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Until today, the existence of stray animals remains a source of contention between the public and the authorities. Public policy seems to be elusive in regulating this phenomenon, as it presents sociocultural conundrums. While there is a continued unclarity in the government regulations, cultures, and normative values; non-government organisations emerged with autonomous resources to take care of stray animals. The present study examines the efforts of several Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) in Brunei that are committed to the rescue and treatment of stray animals via the rising phenomenon of stray animals. Despite receiving no financial support from the Government, these stray animal care organisations consistently forge informal co-operative networks with members of the public and non-governmental organisations; in order to sustain their resources, maintain daily operations, and manage finances and other stray animal-related health issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Case reports of patients with coronavirus disease‐2019 (COVID‐19) who have been discharged and subsequently report positive reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction again (hereafter referred as "re‐positive") do not fully describe the magnitude and significance of this issue. To determine the re‐positive rate (proportion) and review probable causes and outcomes, we conduct a retrospective study of all 119 discharged patients in Brunei Darussalam up till April 23. Patients who were discharged are required to self‐isolate at home for 14 days and undergo nasopharyngeal specimen collection postdischarge. Discharged patients found to be re‐positive were readmitted. We reviewed the clinical and epidemiological records of all discharged patients and apply log‐binomial models to obtain risk ratios for re‐positive status. One in five recovered patients subsequently test positive again for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2—this risk is more than six times higher in persons aged 60 years and above. The average Ct value of re‐positive patients was lower predischarge compared with their readmission Ct value. Out of 111 close contacts tested, none were found to be positive as a result of exposure to a re‐positive patient. Our findings support prolonged but intermittent viral shedding as the probable cause for this phenomenon. We did not observe infectivity potential in these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• This is a retrospective study of all TB patients in Brunei from 2013 to 2018. • About one-third of all tuberculosis (TB) cases were also diagnosed with diabetes mellitus (DM). • Incidence of newly diagnosed DM among TB patients was 74.2 per 1000 people. • Associated factors were older age, smear-positive TB, and other comorbidities. • Bidirectional screening can facilitate early detection and treatment of TB and DM. To determine the prevalence and associated factors of diabetes mellitus (DM) among tuberculosis (TB) cases in Brunei Darussalam. We conducted a retrospective cohort study among all TB patients registered between 2013 and 2018. Collected data include sociodemographics, comorbidities, and information related to their TB diagnosis and treatment outcomes. Associated factors of having DM among TB patients were investigated using logistic regression analyses. We identified a total of 1362 TB patients, among which 462 (33.9% [95%CI: 31.4%,36.5%]) also have DM. 70.6% (n = 326) were diagnosed with DM at least six months prior to their TB diagnosis. The incidence of newly diagnosed DM among TB patients was 74.2 per 1000 population. Significant factors of having TB and DM comorbidity were age (adjusted OR (adj. OR) = 1.04 [95%CI: 10.3,1.05]), classified as smear-positive pulmonary TB (adj. OR = 5.77 [95%CI: 3.71,9.22]), having the following underlying conditions: hypertension/heart disease (adj. OR = 24.05 [95%CI: 5.80,100.05]), renal disease (adj. OR = 7.34 [95%CI: 2.88,20.22]) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease/asthma (adj. OR = 0.38 [95%CI: 0.22,0.64]). About one-third of TB cases in Brunei were also diagnosed with DM. Bi-directional screening could be a good strategy to facilitate early detection and treatment of both diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]