Anthrax is endemic and enzootic in Georgia with cases being registered since 1881 with over 2000 foci identified. Since 2005, 439 laboratory confirmed and 211 probable human cases and 190 laboratory confirmed animal cases have been registered. A case-control study performed in 2012 by the National Centre for Disease Control and Public Health (NCDC), National Food Agency (NFA) and the Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program (FELTP) found the main transition routes for human cases are slaughtering diseased animals and handling raw meat without protective equipment.
Environmental Health
Description
Ascariasis is one of the most common intestinal nematode infections caused by Ascaris lumbricoides, especially in the tropics and subtropics where warm, wet climates favor year-round transmission of infection. Humans become infected by ingesting infective ascaris eggs in contaminated food, water or from hands that have become faecally contaminated and can cause reduced physical fitness, growth retardation, and respiratory and gastrointestinal problems. The highest morbidity is found in children, especially in those with a high worm burden. To identify high risk areas for intervention, it is necessary to understand the effects of climatic, environmental and socio-demographic conditions on A. lumbricoides infection. In Sri Lanka, although ascariasis was the commonest intestinal parasitic infection among children, information about associated factors and current health impact is insufficient. Therefore, this study was designed to develop and pilot an Ascariasis surveillance system among children in Sri Lanka.
Objective
Designing, developing and Piloting an Ascariasis surveillance system of children to determine factors associated with their variations in Sri Lanka.
Description
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the U.S. with radon exposure as the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking and the number one cause of lung cancer among nonsmokers. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that one in fifteen homes nationwide has elevated radon levels. Although public outreach efforts promote radon testing and subsequent mitigation when unsafe levels are found, data are non-standardized largely because of varying regulations among states, making targeted public health actions challenging. In accordance with the Federal Radon Action Plan to demonstrate results of radon risk reduction, EPA is collaborating with CDC’s Environmental Public Health Tracking Program. The Tracking Program has existing relationships with state and local partners to provide various environmental and health data, an established process for managing the data, and robust tools to analyze and visualize the data that are made publicly accessible via a web-based system (Tracking Network).
Objective
Test the feasibility of a publicly accessible national radon database by conducting a pilot project to standardize previously nonsystemized, uncoordinated state and local health department radon data sources into a nationally consistent radon information resource.
Presenters
Stan Morain, Earth Data Analysis Center, University of New Mexico
Amy Budge, Earth Data Analysis Center, University of New Mexico
Richard Kiang, National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Clara J. Witt, VMD, MPH, Armed Forces Health Surveillance Center
Date and Time
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Host
ISDS Research Committee
Description
Healthcare seeking behavior is important to understand when interpreting public health surveillance data, planning for healthcare utilization, or attempting to estimate or model consequences of an adverse event, such as widespread water contamination. Although there is evidence that factors such as perceived susceptibility and benefits affect healthcare seeking behavior, it is difficult to develop accurate assumptions due to a lack of published research on this topic. Current conceptual behavior models, such as the health belief model, are not easily translated into quantifiable terms.
Objective
This paper describes analyses of health seeking behaviors from two surveillance datastreams: Poison Control Center (PCC) calls and Emergency Department (ED) visit records. These analyses were conducted in order to quantify behaviors following the development of symptoms after water contamination exposure and to understand the motivation, decision-making and timing behind healthcare seeking behaviors.
The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, resulted in the release of known and suspected carcinogens into the environment. There is public concern that exposures may have resulted in increased cancers. This presentation will highlight a study evaluating cancer incidence among persons enrolled in the World Trade Center Health Registry.
Presenters
Jiehui Li, MBBS, MSc, Lead Research Scientist in Cancer Studies, World Trade Center Health Registry, New York City Department of Health & Mental Hygiene
During 2011, dengue fever emerged as a serious public health problem in Punjab, Pakistan. This crisis highlighted gaping holes in the health system. It was realized that the present system is unlikely to have the capacity in responding to an emergency of this magnitude. Since 1994, the cases of dengue fever are being frequently reported in different regions of Pakistan. However, this deadly attack of dengue virus exposed the government’s weaknesses in handling emergencies.
Dengue hemorraghic fever (DHF) is affecting more than 50 million people globally and still remains a persistent public health challenge in Saudi Arabia [1]. Althougth there has been available financial resource, limitations and deficiencies in integrated DHF control management strategy implementation and surveillance capacity have hindered the effective implementation of recommended WHO and Global One Health (OH) strategic guidelines and measures in DHF control and elimination in remotes urban and rural settings in Saudi Arabia[1, 2].
Zoonotic diseases constitute about 70% of the emerging or reemerging diseases in the world; they affect many animals, cause many economic loses, and have a negative effect on public health. As a tropical country, Cuba is not exempt from the occurrence of this type of illness. There are many risk factors present such as climate change, natural disasters, bird migrations, vector species, the entry of Cuban travelers into endemic areas, the increase of commercial and touristic exchange, and the increase of agricultural activities including animals raised in urban areas.
Description
Geographic Information System (GIS) applications are increasingly being used for public health purposes. GIS technology provides visual tools – through the creation of computerized maps, graphs, and tables of geographic data – that can assist with problem solving and inform decision-making. PHIMS aims to enable visualization and spatial analysis of environmental data with underlying population based indicators. PHIMS displays many layers of environmental information across Ontario, and users can view maps demonstrating environmental or demographic data as they apply to specific geographic areas. This is useful for observing where environmental events are occurring, detecting potential emergency situations, and identifying areas with vulnerable populations. By displaying available, real-time, environmental data from multiple partners through PHIMS, public health events can be identified earlier to better prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies.
Objective
To describe how the Public Health Information Management System (PHIMS) tool is used by KFL&A Public Health to enhance real-time situational awareness and assist with evidence informed decision-making to help protect the health of the population.