Environmental Health

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.

Anthrax is an acute especially dangerous infectious disease of animals and humans. Bacillus anthracis is a potential bioterrorism tool. In Ukraine, there are favorable natural conditions for the spread of anthrax. There are 13.5 thousand of constantly anthrax-troubled points. Anthrax epidemic situation in Ukraine could be characterized as unstable. Because of the continuing reform of Ukrainian human health entities, the State Sanitary Epidemiological Service (SSES) has lost its control functions and is remaining in an uncertain state, which increases possible risks.

As part of this surveillance study for Avian Influenza both active and passive surveillance samples were tested using PCR and also utilized to validate the LAMP method. Active surveillance samples include pathological material and tracheal and cloacal swabs from ill poultry, which were subsequently assessed for avian influenza during diagnosis, and birds collected by hunters. Passive surveillance included environmental samples such as sand and bird faeces. Active surveillance samples were taken mostly from poultry farms across Ukraine, where infected birds are required to be diagnosed by State Scientific Research Institute of Laboratory Diagnostics and Veterinary Sanitary Expertise (SSRILDVSE) by Ukraine Law. Passive surveillance samples were taken primarily during the annual bird migration season. Development of simple, sensitive, and cheap methods for diagnostics of avian influenza is a very important task for practical veterinary medicine. LAMP is one of such methods. The technique is based on isothermal amplification of nucleic acids. It does not require special conditions and equipment (PCR cyclers), therefore it is cheaper in comparison with PCR. Accurate diagnosis is necessary for determining the risk associated with avian influenza in Ukraine and along the Dnipro River during the migratory season.

Objective

The performance of comparative analysis of sensitivity and results of detection of avian influenza virus by real time polymerase chain reaction (PCR-RT) and loop-mediated isothermal amplification of the nucleic acids (LAMP) was the main goal of the study.

Accumulation of C. botulinum in soil occurs through excretion of bacterial spores from the intestines of humans, animals, birds and fish. In Georgia, during the winter season, the population consumes homemade vegetable preserves, which are made of locally produced (as well as imported) vegetables. Historical surveys confirmed that the presence of C. botulinum in the soil is widespread. Some researchers consider C. botulinum a characteristic component of soil flora.

Objective

The main focus of this study was to study the spread of botulism in Georgia and the biological characteristics of the strains of Clostridium botulinum isolated from territories in the country.

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), on behalf the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA; project number CB10190), hosts an annual intern- based web app development contest. Previous competitions have focused on mobile biosurveillance applications. The 2016 competition pivoted away from biosurveillance to focus on addressing challenges within the field of chemical surveillance and increasing public health chemical situational awareness. The result of the app will be integrated within the DTRA BSVE.

Objective

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory hosted an intern-based web application development contest in the summer of 2016 centered around developing novel chemical surveillance applications to aid in health situational awareness. Making up the three teams were three graduate students (n=9) from various US schools majoring in nonpublic health domains, such as computer sicence and user design. The interns successfully developed three applications that demonstrated a value-add to chemical surveillance—ChemAnalyzer (text analytics), RetroSpect (retrospective analysis of chemical events), and ToxicBusters (geo-based trend analytics). These applications will be the basis for the first chemical surveillance application to be incorporated into the DTRA Biosurveillance Ecosystem (BSVE).