short time span, remote working arrangements have become the norm, and meetings have shifted online. Physical distancing measures have accelerated a trend toward digital communication and social exchange. At the same time, the work of epidemiologists has been held under a magnifying glass by journalists, governments and the general public, in a way not previously seen. With social media becoming an integral part of our society over the last decade, Twitter is now a key communication tool and platform for social networking among epidemiologists (#EpiTwitter). In this article, we reflect on the use of Twitter by field epidemiologists and public health microbiologists for rapid professional exchange, public communication of science and professional development during the pandemic and the associated risks. For those field epidemiologists new to social media, we discuss how Twitter can be used in a variety of ways, both at their home institutions and during field deployment. These include information dissemination, science communication and public health advocacy, professional development, networking and experience exchange.Peer Reviewe

Factors preventing SARS-CoV-2 transmission during unintentional exposure in a GP practice: a cohort study of patient contacts; Germany, 2020

Two general practitioners (GPs) with SARS-CoV-2 infection provided in-person patient care to patients of their joint medical practice before and after symptom onset, up until SARS CoV-2 laboratory confirmation. Through active contact tracing, the local public health authorities recruited the cohort of patients that had contact with either GP in their putative infectious period. In this cohort of patient contacts, we assess the frequency and determinants of SARS-CoV-2-transmission from GPs to patients. We calculated incidence rate ratios (IRR) to explore the type of contact as an explanatory variable for COVID-19 cases. Among the cohort of 83 patient contacts, we identified 22 (27%) COVID-19 cases including 17 (21%) possible, three (4%) probable and two (2%) confirmed cases. All 22 cases had contact with a GP when the GP did not wear a mask, and/or when contact was ≥10 min. Importantly, patients who had contact <10 min with a GP wearing a facemask were at reduced risk (IRR 0.21; 95% CI 0.01–0.99) of COVID-19. This outbreak investigation adds to the body of evi dence in supporting current guidelines on measures at preventing the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in an outpatient setting.Peer Reviewe

Inanspruchnahme deutscher Notaufnahmen während der COVID-19-Pandemie – der Notaufnahme-Situationsreport (SitRep)

Inanspruchnahme deutscher Notaufnahmen während der COVID-19-Pandemie – der Notaufnahme-Situationsreport (SitRep) Das AKTIN-Notaufnahmeregister stellt dem RKI in täglichen Datenlieferungen seit dem 20.3.2020 anonymisierte und standardisierte Routinedatendaten aus Notaufnahmen zur Verfügung. Während der COVID-19-Pandemie können diese Daten genutzt werden, um die Inanspruchnahme von Notaufnahmen zu beobachten. Am RKI wurde dafür ein wöchentlicher Notaufnahme-Situationsreport etabliert. Die Methoden und Verfügbarkeit der Routinedaten aus Notaufnahmen sind im Epidemiologischen Bulletin 27/2020 beschrieben