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Background: The first documented human leptospirosis cases in the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) occurred following 2017 Hurricanes Irma and Maria. We conducted a representative serosurvey in USVI to estimate the seroprevalence and distribution of human leptospirosis and evaluate local risk factors associated with seropositivity. Methodology/Principal findings: A stratified, two-stage cluster sampling design was used and consisted of three island strata and random selection of census blocks and then households. All eligible members of selected households were invited to participate (≥5 years old, resided in USVI ≥6 months and ≥6 months/year). Household and individual-level questionnaires were completed, and serum collected from each enrolled individual. Microscopic agglutination test serology was conducted, and bivariate and logistic regression analyses completed to identify risk factors for seropositivity. In March 2019, 1,161 individuals were enrolled from 918 households in St. Croix, St. Thomas, and St. John. The territory-wide weighted seroprevalence was 4.0% (95% CI:2.3–5.7). Characteristics/exposures independently associated with seropositivity using logistic regression included contact with cows (OR: 39.5; 95% CI: 9.0–172.7), seeing rodents/rodent evidence or contact with rodents (OR: 2.6; 95% CI: 1.1–5.9), and increasing age (OR: 1.02; 95% CI: 1.002–1.04); full or partial Caucasian/White race was negatively correlated with seropositivity (OR: 0.02, 95% CI: 0.04–0.7). Bivariate analysis showed self-reported jaundice since the 2017 hurricanes (pRR: 5.7; 95% CI: 1.0–33.4) was associated with seropositivity and using a cover/lid on cisterns/rainwater collection containers (pRR: 0.3; 95% CI: 0.08–0.8) was protective against seropositivity. Conclusions/Significance: Leptospirosis seropositivity of 4% across USVI demonstrates an important human disease that was previously unrecognized and emphasizes the importance of continued leptospirosis surveillance and investigation. Local risk factors identified may help guide future human and animal leptospirosis studies in USVI, strengthen leptospirosis public health surveillance and treatment timeliness, and inform targeted education, prevention, and control efforts. Author summary: We established that in 2019, four percent of the population in the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) had evidence of previous exposure to Leptospira bacteria. There were no human cases of leptospirosis documented in USVI before the 2017 hurricanes, however due to the prevalence of the disease in other Caribbean localities, the post-hurricane cases, and the evidence of exposure demonstrated in this investigation, it is likely that leptospirosis has been a previously unrecognized problem in the territory. We demonstrated that contact with rodents or their body fluids or seeing rodents/evidence of rodents, contact with cows, increasing age, and not being part or full Caucasian/White race are independently associated with previous exposure to Leptospira spp. in USVI. These findings highlight the importance of continuing leptospirosis surveillance in USVI, considering leptospirosis as a diagnosis in patients with acute febrile illness and/or compatible exposures, and further investigating the epidemiology, ecology, and clinical features of leptospirosis in USVI. Our investigation also supports the need to investigate leptospirosis, and consider it a potential diagnosis, in locations with environmental conditions the bacteria favor (tropical and subtropical areas), even if leptospirosis has not been previously documented in those areas, and especially if it has not been previously investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aedes aegypti, the mosquito that carries dengue, chikungunya, and Zika viruses, is present throughout the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI). To reduce mosquitoborne disease transmission, the USVI Department of Health (VIDOH) is responsible for integrated mosquito management. During January 2016-January 2018, USVI experienced its first Zika outbreak, with most cases reported during January-December 2016, as well as two Category 5 hurricanes (Irma on St. Thomas/St. John on September 6, 2017, and Maria on St. Croix on September 19, 2017). The hurricanes severely damaged mosquito protection-related building structures (e.g., screens, roofs) and infrastructure (e.g., electricity, air conditioning) and might have created an environment more conducive to mosquito breeding. VIDOH, with requested technical assistance from CDC, conducted three Community Assessments for Public Health Emergency Response (CASPERs) to provide rapid community information at the household level. The three CASPERs were conducted to inform 1) the Zika outbreak response, 2) the hurricane response, and 3) the hurricane recovery. The CASPERs assessed mosquito prevention and control-related experiences, attitudes, and practices; household and environmental conditions associated with mosquito breeding, prevention, and control; and other nonmosquito-related information to inform outbreak and disaster response planning. Approximately 40% of households were very concerned about contracting Zika virus during the Zika outbreak and hurricane responses. Environmental conditions were reported to become more favorable for mosquito breeding between the Zika outbreak and hurricane response. Between 75%-80% of the community supported mosquito-spraying in all assessments. VIDOH used these data to support real-time outbreak and hurricane response planning. Mosquito prevention and control community assessments can provide rapid, actionable information to advise both mosquito education and control and emergency response and recovery efforts. The CASPER design can be used by vector control programs to enhance routine and response operations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As of May 2, 2017, the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI), comprising St. Thomas, St. John, and St. Croix, had reported 1,021 probable or confirmed cases* of Zika virus disease in its population of approximately 100,000 (1); 222 symptomatic and asymptomatic pregnant women in the USVI had tested positive for Zika virus. In January 2016, USVI Department of Health (USVI DOH) initiated Zika response measures, including surveillance, vector control, and a communications program. Interventions included education and outreach, distribution of Zika prevention kits† to pregnant women in the USVI, and provision of free Zika virus laboratory testing and vector control services. In November 2016, USVI DOH staff members conducted interviews with convenience samples of community members and pregnant women to gather feedback about current and proposed interventions (2). Pregnant women reported taking a median of two actions to protect themselves from Zika, with repellent use being the most commonly reported action. Community members reported taking a median of one action and were supportive of several proposed vector control approaches. Whereas multiple pregnant women and community members reported hearing messages about the cause and consequences of Zika virus infections, few recalled messages about specific actions they could take to protect themselves. Integrating evaluation into response measures permits ongoing assessment of intervention effectiveness and supports improvement to serve the population's needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A box trap was constructed and used to collect juvenile steelhead Oncorhynchus mykiss in Spooner Creek, Erie County, New York, during the spring of 2000 and 2001. The trap was designed for use in streams with short waterfalls. It was utilized for approximately 70 d each spring and trapped 552 and 1,702 steelhead juveniles in 2000 and 2001, respectively. Approximately 5-75 steelhead per night were collected with negligible mortality, and streams were effectively sampled in discharges below 35 ft³/s. Trap efficiencies averaged 51% and 63% in 2000 and 2001, respectively. Problems were encountered during high-water periods, as high water caused the trap to become submerged and useless once the windows were plugged with forest litter. However, these episodes were rare. The modified box trap design presented here proved effective in a variety of conditions and should provide fisheries scientists an effective tool for sampling juveniles in smaller streams. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The distributions of insured losses to single-family housing following the 1994 Northridge, California, earthquake for 234 ZIP codes can be satisfactorily modeled with gamma distributions. Regressions of the parameters in the gamma distribution on estimates of ground motion, derived from ShakeMap estimates or from interpolated observations, provide a basis for developing curves of conditional probability of loss given a ground motion. Comparison of the resulting estimates of aggregate loss with the actual aggregate loss gives satisfactory agreement for several different ground-motion parameters. Estimates of loss based on a deterministic spatial model of the earthquake ground motion, using standard attenuation relationships and NEHRP soil factors, give satisfactory results for some ground-motion parameters if the input ground motions are increased about one and one-half standard deviations above the median, reflecting the fact that the ground motions for the Northridge earthquake tended to be higher than the median ground motion for other earthquakes with similar magnitude. The results give promise for making estimates of insured losses to a similar building stock under future earthquake loading. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focuses on a recommendation for the Asia Pacific Parliamentarians Forum (APPF) to endorse the International Commercial Terms (INCOTERMS) promulgated by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC). Liberalization and facilitation of trade and investment in Asia; INCOTERMS as standardized definitions for commonly used shipping terms; Utilization of INCOTERMS in international sales agreements.

On August 5, 1992 the United States Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs passed the "Government Performance and Results Act" sponsored by Senators Roth and John Glenn. In introducing this legislation in 1991 Senator Roth made the following statement. This legislation (S. 20) is intended to put teeth into federal efforts to introduce performance measurement currently under implementation by the Office of Management and Budget under the authority of the Chief Financial Officers Act of 1990. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hb S Travis is a previously undescribed sickling hemoglobin with two amino acid substitutions in the β chain: β6 Glu→Val and β142 Ala→Val. The β6 Glu→Val mutation imparts to Hb S Travis the characteristic properties of sickling hemoglobin, namely its association with erythrocyte sickling, the insolubility of the hemoglobin in the reduced form, and a minimum gelling concentration value identical to Hb S. Unlike Hb S, Hb S Travis exhibits an increased oxygen affinity and a decreased affinity for 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate and inositol hexakisphosphate. In addition, the variant hemoglobin's tendency to autoxidize and its mechanical precipitability suggest that there are conformational differences between Hb S and Hb S Travis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article looks at the results of a survey conducted by the Tennessee Department of Health's Rapid Assessment of Populations Impact by Disasters (RAPID) team on household preparedness for disasters or emergencies in two metropolitan counties. According to the survey, 43% of respondents in Knox County indicated that they are somewhat prepared while 25% claimed that they are not prepared. In Davidson, the suvey found that most households have a three-day supply of nonperishable food and water.

Abstract: Physical and psychological torture of political detainees and prisoners is currently practiced in more than 90 countries. Types of torture and the diagnosis and treatment of torture victims are described based on the experience of Copenhagen's Rigshospilalet. (Am J Public Health 1987; 77:1404-1406.) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]