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OBJECTIVE: Estimates of the burden of influenza are needed to inform prevention and control activities for seasonal influenza, including to support the development of appropriate vaccination policies. We used sentinel surveillance data on severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) to estimate the burden of influenza-associated hospitalizations in the Lao Peoples Democratic Republic. METHODS: Using methods developed by the World Health Organization, we combined data from hospital logbook reviews with epidemiological and virological data from influenza surveillance from 1 January to 31 December 2016 in defined catchment areas for two sentinel sites (Champasack and Luang Prabang provincial hospitals) to derive population-based estimates of influenza-associated SARI hospitalization rates. Hospitalization rates by age group were then applied to national age-specific population estimates using 2015 census data. RESULTS: We estimated the overall influenza-associated SARI hospitalization rate to be 48/100 000 population (95% confidence interval [CI]: 44-51) or 3097 admissions (95% CI: 2881-3313). SARI hospitalization rates were estimated to be as low as 40/100 000 population (95% CI: 37-43) and as high as 92/100 000 population (95% CI: 87-98) after accounting for SARI patient underascertainment in hospital logbooks. Influenza-associated SARI hospitalization rates were highest in children aged

Low pathogenicity avian influenza virus subtype A(H9N2) is endemic in poultry in Asia, the Middle East, and Africa (1). These viruses do not cause mass mortality in poultry but can [...]

During January 2020, persons in Thailand were tested for the presence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection if they had a combination of fever or respiratory illness [...]

The formulation of accurate clinical case definitions is an integral part of an effective process of public health surveillance. Although such definitions should, ideally, be based on a standardized and fixed collection of defining criteria, they often require revision to reflect new knowledge of the condition involved and improvements in diagnostic testing. Optimal case definitions also need to have a balance of sensitivity and specificity that reflects their intended use. After the 2009- 2010 H1N1 influenza pandemic, the World Health Organization (WHO) initiated a technical consultation on global influenza surveillance. This prompted improvements in the sensitivity and specificity of the case definition for influenza--i.e. a respiratory disease that lacks uniquely defining symptomology. The revision process not only modified the definition of influenza-like illness, to Include a simplified list of the criteria shown to be most predictive of influenza infection, but also clarified the language used for the definition, to enhance interpretability. To capture severe cases of influenza that required hospitalization, a new case definition was also developed for severe acute respiratory infection in all age groups. The new definitions have been found to capture more cases without compromising specificity. Despite the challenge still posed In the clinical separation of influenza from other respiratory infections, the global use of the new WHO case definitions should help determine global trends in the characteristics and transmission of influenza viruses and the associated disease burden. La formulation de definitions precises de cas cliniques fait partie integrente d'un processus efncace de surveillance de la sante publique. Alors que ees definitions devraient, dans l'ideal, s'appuyer sur un ensemble standardise et fixe de criteres de definition, elles necessitent souvent une revision pour tenir compte des nouvelles connaissances relatives a la maladie concernee et des ameliorations apportees aux tests diagnostiques. Pour etre optimales, les definitions de cas doivent aussi etablir un equilibre entre sensibilite et specificite qui reflete leur utilisation aux fins prevues. A la suite de la pandemie de grippe H1N1 de 2009-2010, l'Organisation mondiale de la Sante (OMS) a lance une consultation technique sur la surveillance mondiale de la grippe. Cela a conduit a des ameliorations concernant la sensibilite et la specificite de la definition de cas pour la grippe--c'est-a-dire une maladie respiratoire dont seule la symptomatologie reste a definir. Le processus de revision n'a pas seulement modifie la definition du syndrome de type grippal pour indure une liste simplifiee des criteres le mieux a meme de predire une infection grippale, il a egalement permis de clarifier le langage utilise dans la definition pour en ameliorer Interpretation. Par ailleurs, afin de tenir compte des cas severes de grippe qui necessitaient une hospitalisation, une nouvelle definition de cas a ete introduite concernant l'infection aigue severe des voies respiratoires dans tous les groupes d'age. Il a ete constate que les nouvelles definitions refletaient davantage de cas, sans pour autant compromettre la specificite. S'il est vral que la distinction clinique de la grippe des autres infections respiratoires continue de poser probleme, l'utilisation mondiale des nouvelles definitions de cas de l'OMS devralt permettre de degager des tendances mondiales concernant les caracteristiques et la transmission des virus grippaux ainsi que la charge de morbidite qui leur est associee. La elaboracion de definiciones precisas de los casos clinicos es una parte fundamental de un proceso efectivo de la vigilancia de la salud publica. Aunque tales definiciones deberian, idealmente, estar basadas en una recopilacion estandarizada y fija de criterios de definicion, a menudo necesitan una revision para reflejar el nuevo conocimiento de la enfermedad existente y las mejoras en las pruebas de diagnostico. Las definiciones optimas de los casos tambien deben tener un equilibrio entre sensibilidad y especificidad que refleje su uso previsto. Despues de la pandemia de gripe H1N1 en 2009-2010, la Organizacion Mundial de la Salud (OMS) inicio una consulta tecnica para la vigilancia mundial de la gripe. Esto dio lugar a mejoras en la sensibilidad y la especificidad de las definiciones de los casos de gripe, es decir, una enfermedad respiratoria que carece de una sintomatologia definitoria singular. El proceso de revision no solo modifico la definicion de las enfermedades similares a la gripe para incluir una lista simplificada de los criterios que demostraron ser mas predictivos de la infeccion por gripe, sino que tambien aclaro el lenguaje utilizado para la definicion, con el fin de mejorar su interpretacion. Para englobar los casos graves de gripe que requirieron hospitalizacion, tambien se desarrollo una nueva definicion de los casos de la infeccion respiratoria aguda grave en todos los grupos de edad. Se ha descubierto que las nuevas definiciones engloban mas casos sin comprometer la especificidad. A pesar del desafio que todavia plantea la separacion clinica de la gripe de otras infecciones respiratorias, el uso global de las nuevas definiciones de los casos de la OMS deberia ayudar a determinar las tendencias mundiales en las caracteristicas y transmision de los virus de la gripe y la carga de la enfermedad asociada., Introduction Case definitions form an important part of standardized systems for public health surveillance. They can be used in the reporting of the conditions under surveillance, the monitoring of geographical [...]

Hypotheses that positive affect and fear in infancy moderate later relationships between neighborhood quality and behavior problems were examined in a sample of children from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth. Results suggested that poor neighborhood quality was associated with antisocial behavior at age 6 for children who in infancy were characterized by either high positive affect and low fear or by low positive affect and high fear. Depression/anxiety increased from age 6 to age 12 for children in poor quality neighborhoods who were characterized in infancy by low positive affect. A combination of low fear and high positive affect in infancy appeared to be protective, as it was associated with decreases in depression/anxiety during childhood. These findings suggest the utility of examining multiple dimensions of temperament and of integrating multiple levels of influence into moderational models to understand and prevent the development of childhood symptomatology.

The current Ebola virus disease (Ebola) epidemic in West Africa, caused by the Zaire strain, is the largest in history; >27,000 cases have been reported since Ebola was detected in [...]

Objectives We estimated influenza-like symptom (ILS) incidence among healthcare personnel (HCP) in four hospitals and the economic impact due to ILS in the Thai HCP population during July 2020–June 2021 (Thailand's expected 2020 influenza season), which also coincided with the novel coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Methods We followed HCP, in a prospective observational cohort, weekly for ≥1 of: muscle pain, cough, runny nose/nasal congestion, sore throat, or difficulty breathing. We fitted population-averaged Poisson regression models to identify factors associated with acquiring ILS and to calculate ILS incidence. We applied epidemiologic parameters to Thailand's HCP population (227 349 persons) to estimate economic impact. Results Of 2184 participants, adjusted all-cause ILS incidence was 6.1 episodes per 100 person-years (95% confidence interval 3.4–10.9). Among Thailand's HCP population, 13 909 ILS episodes were estimated to occur annually and would result in US$235 135 economic loss. Controlling for study site and calendar month, factors associated with acquiring ≥1 ILS versus no ILS included being female, having asthma, and using personal protective equipment 'frequently, but not always'. Conclusions All-cause ILS resulted in considerable economic loss among Thai HCP workforce. These findings underscore the importance of public health interventions to reduce the risk of acquiring ILS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In countless surveys, employers, graduate students, academicians, and others continue to list oral and written communication among the most critical skills needed by business students today (Hynes & Bhatia, 1996; Maes, Weldy, & Icenogle, 1997; Plutsky, 1996; Wardrope, 2002). The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International (2004) continues to recognize the importance of communication skills in its latest standards. Not surprisingly, Wardrope (2002) found that a communication course was required at 76% of the institutions surveyed. The debate is not about the value of a business communication course but about its effectiveness. It seems critical to decipher how best to teach the necessary communication skills to business students to meet real-world standards. This article describes the efforts of a small, Midwest university to enhance the effectiveness of its business communication course by adopting such standards to gauge the oral presentation skill mastery of its students. (Contains 3 tables.)