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SummaryThis study highlights the demand for conducting outreach to foreign demographics in countries affected by infectious diseases. The increasing global burdenof mosquito-borne Dengue virusinfection suggests that local health education efforts need to include the population’s foreign segments. Communicating information in their mother tongue and empowering them with knowledge of local diseases and preventive measures is essential when foreign residents cannot fully understand the local language(s). This paper presents an example of transnational and trans-sectoral initiatives in anti-dengue education, which involved 1,105 Japanese schoolchildren in Singapore. Paying attention to cross-cultural, language, and other elements, an academic from a university, a medical doctor from Japan, and a medical entomologist from a Singapore governmental agency collaborated. Lessons included the importance of building capacity among schoolteachers in order to engage schoolchildren. Conducting outreach to foreign residents will be increasingly important when a new technology is introduced as a preventive measure or when scientific evidence must be communicated to combat a global epidemic. Otherwise, key messages might remain unnoticed and ineffective in motivating people to take necessary action. Transnational and trans-sectoral collaboration could be a solution to sustain outreach efforts for public health. Graphical Abstract/Art Performance The code of this chapter is 01101001 01110011 01110101 01010110 01110010.

Infectious disease outbreaks at travel destinations often result in cancellation of travel plans. It is important for the management at such destinations to prepare for, and respond to, health- and life-threatening infectious diseases, to mitigate any negative impact on local economy and society. Mosquito-borne infections, such as dengue, are rapidly spreading globally, including in Bali, Indonesia. However, travellers tend to be unaware of the health threats resulting from mosquito bites. Increased dengue incidence amongst travellers could also result in exposure of the local people to the infection. Traversing the disciplines of Travel Medicine, Entomology and Business Administration, we carried out a study comprising fieldwork and literature analyses, to address the proposed empowerment of hotels to disseminate information on dengue prevention and control to international travellers. The fieldwork included an outreach workshop and questionnaire, conducted by partnering the local health authorities and hotel association. Additionally, we carried out site visits to several hotels. The questionnaire revealed that only 67% of the participating hotel personnel know that dengue is mosquito-borne. Eighty-three percent of the facilities reported mosquito nuisance problems, and fogging was the most utilised control measure of choice. Our analyses indicate that there is a role for the hotel sector in promoting anti-dengue awareness and activities in Bali. Such an initiative could assist Bali to work towards the good health and well-being for the sustainable development goals. Our follow-up studies will include capacity building for risk communication to international travellers, and for mosquito control at hotels.

Prior to 1965, Singapore was part of the Malaya (now Malaysia) and was usually not mentioned when mosquito records were reported for Malaya. Consequently, many species that occurred in Singapore were not listed in the world mosquito catalog, and the available checklist for Singapore since 1986 is incomplete, with some imprecise species information. In updating this checklist, we examined and verified mosquito specimens collected from Singapore in various depositories, including a thorough review of past taxonomic literature. Here, we report a checklist of 182 mosquito species, 33 new distribution records, and a consolidated status list of vectors for Singapore. As Singapore is a travel hub and hosts one of the busiest container ports in the world, there is a risk of introducing mosquito species and their associated pathogens of human disease to the country. Hence, the distribution records are important to increase our knowledge on mosquito ecology as well as to understand the risk of newly introduced vectors and their associated pathogens. Published version

Although Singapore has an intensive dengue control program, dengue remains endemic with regular outbreaks. We report development and use of a novel adult oviposition trap, the Gravitrap, in managing dengue cluster areas. The Gravitrap is a simple, hay infusion-filled cylindrical trap with a sticky inner surface to serve as an oviposition site for gravid female Aedes mosquitoes. Wire gauze fitted above the water level minimizes the risk of it being an unwanted breeding habitat. The Gravitrap was deployed in 11 dengue cluster areas throughout Singapore. Aedes aegypti was the predominant mosquito caught in the trap and some (5.73%) were found to be positive for dengue virus.

Objective: To conduct an external quality assessment (EQA) of dengue and chikungunya diagnostics among national-level public health laboratories in the Asia Pacific region following the first round of EQA for dengue diagnostics in 2013. Methods: Twenty-four national-level public health laboratories performed routine diagnostic assays on a proficiency testing panel consisting of two modules. Module A contained serum samples spiked with cultured dengue virus (DENV) or chikungunya virus (CHIKV) for the detection of nucleic acid and DENV non-structural protein 1 (NS1) antigen. Module B contained human serum samples for the detection of anti-DENV antibodies. Results: Among 20 laboratories testing Module A, 17 (85%) correctly detected DENV RNA by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), 18 (90%) correctly determined serotype and 19 (95%) correctly identified CHIKV by RT-PCR. Ten of 15 (66.7%) laboratories performing NS1 antigen assays obtained the correct results. In Module B, 18/23 (78.3%) and 20/20 (100%) of laboratories correctly detected anti-DENV IgM and IgG, respectively. Detection of acute/recent DENV infection by both molecular (RT-PCR) and serological methods (IgM) was available in 19/24 (79.2%) participating laboratories. Discussion: Accurate laboratory testing is a critical component of dengue and chikungunya surveillance and control. This second round of EQA reveals good proficiency in molecular and serological diagnostics of these diseases in the Asia Pacific region. Further comprehensive diagnostic testing, including testing for Zika virus, should comprise future iterations of the EQA.

This report describes the chikungunya cases and local transmission detected in Brunei Darussalam for the first time, despite the country being situated in a region that has experienced a multitude of outbreaks over the years. A combined strategy of active case detection, patient isolation and vector control measures was deployed in an attempt to avert further transmission. The findings have important public health implications for international surveillance and control strategies for this re-emerging disease.

Aberrant crypt foci (ACF) are putative peneoplastic lesions that develop after treatment of animals with colon carcinogens, including cooked-meat heterocyclic amines such as 2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline (IQ). Male F344 rats given IQ by gavage on alternating days for 2 wk (130 mg/kg body weight) and killed 12 wk after the final carcinogen dose had an average of 4.4 ACF/colon and an average of 3.2 crypts/focus. The DNA from these ACF was amplified by the polymerase chain reaction and analyzed by 3′-primer mismatch and direct sequencing methods for mutations in the Ki-ras proto-oncogene. Of the 37 IQ-induced ACF screened, three contained a GGT→GAT mutation in codon 12 and one contained a GGC→GCC mutation in codon 13. The approximately 11% frequency of mutation in IQ-induced ACF is within the range of previous ACF studies of azoxymethane, which reported a 7–37% incidence of Ki-ras mutaion. These findings suggest that for both compounds, ras mutations occur during early stages of colorectal tumorigenesis. However, while ras mutations can be detected with increasing frequency in azoxymethane-induced adenomas and carcinomas, they are reportedly absent in IQ-induced colon tumors. Thus, for IQ and related compounds additional factors (possibly increased cell proliferation) may be important in the later stages of colorectal tumorigenesis. © 1995 Wiley-Liss Inc.