ESCAIDE 2022: Translating the COVID-19 epidemiological situation into policies and measures: the Belgian experience

Background In 2008, in line with the WHO International Health Regulation, Belgium put in place a Risk Assessment Group (RAG) and a Risk Management Group (RMG) to ensure optimal health crisis management. The RAG, involving permanent (public health) experts supported by specific experts, analyses events causing possible risk to health and proposes prevention and control measures to the RMG. The RMG, composed of health authorities, decides on measures to be taken and follows-up the implementation. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the RAG provided advises on a wide range of topics. Among those, a weekly assessment of the epidemiological situation was performed to guide policy makers. We present here the method used for this assessment, and the link with recommended&nbsp;measures. &nbsp; Methods A comprehensive evaluation of the epidemiological situation was performed on a weekly basis using basic (cases, hospitalisations, testing, positivity rates, …) and supporting (waste water, nursing homes, schools, mobility, …) surveillance&nbsp;indicators. Results The first epidemiological risk assessment on COVID-19 was performed by the RAG on January 20, 2020, followed by regular updates. From August 2020 onwards, a weekly update was provided, with as of early May 2022, 87 weekly assessments done. In addition, a dynamic tool was developed to link the epidemiological situation to a risk level, using colours and/or phases. The indicators and thresholds evolved over time, depending on advancing knowledge, immunity and vaccination of the population, changes in test strategy and new&nbsp;variants. Discussion and&nbsp;conclusion The assessment by experts from different disciplines in an autonomous scientific advisory body and the classification of the risk according to different levels supported policy makers to decide on non-pharmaceutical interventions and testing strategy, at national and regional&nbsp;level.</p

Very Long Persistence of Botulinum Toxin B in a Patient’s Serum

&lt;p&gt;Background:&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Botulinum toxins (BoNT) type A, B, E, F may induce a serious neuroparalytic illness in humans. Botulism can be transmitted via&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;three routes: foodborne, wound and intestinal (in situ toxemia generally observed in infants and/or in immunocompromised adults)&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;botulism.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Case Report:&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;A case of human botulism type B due to the consumption of an imported dried ham is reported. Laboratory results confirmed the&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;diagnosis using the mouse bioassay and the qPCR method. Botulinum toxin was still detected in the serum up to 29 days after food&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;consumption while it was not detected anymore in the faeces.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Conclusion:&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;The described case highlights i) prolonged presence of BoNT B in the serum and ii) the risks related to the preparation of artisanal&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;products as well as the importance of an efficient communication to citizens regarding preservation methods of household products.&lt;/p&gt;</p

Different measles outbreaks in Belgium, January to June 2016 - a challenge for public health.

&lt;p&gt;During the first half of 2016, several outbreaks of measles were reported in the three regions of Belgium. Main challenges for public health were severe complications occurring in adults, nosocomial transmission and infection in healthcare workers. Here, we describe those outbreaks and lessons learnt for public health.&lt;/p&gt;</p

Surveillance épidémiologique de la légionellose, 2019-2021

Au niveau national, l’incidence de la légionellose a augmenté jusqu’en 2019, elle a diminué en 2020 en raison de la pandémie COVID-19, puis a à nouveau augmenté en&nbsp;2021. Les tendances sont différentes en fonction des régions&nbsp;: en Flandre l’incidence de la légionellose a augmenté jusqu’en 2019, diminué en 2020 et augmenté à nouveau en 2021. En Région bruxelloise, l’incidence de la légionellose a augmenté jusqu’en 2018, mais elle a diminué en 2019 et 2020, puis augmenté à nouveau en 2021. En Wallonie, l’incidence de la légionellose est en diminution depuis&nbsp;2018. La légionellose a touché principalement les hommes et les personnes de plus de 60 ans en 2019, 2020 et&nbsp;2021. </ul

Knowledge, perceptions and practices related to mosquitoes and mosquito-borne viruses: survey in Belgium, 2022

Background Effective preparedness for emerging mosquito-borne viruses (MBVs) relies on citizens having good knowledge and taking appropriate preventive measures. We assessed current knowledge, perceptions and practices related to mosquitoes and MBVs among adults in Belgium to guide future health promotion&nbsp;activities. Methods In this cross-sectional study, we conducted an online survey among adults recruited via social media (One Health PACT’s MosquitoWise survey using the Health Belief Model). We included questions on demographic variables;&nbsp; knowledge;&nbsp; perceptions, self-efficacy and cues to actions (Likert scales); and&nbsp; preventive measures. We assigned knowledge levels (low, medium or high depending on number of correct answers) and scores for perceptions, self-efficacy, cues to action and preventive&nbsp;measures. Results We included 776 participants (62% females), of which 50% had a medium and 40% a high knowledge level. Participants scored high on questions related to mosquito ecology but lower on MBVs. Only 19% of participants correctly identified mosquitoes among pictures of&nbsp;insects. Participants perceived the severity of MBVs as high (mean score 6.0/7.0), but their susceptibility to MBVs and mosquitoes lower (4.3/7.0). Participants were most motivated to take preventive measures upon observing mosquitoes in and around the house (cues to action, 5.3/7.0). Participants had limited confidence in finding information on preventive measures and in recognizing and removing breeding sites (self-efficacy, 4.8/7.0).&nbsp;Ninety-seven percent of participants reported implementing at least one preventive measure, mainly to prevent bites&nbsp;(95%). Conclusions Together with the recent findings of tiger mosquitoes in Belgium, based on our study results we recommend to improve knowledge about MBVs and awareness about possible transmission in Belgium in the future. Information on recognizing mosquitoes and removing breeding sites should be easy to&nbsp;find.</p

Epidemiologische surveillance van legionellose, 2019 2021

Op nationaal niveau is de incidentie van legionellose tot 2019 gestegen, in 2020 gedaald als gevolg van de COVID-19 pandemie, en in 2021 terug&nbsp;gestegen. De trends zijn verschillend in de verschillende gewesten: in Vlaanderen steeg de incidentie van legionellose tot 2019, daalde in 2020 en steeg weer in 2021. In het Brussels Gewest steeg de incidentie van legionellose tot 2018, maar daalde in 2019 en 2020 en steeg terug in 2021. In Wallonië neemt de incidentie van legionellose sinds 2018&nbsp;af. Legionellose trof in 2019, 2020 en 2021 vooral mannen en&nbsp;60-plussers. </ul