High probability of avian influenza virus (H7N7) transmission from poultry to humans active in disease control on infected farms

An epizootic of avian influenza (H7N7) caused a large number of human infections in The Netherlands in 2003. We used data from this epizootic to estimate infection probabilities for persons involved in disease control on infected farms. Analyses were based on databases containing information on the infected farms, person-visits to these farms, and exposure variables (number of birds present, housing type, poultry type, depopulation method, period during epizootic). Case definition was based on self-reported conjunctivitis and positive response to hemagglutination inhibition assay. A high infection probability was associated with clinical inspection of poultry in the area surrounding infected flocks (7.6%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.4%-18.9%) and active culling during depopulation (6.2%; 95% CI, 3.7%-9.6%). Low probabilities were estimated for management of biosecurity (0.0%; 95% CI, 0.0%-1.0%) and cleaning assistance during depopulation (0.0%; 95% CI, 0.0%-9.2%). No significant association was observed between the probability of infection and the exposure variables

High probability of avian influenza virus (H7N7) transmission from poultry to humans active in disease control on infected farms

An epizootic of avian influenza (H7N7) caused a large number of human infections in The Netherlands in 2003. We used data from this epizootic to estimate infection probabilities for persons involved in disease control on infected farms. Analyses were based on databases containing information on the infected farms, person-visits to these farms, and exposure variables (number of birds present, housing type, poultry type, depopulation method, period during epizootic). Case definition was based on self-reported conjunctivitis and positive response to hemagglutination inhibition assay. A high infection probability was associated with clinical inspection of poultry in the area surrounding infected flocks (7.6%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.4%-18.9%) and active culling during depopulation (6.2%; 95% CI, 3.7%-9.6%). Low probabilities were estimated for management of biosecurity (0.0%; 95% CI, 0.0%-1.0%) and cleaning assistance during depopulation (0.0%; 95% CI, 0.0%-9.2%). No significant association was observed between the probability of infection and the exposure variables

Recommendations for Green and Healthy Sustainable Transport - "Building Forward Better"

The pan-European region has been at the forefront in the development of sustainable mobility solutions focusing on health, environment and prosperity. The Transport, Health and Environment Pan-European Programme (THE PEP) brings the countries of the region together, unites three core sectors of the economy – transport, health and environment – and provides countries with the opportunity to share best practice and develop new policies. It therefore provides a platform for accelerating transformation in the transport sector and making this transformation irreversible. The recommendations, developed by a task force under THE PEP, will allow member States to lock in sustainable transport solutions for the future, given the changes to the sector brought on by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. At the meeting of the Bureau of the Steering Committee of THE PEP in April 2020, member States discussed the COVID-19 situation, its impact on transport, environment and health in their countries and the need to take action. Participants agreed to establish a THE PEP Task Force on “The Development of Green and Healthy Sustainable Transport Recommendations” to facilitate the transition to a new normal with sustainable and healthy transport solutions at the heart of decision-making and “building forward better”. The objective of the Task Force was to make a synthesis of the “main lessons” learned from the COVID-19 crisis and to propose a set of recommendations in order to support countries in making the transition to green and healthy sustainable transport:1 a transition in line with the goals of THE PEP,2 the Vienna Declaration of the Fifth High-Level Meeting of the Ministers of Transport, Health and Environment, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement,3 to name the key processes and instruments. The Task Force was composed of over 50 experts from national ministries, international organizations, city authorities, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), academia and industry. The Task Force was chaired by the Chair of THE PEP Steering Committee, Mr. Robert Thaler (Austria).The first draft of the recommendations was discussed at the meeting of the Steering Committee of THE PEP in November 2020 and, following further consultations, was finalized in January 2021.4 The recommendations identified in chapter III below were then included in the Vienna Declaration to be signed at the Fifth High-level Meeting on Transport, Health and Environment in May 2021