Mapping recommendations towards an Asian Code Against Cancer (ACAC) as part of the World Code Against Cancer Framework: an Asian National Cancer Centers Alliance (ANCCA) initiative.

This paper outlines the process undertaken by Asian National Cancer Centers Alliance (ANCCA) members in working towards an Asian Code Against Cancer (ACAC). The process involves: (i) identification of the criteria for selecting the existing set of national recommendations for ACAC (ii) compilation of existing national codes or recommendations on cancer prevention (iii) reviewing the scientific evidence on cancer risk factors in Asia and (iv) establishment of one or more ACAC under the World Code Against Cancer Framework. A matrix of national codes or key recommendations against cancer in ANCCA member countries is presented. These include taking actions to prevent or control tobacco consumption, obesity, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, alcohol consumption, exposure to occupational and environmental toxins; and to promote breastfeeding, vaccination against infectious agents and cancer screening. ANCCA will continue to serve as a supportive platform for collaboration, development, and advocacy of an ACAC jointly with the International Agency for Research on Cancer/World Health Organization (IARC/WHO).

Circulation of human respiratory syncytial virus and new ON1 genotype in northern Viet Nam, 2017-2020.

Objective: Human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a primary cause of paediatric severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) worldwide, especially in developing countries. We investigated the genetic characteristics of RSV in northern Viet Nam to determine the prevalence and distribution of subtypes as well as the diversity and transmission patterns of genotypes. Methods: In two facilities, from January 2017 to December 2020, 1563 clinical specimens were collected from paediatric patients hospitalized with SARI and tested for RSV. Selected positive samples underwent sequencing analysis targeting the second hypervariable region of the G gene using next-generation sequencing. Results: The RSV positivity rate was 28.02% (438/1563 samples), and prevalence was highest in children aged < 1 year (43.84%; 192/438). Subtype RSV-A accounted for 53.42% (234/438) of cases, RSV-B for 45.89% (201/438), and there was coinfection in 0.68% (3/438). Both subtypes cocirculated and peaked during August-September in each year of the study. Phylogenetic analysis showed that RSV-A samples belonged to the ON1 genotype, which has three subgenotypes: ON1.1, ON1.2 and ON1.3. However, we did not find the 72-nucleotide duplication in the second hypervariable region of the G gene, a characteristic of genotype ON1, in any RSV-A samples. RSV-B samples belonged to genotype BA9. Discussion: Our results provide additional molecular characterization of RSV infections in Viet Nam. Specially, our study is the first to report the absence of the 72-nucleotide duplication in the G gene of RSV-A genotype ON1 in Viet Nam, which may help in understanding the genetic evolution of RSV and be useful for vaccine development in the future.

Towards elimination of cervical cancer - human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination and cervical cancer screening in Asian National Cancer Centers Alliance (ANCCA) member countries.

About 95% of cervical cancers worldwide are caused by human papillomavirus (HPV). Cervical cancer is preventable and curable if it is detected and treated early. We reviewed the latest national cervical cancer indicators, and barriers to HPV vaccination and cervical cancer screening in 21 Asian National Cancer Centers Alliance (ANCCA) member countries. Half (n = 11, 52%) of the countries have introduced HPV vaccination for girls as part of their national vaccination programme, three countries reported coverage of over 90%. Most ANCCA member countries have cervical cancer screening programmes, only five countries reported screening uptake of over 50%. The barriers to HPV vaccination coverage and cervical cancer screening participation have been identified. Ensuring health service accessibility and affordability for women, addressing sociocultural barriers, and strengthening the healthcare system and continuum of care are essential to increase HPV vaccination and cervical cancer screening coverage.

Role of geopolitical risk, currency fluctuation, and economic policy on tourist arrivals: temporal analysis of BRICS economies.

The tourism industry is vulnerable to a range of economic and political factors, which can have both short-term and long-term impacts on tourist arrivals. The study aims to investigate the temporal dynamics of these factors and their impact on tourist arrivals. The method employed is a panel data regression analysis, using data from BRICS economies over a period of 1980-2020. The dependent variable is the number of tourist arrivals, while the independent variables are geopolitical risk, currency fluctuation, and economic policy. Control variables such as GDP, exchange rate, and distance to major tourist destinations are also included. The results show that geopolitical risk and currency fluctuation have a significant negative impact on tourist arrivals, while economic policy has a positive impact. The study also finds that the impact of geopolitical risk is stronger in the short term, while the impact of economic policy is stronger in the long term. Additionally, the study shows that the effects of these factors on tourist arrivals vary across BRICS countries. The policy implications of this study suggest that BRICS economies need to develop proactive economic policies that promote stability and encourage investment in the tourism industry.

Double-shelling AgInS2nanocrystals with GaSx/ZnS to make them emit bright and stable excitonic luminescence.

This paper presents the successful synthesis of AgInS2nanocrystals (NCs) double-shelled with GaSxand ZnS for emitting bright and narrow excitonic luminescence from AgInS2core NCs. Additionally, the AgInS2/GaSx/ZnS NCs with a core/double-shell structure have demonstrated high chemical and photochemical stability. The AgInS2/GaSx/ZnS NCs were prepared via three steps: (i) synthesis of AgInS2core NCs by solvothermal method at 200 °C for 30 min, (ii) shelling GaSxon AgInS2core NCs at 280 °C for 60 min to produce the AgInS2/GaSxcore/shell structure, and (iii) the outermost ZnS shelling at 140 °C for 10 min. The synthesized NCs were characterized in detail by using appropriate techniques such as x-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and optical spectroscopies. The luminescence evolution of the synthesized NCs is as follows: from the broad spectrum (peaking at 756 nm) of the AgInS2core NCs to become the narrow excitonic emission (at 575 nm) prominent beside the broad one after shelling with GaSx, then only the bright excitonic luminescence (at 575 nm) without broad emission after double-shelling with GaSx/ZnS. The double-shell has made the AgInS2/GaSx/ZnS NCs not only remarkably enhance their luminescence quantum yield (QY) up to ∼60% but also maintain the narrow excitonic emission stably for a long-term storage over 12 months. The outermost ZnS shell is believed to play a key role in enhancing QY and protecting AgInS2and AgInS2/GaSxfrom certain damage.

Development of Activity Rules and Chemical Fragment Design for In Silico Discovery of AChE and BACE1 Dual Inhibitors against Alzheimer's Disease.

Multi-target drug development has become an attractive strategy in the discovery of drugs to treat of Alzheimer's disease (AzD). In this study, for the first time, a rule-based machine learning (ML) approach with classification trees (CT) was applied for the rational design of novel dual-target acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and ß-site amyloid-protein precursor cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1) inhibitors. Updated data from 3524 compounds with AChE and BACE1 measurements were curated from the ChEMBL database. The best global accuracies of training/external validation for AChE and BACE1 were 0.85/0.80 and 0.83/0.81, respectively. The rules were then applied to screen dual inhibitors from the original databases. Based on the best rules obtained from each classification tree, a set of potential AChE and BACE1 inhibitors were identified, and active fragments were extracted using Murcko-type decomposition analysis. More than 250 novel inhibitors were designed in silico based on active fragments and predicted AChE and BACE1 inhibitory activity using consensus QSAR models and docking validations. The rule-based and ML approach applied in this study may be useful for the in silico design and screening of new AChE and BACE1 dual inhibitors against AzD.

Synthesis of the MnO2-Fe3O4 catalyst support on amorphous silica: a new Fenton's reagent in the degradation of the reactive blue-19 in aqueous solution.

In this study, a new Fenton's reagent was synthesized via two steps: (1) the dispersed Fe3O4 nanoparticles were immobilized on the surface of the SiO2 carrier via the precipitation process, and (2) the MnO2 nano-sheets were coated on the surface of Fe3O4/SiO2 via hydrothermal method. The SiO2 carrier has been synthetically utilized from Vietnamese rice husk. The successful formation of the MnO2-Fe3O4/SiO2 composite has been analytically characterized by the XRD (X-ray diffraction), SEM (scanning electron microscope), EDS (energy dispersive spectrometry)-mapping, FTIR (Fourier transform infrared), SBET (Brunauer-Emmett-Teller specific surface area), and adsorption/desorption isotherms. This Fenton system was employed to catalyze degradation process of the reactive-blue 19 (RB19) with approximately 100% of removal efficiency after 25 min at the optimal condition of 0.15 g/100 mL of catalyst dosage, pH = 3, and the H2O2 concentration of 3 mL/100 mL. Moreover, the catalyst could be reused at least six times with high catalytic activity that was more than 90%. In conclusion, this study showed that the mesoporous MnO2-Fe3O4/SiO2 composite has a great potential for the removal application of dyes from wastewater, and the application of Vietnam rice husk in environmental treatment was developed.

Disaster risk management system in Vietnam: progress and challenges.

Background: Vietnam is one of the countries most impacted by disasters in Asia- Pacific. Floods, droughts and storms are the most common catastrophes. These risks endanger millions of lives and create massive financial and production losses. Objective: This study aims at reviewing the disaster risk management (DRM) system in Vietnam, identifying progress and challenges of this system, hence making recommendations for improving the system for better responding with natural hazards. Method: The study uses PSR model (Pressure- State- Response) in combination with DRM management framework by United Nations Development Program (UNDP) to evaluate DRM system in Vietnam with 5 aspects: (i) DRM regulatory framework (ii) DRM organization (iii) DRM financial resources (iv) DRM integration in to plans at central and local levels (v) Disaster warning and education. The data collection consists of reviewing existing literature and interviewing key informants in DRM. Results: Disasters is a serious threat to Vietnam's socio economic development. To respond, Vietnam has made many efforts including develop a comprehensive legal framework for DRM which Law on Disaster Prevention and Control takes the key role. Vietnam has also established a fairly well organized DRM system from the central to local levels. The financial sources for DRM are arranged from State budget and sources outside State budget. Vietnam has developed major policies for integrating DRM into development plans centrally and locally. The disaster information and warning system is being modernized with the integration of disaster education in training programs. Challenges in DRM are identified, including institutional, financial and information issues. In addition, Vietnam is facing the increase of disasters and extreme climate events due to climate change. Covid 19 and its socio-economic consequences also lead to a lack of resources for DRM. Economic development moreover results in the decline of ecosystem-based disaster mitigation works and put more pressures on DRM. Recommendations: In the future, Vietnam should develop an information-sharing network between ministries, sectors, localities and NGOs to support the policy formulation process and enhance the coordination of multi-stakeholders. The country should also establish more proper funding allocation mechanisms to fulfill DRM's demands, especially for disaster preparedness and reconstruction phases.

Impacts of digitalization on energy security: evidence from European countries.

We are the first to empirically analyze the nexus of digital transformation and energy security (ES). This paper utilizes six indicators to reflect three aspects of ES, including acceptability, develop-ability, and sustainability. Applying the panel-corrected standard errors (PCSEs) and the feasible generalized least square estimates (FGLS) model to the international sample of 27 European countries over 2015 to 2019, this research reveals exciting findings. First, a promotion in digital transformation causes a significantly positive effect on the acceptability and sustainability of ES but a negative impact on develop-ability of ES. Second, the ES positively affects the digital transformation, especially the digital transformation in the business and public sectors. Third, results obtained from the dynamic fixed effects (DFEs) estimator for the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) method suggest that setting ES goals toward reducing energy consumption and pollution emission promotes the digital transformation process in the business sector of countries in the short run, while the promotion of renewable energy consumption helps countries enhance the digitalization process in the long run. Notably, digitalization is beneficial for sustainable economic development, reflected by a rise in non-fossil and renewable energy consumption and a diminish in CO2 emission, especially in the long run. Fourth, there is a nonlinear effect of the online transaction and digital public services on the acceptability, develop-ability, and sustainability of ES. In a similar spirit, the digital transformation is also accelerated more quickly if the efficiency of the energy system reaches a certain point.

Growth Stimulation, Phosphate Resolution, and Resistance to Fungal Pathogens of Some Endogenous Fungal Strains in the Rhizospheres of Medicinal Plants in Vietnam.

Endophytic fungi are recognized for their many potential applications in agriculture, such as supporting cropland expansion and increasing the yield and resistance of plants by creating antibiotics that inhibit the growth of pathogenic microorganisms. In addition, they can produce enzymes that break down hard-to-solubilize substances within soil, dissolve phosphates, fix nitrogen, reduce metals, and produce hormones that promote plant growth (auxin, cytokinin, and gibberellins) to keep crops healthy. In this report, three strains of endophytic fungi, namely, N1, N2, and N3, were isolated from the roots of Stevia rebaudiana (Bert.) Hemsl., Polyscias fruticosa, and Angelica dahurica in some localities in Vietnam. Through a screening process, it was found that they can produce high levels of indole acetic acid (IAA), resolve phosphates, and resist disease, and they were selected to as an alternative to chemical fertilizers to make probiotics in order to increase medicinal plant yields. The results show that the three strains of fungi have the ability to degrade phosphate to 341.90, 1498.46, and 390.79 ppm; the content of IAA produced in the culture medium reached 49.00, 52.35, and 33.34 ppm. Based on some morphological characteristics and an internal transcribed spacer gene sequence analysis of the fungal strains, N1, N2, and N3 were named Penicillium simplicissimum CN7, Talaromyces flavus BC1, and Trichoderma konilangbra DL3, respectively, which have the ability to inhibit the growth of pathogenic fungal strains, such as fungus C. gloeosporioides (CD1), fungus F. oxysporum, fungus L. theobromae N13, and N. dimidiatum. They grow significantly over a period of 5 to 6 days.

Influenza virus infection history shapes antibody responses to influenza vaccination.

Studies of successive vaccination suggest that immunological memory against past influenza viruses may limit responses to vaccines containing current strains. The impact of memory induced by prior infection is rarely considered and is difficult to ascertain, because infections are often subclinical. This study investigated influenza vaccination among adults from the Ha Nam cohort (Vietnam), who were purposefully selected to include 72 with and 28 without documented influenza A(H3N2) infection during the preceding 9 years (Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry 12621000110886). The primary outcome was the effect of prior influenza A(H3N2) infection on hemagglutinin-inhibiting antibody responses induced by a locally available influenza vaccine administered in November 2016. Baseline and postvaccination sera were titrated against 40 influenza A(H3N2) strains spanning 1968-2018. At each time point (baseline, day 14 and day 280), geometric mean antibody titers against 2008-2018 strains were higher among participants with recent infection (34 (29-40), 187 (154-227) and 86 (72-103)) than among participants without recent infection (19 (17-22), 91 (64-130) and 38 (30-49)). On days 14 and 280, mean titer rises against 2014-2018 strains were 6.1-fold (5.0- to 7.4-fold) and 2.6-fold (2.2- to 3.1-fold) for participants with recent infection versus 4.8-fold (3.5- to 6.7-fold) and 1.9-fold (1.5- to 2.3-fold) for those without. One of 72 vaccinees with recent infection versus 4 of 28 without developed symptomatic A(H3N2) infection in the season after vaccination (P = 0.021). The range of A(H3N2) viruses recognized by vaccine-induced antibodies was associated with the prior infection strain. These results suggest that recall of immunological memory induced by prior infection enhances antibody responses to inactivated influenza vaccine and is important to attain protective antibody titers.

Implementation of two policies to extend maternity leave and further restrict marketing of breast milk substitutes in Vietnam: a qualitative study.

Policy research can reveal gaps and opportunities to enhance policy impact and implementation. In this study, we use a theoretically informed qualitative approach to investigate the implementation of two policies to promote breastfeeding in Vietnam. We conducted semi-structured interviews with national and local policy stakeholders (n = 26) in 2017. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and then translated to English by certified translators. Transcript data were analysed using an integrated conceptual framework of policy implementation. Respondents identified several positive outcomes resulting from implementation of an extended maternity leave policy (Labour Code No. 10/2012/QH13) and further restrictions on marketing of breast milk substitutes (Decree No. 100/2014/ND-CP). Decree No. 100, in particular, was said to have reduced advertising of breast milk substitutes in mass media outlets and healthcare settings. Key implementation actors were national-level bureaucratic actors, local organizations and international partners. Findings reveal the importance of policy precedence and a broader set of policies to promote the rights of women and children to support implementation. Other facilitators were involvement from national-level implementing agencies and healthcare personnel and strength of government relationships and coordination with non-governmental and international organizations. Implementation challenges included insufficient funding, limited training to report violations, a cumbersome reporting process and pervasive misinformation about breast milk and breast milk substitutes. Limited reach for women employed in the informal labour sector and in rural communities was said to be a compatibility issue for the extended maternity leave policy in addition to the lack of impact on non-parental guardians and caretakers. Recommendations to improve policy implementation include designating a role for international organizations in supporting implementation, expanding maternity protections for all working women, building local-level policy knowledge to support enforcement, simplifying Decree No. 100 violation reporting processes and continuing to invest in interventions to facilitate a supportive policy environment in Vietnam.

Can complex programs be sustained? A mixed methods sustainability evaluation of a national infant and young child feeding program in Bangladesh and Vietnam.

BACKGROUND: Poor early-life nutrition is a major barrier to good health and cognitive development, and is a global health priority. Alive & Thrive (A&T) was a multi-pronged initiative to improve infant and young child feeding behaviors. It aimed to achieve at-scale child health and nutrition improvements via a comprehensive approach that included nutrition counseling by health workers, policy change, social mobilization and mass media activities. This study evaluated the sustainability of activities introduced during A&T implementation (2009-2014) in Bangladesh and Vietnam. METHODS: This was a mixed methods study that used a quasi-experimental design. Quantitative data (surveys with 668 health workers, and 269 service observations) were collected in 2017; and analysis compared outcomes (primarily dose and fidelity of activities, and capacity) in former A&T intervention areas versus areas that did not receive the full A&T intervention. Additionally, we conducted interviews and focus groups with 218 stakeholders to explore their impressions about the determinants of sustainability, based on a multi-level conceptual framework. RESULTS: After program conclusion, stakeholders perceive declines in mass media campaigns, policy and advocacy activities, and social mobilization activities - but counseling activities were institutionalized and continued in both countries. Quantitative data show a persisting modest intervention effect: health workers in intervention areas had significantly higher child feeding knowledge, and in Bangladesh greater self-efficacy and job satisfaction, compared to their counterparts who did not receive the full package of A&T activities. While elements of the program were integrated into routine services, stakeholders noted dilution of the program focus due to competing priorities. Qualitative data suggest that some elements, such as training, monitoring, and evaluation, which were seen as essential to A&T's success, have declined in frequency, quality, coverage, or were eliminated altogether. CONCLUSIONS: The inclusion of multiple activities in A&T and efforts to integrate the program into existing institutions were seen as crucial to its success but also made it difficult to sustain, particularly given unstable financial support and human resource constraints. Future complex programs should carefully plan for institutionalization in advance of the program by cultivating champions across the health system, and designing unique and complementary roles for all stakeholders including donors.

C-Plasma of Hierarchical Graphene Survives SnS Bundles for Ultrastable and High Volumetric Na-Ion Storage.

Tin and its derivatives have provoked tremendous progress of high-capacity sodium-ion anode materials. However, achieving high areal and volumetric capability with maintained long-term stability in a single electrode remains challenging. Here, an elegant and versatile strategy is developed to significantly extend the lifespan and rate capability of tin sulfide nanobelt electrodes while maintaining high areal and volumetric capacities. In this strategy, in situ bundles of robust hierarchical graphene (hG) are grown uniformly on tin sulfide nanobelt networks through a rapid (5 min) carbon-plasma method with sustainable oil as the carbon source and the partially reduced Sn as the catalyst. The nucleation of graphene, CN (with size N ranging from 1 to 24), on the Sn(111) surface is systematically explored using density functional theory calculations. It is demonstrated that this chemical-bonded hG strategy is powerful in enhancing overall electrochemical performance.

Health Service Utilization Among People With Noncommunicable Diseases in Rural Vietnam.

CONTEXT: Chronic noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) have been shown to be major causes of morbidity and mortality in hospitals for the whole country. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to describe the situation of health service utilization among people with NCDs in a rural area and identify association between the situation of health service utilization among people with chronic diseases and their socioeconomic status. DESIGN: This was a cross-sectional study. SETTING: A rural district located in the North of Vietnam. PARTICIPANTS: People 15 years of age and older. Health service utilization was analyzed only among people who reported having NCD. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Data were collected through a personal household interview conducted by 12 trained field workers. The dependent variable is health care service utilization among people with chronic NCDs. The explanatory variables include both household attributes such as household economic conditions, and so forth, and individual characteristics. RESULTS: Eighteen percent of the adults and 51% of the elderly respondents reported having at least 1 of the NCDs. The proportions of people with NCDs who used at least 1 outpatient service and used at least 1 inpatient health service during the last 12 months were 68.1% and 10.7%, respectively (the nonutilization rates of 31.9% and 89.3%, respectively). The statistically significant correlates of health care service utilization among people with NCDs were ethnicity (ethnic minority was significantly associated with a lower odds of health care service utilization) and health insurance (no health insurance was significantly associated with lower odds of health care service utilization). CONCLUSION: Given the evidence from this study, actions to improve access to health care services among people with NCDs are clearly needed. The capacity of primary health care system for the prevention and control of NCDs should be ranked a top priority.

The association of estimated salt intake with blood pressure in a Viet Nam national survey.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association of salt consumption with blood pressure in Viet Nam, a developing country with a high level of salt consumption. DESIGN AND SETTING: Analysis of a nationally representative sample of Vietnamese adults 25-65 years of age who were surveyed using the World Health Organization STEPwise approach to Surveillance protocol. Participants who reported acute illness, pregnancy, or current use of antihypertensive medications were excluded. Daily salt consumption was estimated from fasting mid-morning spot urine samples. Associations of salt consumption with systolic blood pressure and prevalent hypertension were assessed using adjusted linear and generalized linear models. Interaction terms were tested to assess differences by age, smoking, alcohol consumption, and rural/urban status. RESULTS: The analysis included 2,333 participants (mean age: 37 years, 46% male, 33% urban). The average estimated salt consumption was 10g/day. No associations of salt consumption with blood pressure or prevalent hypertension were observed at a national scale in men or women. The associations did not differ in subgroups defined by age, smoking, or alcohol consumption; however, associations differed between urban and rural participants (p-value for interaction of urban/rural status with salt consumption, p = 0.02), suggesting that higher salt consumption may be associated with higher systolic blood pressure in urban residents but lower systolic blood pressure in rural residents. CONCLUSIONS: Although there was no evidence of an association at a national level, associations of salt consumption with blood pressure differed between urban and rural residents in Viet Nam. The reasons for this differential association are not clear, and given the large rate of rural to urban migration experienced in Viet Nam, this topic warrants further investigation.

Fetal Zika Virus Infection in Vietnam.

As of 13 July 2016, 13 countries have reported fetal Zika virus (ZIKV) infection. Here we report a case of fetal ZIKV infection that resulted from an infection originating in Vietnam.

Assessing evidence for avian-to-human transmission of influenza A/H9N2 virus in rural farming communities in northern Vietnam.

Rural farming communities in northern Vietnam do not routinely practice vaccination for influenza A viruses (IAV) for either humans or poultry, which enables us to study transmission intensity via seroepidemiology. Using samples from a longitudinal cohort of farming households, we determined the number of symptomatic and asymptomatic human infections for seasonal IAV and avian A/H9 over 2 years. As expected, we detected virologically confirmed acute cases of seasonal IAV in humans, as well as large numbers of subclinical seroconversions to A/H1pdm [55/265 (21 %)], A/H3 [95/265 (36 %)] and A/H9 [24/265 (9 %)]. Five of the A/H9 human seroconverters likely represented true infections rather than heterosubtypic immunity, because the individuals seroconverted solely to A/H9. Among co-located poultry, we found significantly higher seroprevalance for A/H5 compared to A/H9 in both chickens and ducks [for northern study sites overall, 337/1105 (30.5 %) seropositive for A/H5 and 123/1105 (11.1 %) seropositive for A/H9].

Seroprevalence of Scrub Typhus, Typhus, and Spotted Fever Among Rural and Urban Populations of Northern Vietnam.

AbstractRickettsial infections are recognized as important causes of fever throughout southeast Asia. Herein, we determined the seroprevalence to rickettsioses within rural and urban populations of northern Vietnam. Prevalence of individuals with evidence of prior rickettsial infections (IgG positive) was surprisingly low, with 9.14% (83/908) testing positive to the three major rickettsial serogroups thought to circulate in the region. Prevalence of typhus group rickettsiae (TG)-specific antibodies (6.5%, 58/908) was significantly greater than scrub typhus group orientiae (STG)- or spotted fever group rickettsiae (SFG)-specific antibodies (P < 0.05). The majority of TG seropositives were observed among urban rather than rural residents (P < 0.05). In contrast, overall antibody prevalence to STG and SFG were both very low (1.1%, 10/908 for STG; 1.7%, 15/908 for SFG), with no significant differences between rural and urban residents. These results provide data on baseline population characteristics that may help inform development of Rickettsia serological testing criteria in future clinical studies.