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This article analyzes the association between heat health alerts and emergency department presentations by people aged 65 years or older in Victoria, Australia, from 2010 to 2022. The study found that the odds of presenting with volume depletion or heat- or sunstroke were higher on days with heat health alerts, while the odds of presenting with hypertensive disease were lower. Additionally, the odds of presenting with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes-related conditions, organic mental disorders, or acute renal failure were higher on case days. The findings highlight the importance of heatwave forecasting, warning systems, and health service preparedness for the increasing demands on emergency departments related to heat. However, the study has limitations, and the findings may not be generalizable to other parts of Australia. [Extracted from the article]

However, third- and fourth-dose aVE estimates for comparable time points were not included, meaning it was impossible to determine whether the fourth dose returned people to the same or greater protection as a third dose for the equivalent time post-vaccination. We also account for the lack of data at comparable time periods by matching predicted third-dose aVE with reported fourth-dose rVE at an equivalent time (i.e. 3 weeks) since the last dose of vaccination. [Extracted from the article]

These policies had minimal impact on health outcomes.[2] For this study, we extended these analyses to determine the impact of age-stratified consistent community-level mask wearing (ie, at all times when outside the home) on numbers of SARS-CoV-2 infections and COVID-19-related deaths. Keywords: COVID-19; Public health; Public policy EN COVID-19 Public health Public policy 77 79 3 07/18/23 20230717 NES 230717 Masks effectively reduce severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) transmission.[1] However, the impact of mask wearing over an extended period on morbidity and mortality at the population level is less clear, particularly given the interplay between mask effectiveness, population immunity, and other public health and social measures. The rise in the numbers of deaths during the third quarter may be related to reduced infection-derived immunity following lower viral transmission earlier in the model run; however, the cumulative infection and death numbers were still lower for these scenarios than with zero mask wearing. [Extracted from the article]

The sexualised use of recreational drugs (Mephedrone, GBL/GHB, Crystal Meth) generally known as 'chemsex' in men who have sex with men (MSM) is thought to be associated with sexually transmitted infection (STI) acquisition; however there is little data showing a direct relationship. We reviewed 130 randomly selected cases of MSM with an STI attending our STI service and 130 controls (MSM attending the STI service who did not have an STI) between 5 May 2015 and 2 November 2015. Reported condomless anal sex was significantly higher in cases 90/121 (74%) compared with controls 65/122 (53%); ( χ2 = 11.71, p < 0.005, OR 2.54). Recreational drug use in the cases 38/122 (31%) was significantly greater than in controls 20/125 (16%); ( χ2 = 7.88, p < 0.005, OR 2.37). This demonstrates a link between STI acquisition and recreational drug use in MSM. Harm reduction initiatives identifying and addressing party drug use can help to improve the sexual health of MSM, including reducing risk-taking behaviours. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To compare serological evidence of prior severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection with linked coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) case notification data in Victoria, Australia, and to determine in vitro SARS-CoV-2 neutralisation activity based on prior infection and vaccination history., Design, Setting, Participants: Four cross-sectional serological surveys were conducted between 30 June and 31 October 2022 (a period of Omicron BA.4/BA.5 dominance) using 1,974 residual serum samples obtained from the Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory. Serological results were linked to COVID-19 case notification and vaccination data. Surrogate virus neutralisation testing was performed to obtain in vitro inhibition estimates by anti-nucleocapsid serostatus and COVID-19 vaccination history., Main Outcome Measures: Adjusted anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike and nucleocapsid seropositivity by sex, age and region of residence; adjusted proportion of cases notified by anti-nucleocapsid serostatus, age and number of COVID-19 vaccination doses received; adjusted percentage in vitro inhibition against wildtype and Omicron BA.4/BA.5 SARS-CoV-2 variants by anti-nucleocapsid serostatus and COVID-19 vaccination history., Results: The prevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid antibodies was inversely proportional to age. In October 2022, prevalence was 84% (95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 75-93%) among 18-29-year-olds, compared to 39% (95% CI: 27-52%) among ≥ 80-year-olds. In most age groups, approximately 40% of COVID-19 cases appear to have been notified via existing surveillance mechanisms. Case notification was highest among individuals older than 80 years and people who had received COVID-19 vaccine booster doses. In vitro neutralisation of Omicron BA.4/BA.5 sub-variants was highest for individuals with evidence of both prior infection and booster vaccination., Conclusions: Under-notification of SARS-CoV-2 infections in the Victorian population is not uniform across age and vaccination strata. Seroprevalence data that give insights into case notification behaviour provide additional context for the interpretation of existing COVID-19 surveillance information., (© Commonwealth of Australia CC BY-NC-ND.)