Super-spreading Events and Contribution to Transmission of MERS, SARS, and COVID-19

There is no clear definition for the term ‘super-spreader’ or ‘super-spreading event’. The World Health Organization refers to a super-spreader as a patient (or an event) that may transmit infection to a larger number of individuals than is usual by one individual (or event). In the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) situation, a super-spreading event was defined as the transmission of SARS to at ≥8 contacts, and other authors defined this as individuals infecting an unusually large number of secondary cases [ 1 , 2 ]. A super-spreading event could merely be defined as an event in which one patient infects far more people than an average patient does, which is estimated by the basic reproduction number (R0)

Tendencias epidemiológicas en el comportamiento de la infección por VIH/SIDA en el municipio Pereira, Colombia, 1998-2011

La infección VIH/SIDA continúa siendo un grave problema de salud pública mundial. Colombia es uno de los países considerablemente afectado en Latinoamérica, con municipios de alta incidencia, entre los cuales se encuentra Pereira. Materiales y métodos: Evaluación de los principales indicadores epidemiológicos (estimaciones de incidencia, mortalidad y letalidad) de la infección VIH/SIDA, período 1998-2011, Municipio Pereira, Risaralda, Colombia. Resultados: Durante el período se registraron 1471 casos (promedio 105,1±27,6/año, intervalo 51-159); tendencia al incremento (r2=0,3028; p=0,0415), especialmente entre 2006-2011 (r2=0,845; p=0,0095). La incidencia osciló entre 11,8 (2001) a 34,6 (2011) casos/100.000 hab (IC95% 29,0-40,0), sin tendencia al incremento entre 1998-2005 (r2=0,0351; p=0,6567), y aumentando significativamente de 2006-2011 (r2=0,8318; p=0,0113). Se registraron 631 muertes (promedio 45,1±8,9/año, intervalo 32-64), sin variación significativa entre 1998-2005 (r2=0,042; p=0,6262); de 2006-2011 se redujeron significativamente (r2=0,7016; p=0,0374). La mortalidad osciló entre 7,0 (2010) a 14,3 (2006) muertes/100.000 hab (IC95% 11,0-18,0), disminuyendo significativamente de 2006-2011 (r2=0,7251; p=0,0314). La letalidad en el período osciló entre 21,9% (2010) a 88,2% (2001) (IC95% 78,41-98,06). Discusión: A pesar que la incidencia del VIH/SIDA aun va en aumento, la letalidad y la mortalidad van disminuyendo progresivamente. Esto obedece a múltiples factores que incluyen mejor cobertura diagnóstica y terapéutica, mayor acceso al sistema de salud, más disponibilidad de información, manejo multidisciplinario apropiado y mejor capacitado. Sin embargo, en promoción y prevención aun quedan grandes retos por asumir, que incluyen más participación comunitaria en los procesos de acceso a la información, de vigilancia epidemiológica, de evaluación en la calidad de la prestación y satisfacción en el uso de servicios relacionados al programa de VIH/SIDA.HIV infection/AIDS continue to be a highly relevant global public health problem. Colombia is one country, in Latinamerica, with a considerable epidemiology, with high incidence municipalities; among those is included Pereira. Materials and methods: Assessment of main epidemiological indicators (estimations of incidence, mortality and lethality) of HIV infection/AIDS, period 1998-2011, Municipality Pereira, Risaralda, Colombia. Results: During the period a total of 1471 cases were recorded (mean 105.1±27.6/year, range 51-159); increasing (r2=0.3028; p=0.0415), specially between 2006-2011 (r2=0.845; p=0.0095). Incidence oscillated between 11.8 (2001) to 34.6 (2011) cases/100,000 pop (95%CI 29.0-40.0), without a significant increase between 1998-2005 (r2=0.0351; p=0.6567), and increasing significantly between 2006-2011 (r2=0.8318; p=0.0113). A total of 631 deaths were recorded (mean 45.1±8.9/year, range 32-64), no significant variation between 1998-2005 (r2=0.042; p=0.6262); from 2006-2011 were significantly reduced (r2=0.7016; p=0.0374). Mortality oscillated from 7.0 (2010) to 14.3 (2006) deaths/100,000 pop (95%CI 11.0-18.0), significantl decreasing between 2006-2011 (r2=0.7251; p=0.0314). Lethality (CFR) in the period oscillated from 21.9% (2010) to 88.2% (2001) (95%CI 8.41-98.06). Discussion: Although HIV/AIDS incidence is increasing, lethality and mortality are progressively decreasing. This could be related to multiple factors that include a better diagnostic and therapeutic coverage, higher access to the health care system, more information availability, as well appropriate and skilled multidisciplinary management. However, at promotion and prevention there are still great challenges to achieve, that include more communitary participation in the processes of information access, epidemiological surveillance, quality assessment at the use of health care services related to HIV/AIDS, among others.http://revistas.utp.edu.co/index.php/revistamedic

Impact of Climate Change on Zoonotic Diseases in Latin America

La Convención Marco de Naciones Unidas sobre el Cambio Climático (CMNUCC), con sede en Bonn, Alemania, define el cambio climático como "un cambio de clima atribuido directa o indirectamente a la actividad humana que altera la composición de la atmósfera mundial y que se suma a los recursos naturales variabilidad del clima observada durante períodos de tiempo comparables ". Aunque muchas otras definiciones se pueden encontrar y se han declarado por muchos autores y grupos de investigación, el mensaje clave importante, es que el cambio climático supone una seria amenaza para el mundo, que puede generar agitación social, los desplazamientos de población, las dificultades económicas y ambientales la degradación, entre muchas otras consecuencias relevantes. Con el fin de llegar a un verde como World menos impacto antropogénico, de acuerdo con las nuevas tendencias ecológicas en la sociedad, la mitigación del cambio climático debe ser una prioridad para la sociedad y sus gobiernos (Rodríguez-Morales, 2011). Como se ha indicado anteriormente, el cambio climático ya es un problema ampliamente conocido por múltiples disciplinas (Rodríguez-Morales, 2005). Aunque sus orígenes pueden converger en un complejo de múltiples fenómenos de interacción, para algunas disciplinas, como las ciencias biológicas y médicas, sus consecuencias son más estudiados y destacan por sus implicaciones actuales y más.Aún más, sus impactos y chillidos son motivo de preocupación a nivel global (Rodríguez-Morales et al, 2010 ). Esta amenaza creciente constituye en el siglo XXI un reto importante para la humanidad. Sus efectos aún son muchos los aspectos que se han estudiado no por la sociedad en diferentes niveles.The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC), located in Bonn,Germany, defines climate change as “a change of climate which is attributed directly or indirectly to human activity that alters the composition of global atmosphere and which is in addition to natural climate variability observed over comparable time periods”. Although many other definitions can be found and have been stated by many authors and research groups, the important key message, is that global climate change poses a serious threat to the World, which can generate social upheaval, population displacement, economic hardships, and environmental degradation, among many other relevant consequences. In order to reach a green as less anthropogenically impacted World, according to the new ecological trends in the society, mitigation of global climate change should be a priority for the society and its governments (Rodriguez-Morales, 2011). As has been previously stated, climate change is already a widely known problem to multiple disciplines (Rodriguez-Morales, 2005). Although its origins can converge in a complex of multiple interacting phenomena, for some disciplines, such as biological and medical sciences, their consequences are more studied and highlighted for their current and further implications. Even more, its impacts and squeals are cause of concern at a global level (Rodriguez-Morales et al, 2010). This growing threat represents in the XXI century a significant challenge for the humankind. Its effects even include many aspects that have been not studied by the society at different levels

A bibliometric study of international scientific productivity in giardiasis covering the period 1971–2010

Despite years of relative neglect, interest in Giardia infection seems to be recently growing, perhaps in part due to its inclusion into the World Health Organization’s Neglected Diseases Initiative since 2004. The purpose of this study was to provide an overview of Giardia and giardiasis research over time, as represented by the quantity of published papers

A bibliometric study of international scientific productivity in giardiasis covering the period 1971–2010

Despite years of relative neglect, interest in Giardia infection seems to be recently growing, perhaps in part due to its inclusion into the World Health Organization’s Neglected Diseases Initiative since 2004. The purpose of this study was to provide an overview of Giardia and giardiasis research over time, as represented by the quantity of published papers