Pervasive gaps in Amazonian ecological research

Biodiversity loss is one of the main challenges of our time,1,2 and attempts to address it require a clear un derstanding of how ecological communities respond to environmental change across time and space.3,4 While the increasing availability of global databases on ecological communities has advanced our knowledge of biodiversity sensitivity to environmental changes,5–7 vast areas of the tropics remain understudied.8–11 In the American tropics, Amazonia stands out as the world’s most diverse rainforest and the primary source of Neotropical biodiversity,12 but it remains among the least known forests in America and is often underrepre sented in biodiversity databases.13–15 To worsen this situation, human-induced modifications16,17 may elim inate pieces of the Amazon’s biodiversity puzzle before we can use them to understand how ecological com munities are responding. To increase generalization and applicability of biodiversity knowledge,18,19 it is thus crucial to reduce biases in ecological research, particularly in regions projected to face the most pronounced environmental changes. We integrate ecological community metadata of 7,694 sampling sites for multiple or ganism groups in a machine learning model framework to map the research probability across the Brazilian Amazonia, while identifying the region’s vulnerability to environmental change. 15%–18% of the most ne glected areas in ecological research are expected to experience severe climate or land use changes by 2050. This means that unless we take immediate action, we will not be able to establish their current status, much less monitor how it is changing and what is being lostinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Pervasive gaps in Amazonian ecological research

Biodiversity loss is one of the main challenges of our time,1,2 and attempts to address it require a clear understanding of how ecological communities respond to environmental change across time and space.3,4 While the increasing availability of global databases on ecological communities has advanced our knowledge of biodiversity sensitivity to environmental changes,5,6,7 vast areas of the tropics remain understudied.8,9,10,11 In the American tropics, Amazonia stands out as the world's most diverse rainforest and the primary source of Neotropical biodiversity,12 but it remains among the least known forests in America and is often underrepresented in biodiversity databases.13,14,15 To worsen this situation, human-induced modifications16,17 may eliminate pieces of the Amazon's biodiversity puzzle before we can use them to understand how ecological communities are responding. To increase generalization and applicability of biodiversity knowledge,18,19 it is thus crucial to reduce biases in ecological research, particularly in regions projected to face the most pronounced environmental changes. We integrate ecological community metadata of 7,694 sampling sites for multiple organism groups in a machine learning model framework to map the research probability across the Brazilian Amazonia, while identifying the region's vulnerability to environmental change. 15%–18% of the most neglected areas in ecological research are expected to experience severe climate or land use changes by 2050. This means that unless we take immediate action, we will not be able to establish their current status, much less monitor how it is changing and what is being lost

School Health: A Novel School Nurse Clinic Surveillance Project in Coastal Georgia

In 2012, the Syndromic Surveillance Program (SSP) of the Georgia Department of Public Health and Effingham County Schools began collecting syndromic surveillance school nurse clinic visit data. The hypothesis was that these data could provide situational awareness during a pandemic, inform health interventions, elucidate disease burden in students, and characterize school nurse activities. Analysis of the data highlighted a significant burden of asthma and diabetes management and a disparate burden of illnesses across schools. In response to the initial findings of this project, chronic disease programs at the state health department are considering funding Effingham schools for targeted health interventions

Health Equity to Address the Health of All Georgians- Georgia Department of Public Health Epidemiology Section

Background: Health equity (HE) is achieved when everyone has a fair opportunity to attain their full potential for health and well-being. Achieving health requires focused societal efforts to address inequalities, injustices, and social determinants of health (SDoH). In Georgia, racial disparities are observed in maternal and child health. In their 2022-2025 strategic plan, DPH seeks to eliminate health disparities and promote a healthy quality of life for all Georgians. DPH Epidemiology (EPI) is developing a framework to establish HE as the foundation for all aspects of EPI work to address the underlying/root causes of HE. Methods EPI created an HE workgroup composed of a representative group of epidemiologists in October 2021. They evaluated the EPI section’s mission and vision, identified internal (DPH EPI) and external (other states/jurisdictions) HE models and projects, and held a strategic planning session. The workgroup is examining the EPI workforce makeup, SDoH indicators in EPI data collection and analysis, training and data modernization needs, identifying stakeholders, and assessing data impact on policy. Results/Anticipated Results The HE workgroup created these subgroups: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the workforce; Data Collection and Quality; Data Analysis and Evaluation; and Communication and Policy. A logic model helped visualize and guide efforts. In-depth HE training emerged as a need across all subgroups. Discussions include evaluating hiring processes; creating and reinforcing multi-sectorial and community partnerships; enhancing data collection, analysis, and data dissemination methods; providing data driven program/policy recommendations Conclusion Priority areas identified included diverse and inclusive EPI workforce equipped in analyzing, interpreting and disseminating disease specific data to address health and disparities; improve program effectiveness to promote equitable opportunities to be healthy; increase community engagement to create solutions and policies based on partnerships. HE training and stakeholder engagement are the underpinning of realizing these priority areas, and to address the health of all Georgians

Pharyngeal Co-Infections with Monkeypox Virus and Group A Streptococcus, United States, 2022

We report 2 cases of pharyngeal monkeypox virus and group A Streptococcus co-infection in the United States. No rash was observed when pharyngitis symptoms began. One patient required intubation before mpox was diagnosed. Healthcare providers should be aware of oropharyngeal mpox manifestations and possible co-infections; early treatment might prevent serious complications

Severe Monkeypox in Hospitalized Patients - United States, August 10-October 10, 2022.

As of October 21, 2022, a total of 27,884 monkeypox cases (confirmed and probable) have been reported in the United States.§ Gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men have constituted a majority of cases, and persons with HIV infection and those from racial and ethnic minority groups have been disproportionately affected (1,2). During previous monkeypox outbreaks, severe manifestations of disease and poor outcomes have been reported among persons with HIV infection, particularly those with AIDS (3-5). This report summarizes findings from CDC clinical consultations provided for 57 patients aged ≥18 years who were hospitalized with severe manifestations of monkeypox¶ during August 10-October 10, 2022, and highlights three clinically representative cases. Overall, 47 (82%) patients had HIV infection, four (9%) of whom were receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) before monkeypox diagnosis. Most patients were male (95%) and 68% were non-Hispanic Black (Black). Overall, 17 (30%) patients received intensive care unit (ICU)-level care, and 12 (21%) have died. As of this report, monkeypox was a cause of death or contributing factor in five of these deaths; six deaths remain under investigation to determine whether monkeypox was a causal or contributing factor; and in one death, monkeypox was not a cause or contributing factor.** Health care providers and public health professionals should be aware that severe morbidity and mortality associated with monkeypox have been observed during the current outbreak in the United States (6,7), particularly among highly immunocompromised persons. Providers should test all sexually active patients with suspected monkeypox for HIV at the time of monkeypox testing unless a patient is already known to have HIV infection. Providers should consider early commencement and extended duration of monkeypox-directed therapy†† in highly immunocompromised patients with suspected or laboratory-diagnosed monkeypox.§§ Engaging all persons with HIV in sustained care remains a critical public health priority