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Objective: We studied exposure to solid fuel and second-hand tobacco smoke among pregnant women in south Asia, Africa and Latin America.Design: Prospective cross-sectional survey.Setting: Antenatal clinics in Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Guatemala, Uruguay, Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia, India and Pakistan.Sample: A total of 7,961 pregnant women in ten sites in nine countries were interviewed between October 2004 and September 2005.Methods: A standardized questionnaire on exposure to indoor air pollution (IAP) and second-hand smoke was administered to pregnant women during antenatal care.Main Outcome Measures: Exposure to IAP and second-hand tobacco smoke.Results: South Asian pregnant women commonly reported use of wood (49.1-89.7%), crop residue and animal dung as cooking and heating fuel. African pregnant women reported higher use of charcoal (85.4-93.5%). Latin American pregnant women had greater use of petroleum gas. Among south Asian women, solid fuel use and cooking on an open flame inside the home were common. There was a significant association between solid fuel use and allowing smoking within the home at the Asian sites and in Zambia (p < 0.05).Conclusions: Pregnant women from low/middle income countries were commonly exposed to IAP secondary to use of solid fuels. Among these populations, exposure to second-hand tobacco smoke was also common. This combination of exposures likely increases the risk of poor pregnancy outcomes among the most vulnerable women. Our study highlights the importance of further research on the combined impact of IAP and second-hand tobacco smoke exposures on adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. We examined pregnant women's use of cigarettes and other tobacco products and the exposure of pregnant women and their young children to secondhand smoke (SHS) in 9 nations in Latin America, Asia, and Africa. Methods. Face-to-face surveys were administered to 7961 pregnant women (more than 700 per site) between October 2004 and September 2005. Results. At all Latin American sites, pregnant women commonly reported that they had ever tried cigarette smoking (range: 78.3% [Uruguay] to 35.0% [Guatemala]}. The highest levels of current smoking were found in Uruguay (18.3%), Argentina (10.3%), and Brazil (6.1%). Experimentation with smokeless tobacco occurred in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and India; one third of all respondents in Orissa, India, were current smokeless tobacco users. SHS exposure was common: between 91.6% (Pakistan) and 17.1% (Democratic Republic of the Congo) of pregnant women reported that smoking was permitted in their home. Conclusions. Pregnant women's tobacco use and SHS exposure are current or emerging problems in several low- and middle-income nations, jeopardizing ongoing efforts to improve maternal and child health. (Am J Public Health. 2008;98: 1833-1840. doi;10.2105/AJPH.2007.117887) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chikungunya virus (CHIKV), a member of the Alphavirus genus, is a considerable public health concern in Southeast Asian and African countries. Despite the fact that CHIKV resurgence is associated with epidemics of unprecedented magnitude, only a few specific serological and molecular diagnostic tools are available. CHIKV diagnosis is essentially based on virus isolation, ELISA and reverse transcription (RT)-PCR assays. RT-PCR is the method of choice for the early detection and confirmation of virus in clinical samples. Further advancement in terms of rapid, reliable detection and quantification with improved sensitivity has been accomplished through development of both fully automated TaqMan® and SYBR® Green I-based real-time RT-PCR assays. In addition, another simple, rapid, novel and cost-effective isothermal gene amplification method known as RT loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) has also been reported for the early detection and quantification of viral genomes in acute-phase patient serum samples. Of notable importance is the substantial reduction in time required for the confirmation of results by RT-LAMP assay (30 min) and monitoring of amplification by SYBR Green I dye-mediated naked-eye visualization. These findings demonstrate that the real-time RT-PCR and RT-LAMP assays have potential applications in clinical diagnostics owing to simultaneous detection and quantification of CHIKV in acute phase patient serum samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emerging contaminants (ECs) have been a threat to the aqueous environment because of their persistent nature and ability to adversely affect the living organisms exposed to them for a prolonged duration. An increase in detection of varying ranges of ECs in different aqueous bodies has catalyzed research on their toxic effects and removal. However, a compilation of proper legislations in terms of permissible limits of the ECs in water and understanding the capability of the different treatment technologies in bringing down their concentration to non-toxic levels is an area that needs significant attention. In this context, this review provides a comprehensive assessment of occurrence, ecotoxicological effects, and treatment methods of ECs. Statutory guidelines of different environmental organizations have been compared with the calculated drinking water equivalent limit of the ECs. Furthermore, a comprehensive risk assessment analysis of the EC has been performed, and it was found that caffeine, bisphenol-A, diazinon, and malathion had high risk quotients. The performance of the different treatment technologies was assessed based on their ability to bring down the concentration of the ECs below the established statutory guidelines. Unlike most conventional treatment methods, many advanced hybrid treatment methods could reduce the concentration of the ECs below the guideline value. Technologies involving membrane bioreactor combined with reverse osmosis, ozonation, and membrane distillation proved to be very effective with more than 90% removal. The sustainability aspects of different treatment methods have also been covered in this review to help researchers identify suitable treatment methods for removing ECs. [Display omitted] • Asia and Europe are the major contributors of emerging contaminants in water. • Crustacean aquatic species have shown higher resistance to emerging contaminants. • Caffeine, bisphenol-A, malathion, and diazinon had relatively high-risk quotients. • Many hybrid systems could reduce emerging contaminants concentration to safe levels. • Hybrid constructed wetlands were more sustainable than other hybrid processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) is a transboundary viral disease that threatens more than 1.74 billion goats and sheep in approximately 70 countries globally. In 2015, the international community set the goal of eradicating PPR by 2030, and, since then, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) have jointly developed and implemented the Global Control and Eradication Strategy for PPR. Here, data from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization Statistical Database (FAOSTAT), the OIE World Animal Health Information System (WAHIS), Regional Roadmap Meetings, and countries' responses to PPR Monitoring and Assessment Tool (PMAT) questionnaires were analyzed to inform on current progress towards PPR eradication. OIE recorded the use of over 333 million doses of vaccine in 12 countries from 2015 to 2018, 41.8% of which were used in Asia and 58.2% in Africa. Between 2015 and 2019, a total of 12,757 PPR outbreaks were reported to OIE: 75.1% in Asia, 24.8% in Africa, and 0.1% in Europe. The number of global outbreaks in 2019 fell to 1218, compared with 3688 in 2015. Analysis of vaccine use and PPR outbreaks in countries indicates that disease control strategies, particularly vaccination campaigns and vaccine distribution strategies, still require scientific evaluation. It is imperative that vaccination is undertaken based on the epidemiology of the disease in a region and is coordinated between neighboring countries to restrict transboundary movements. Strengthening surveillance and post-vaccination sero-monitoring at the national level is also essential. The PPR vaccine stock/bank established by FAO, OIE, and other partners have improved the quality assurance and supply of vaccines. However, to achieve PPR eradication, filling the funding gap for vaccination campaigns and other program activities will be critical. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]