India in Flattening the Curve of COVID-19 Pandemic - Triumphs and Challenges Thereof

We often see the term flattening the curve in newspaper and news but we often forget the very importance of this term which if considered seriously can be used to deal with various pandemic situations around the globe and one such condition is Covid-19 which is being dealt by each one of us in this World. The “Curve” which all the researchers in the world are commenting upon is the one which states the number of people that will come in contact with Covid-19 over a particular period of time. This curve will tell you about the theoretical spread of the virus and will help different governments around the world to predict the outcome of such a condition and plan various measures which can be used to deal with this situation we all are living with. The use of pandemic curve can be traced back in time and how it has benefitted mankind since time immemorial. The origin of the strategy of flattening the curve can be traced back in a newspaper named Interim pre pandemic planning guidance: community strategy for pandemic influenza mitigation in US: early, targeted, layered use of non-pharmaceutical interventions. The center for disease control and preventions published it in 2007, a paper which gave a preview about this impactful strategy and about how this could be used in a pandemic like situation. To win this battle against the novel coronavirus, infection Covid-19; epidemiologists are using this strategy of “Flattening the Curve”; but in this strategy in addition to social distancing there is a significant requirement to increase the surge capacity of hospitals. Different data is coming from different region’s which tells that diverse actions are being taken in different countries. This review will have a look at the Indian scenario of flattening the curve along with all the strategies applied and their success rate.

Improvement of Epidemiology Intelligence Service Officer Program for Preparedness and Response against Future Health Issues Included Communicable and Non-communicable Diseases in Korea / 보건행정학회지

The development and management of epidemiology intelligence service (EIS) officer with more specialized competence to cope with and prepare for health threats, including pandemic of emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases, is a high priority policy issue in Korea. First of all, we need to establish the training goal of EIS officer. It is necessary to establish manpower training and management system with at least three tiers including quantitative and qualitative targets. Second, at least 50% of all EIS officer must secure a physician and secure expertise and competence for epidemic. Third, for the ultimate purpose of EIS officer, the establishment of a public health expert should expand the scope of epidemiologist's work to health and medical care, occupational environment, and various disasters. Fourth, it is essential to expand the epidemiologist training and education program to the level of advanced countries. Especially, the training course should be expanded at least twice of current times. Fifth, it is necessary to independently install and operate the ‘EIS Officer Training Center’ as a mid- and long-term goal. Stewardship and governance are secured with the organization, personnel, etc. that can fully manage the planning, management, and evaluation of the EIS system. In the future, it will be necessary to establish a systematic and phased operational base of education and training programs for EIS officer, and establish a sustainable implementation system for strategy development. In addition, it is urgent to revise the guidelines for training public health professionals and strengthening competencies, and for establishing professional educational institutions.

Perfil epidemiológico del paciente con antígeno prostático específico sobre 4 ng/mL: Región del Bío Bío, Chile / Epidemiological profile of the patient with prostate specific antigen over 4 ng/mL: Bio Bio Region, Chile

Objetivo: Describir el perfil epidemiológico de una muestra de pacientes beneficiarios del Servicio de Salud Bío Bío con examen de antígeno prostático sobre 4 ng/mL. Método: Se realizó un estudio transversal descriptivo donde se revisaron 436 fichas clínicas de pacientes con niveles APE > 4,0 ng/ml determinado en el Laboratorio Clínico del Hospital Dr. Víctor Ríos Ruiz, entre enero y junio del año 2006. También se obtuvo información a partir de los certificados de defunción y de anatomía patológica. Resultados: El 42,4 por ciento pertenecía a la comuna de Los Ángeles y el 57,6 por ciento restante se distribuye homogéneamente dentro de la región de Bío Bío. El promedio de edad de los pacientes fue de 72 años (31 a 98 años). El 75,6 por ciento pertenece a los grupos A y B del Fondo Nacional de Atención de Salud (FONASA), habiendo 10 por ciento sin afiliación conocida. El 63,4 por ciento presentaba hipertensión arterial. El 24,8 por ciento tuvo como diagnóstico cáncer de próstata (CaP) y el 58,2 por ciento hiperplasia benigna prostática. El 58,26 por ciento de los pacientes tuvo un valor de APE entre 4,00 a 10,00 ng/ml, el 34,59 por ciento entre 10,01 a 50,00 ng/ml y el 7,57por ciento un valor de APE >50,00 ng/ml. Conclusiones: El mayor porcentaje de los pacientes se concentra en la ciudad de Los Ángeles, siendo la mayoría del segmento A y B del fondo nacional de salud. La edad promedio fue de 72 años. La hipertensión arterial, la diabetes mellitus y el cáncer de próstata fueron las patologías más prevalentes en estos pacientes.

Objective: To describe the epidemiologic profile of a sample of patient beneficiaries of the Bio Bio Health Service with prostate specific antigen (PSA) up 4 ng/mL. Method: A descriptive cross-sectional study was made between January and June of 2006, where436 clinical histories of patients with levels APE up 4.0 ng/ml were reviewed. Also information from certificates of death and pathological anatomy was obtained. Results: The 42.4 percent belonged of Los Angeles province and the rest were distributed homogenous within Bio Bio region. The average of age of the patients was of 72 years old (31 to 98 years). The 75.6 percent belong to the groups A and B of the National Found of Health Attention (FONASA), being a 10.0 percent without well-known affiliation. The 63.4 percent presented arterial hypertension. The 24.8 percent present prostate cancer diagnostic (CaP) and the 58.2 percent had benign prostatic hyperplasia. 58.26 percent of the patients had a value of PSA between 4.0 to.10.0 ng/ml, the 34.59 percent between 10.01 to 50.00 ng/ml and the 7.57 percent a value of APE>50.00 ng/ml. Conclusions: The larger percentages of the patients live in the urban area of Los Angeles city, belonging most of the segment A and B of the National Found of Health Attention (FONASA). The average age was of 72 years. The hypertension arterial, the diabetes mellitus and the prostate cancer were the most prevalent pathologies in these patients.

Análise epidemiológica dos pacientes com diagnóstico de bloqueio de ramo direito atendidos no Serviço de Eletrocardiografia da Universidade do Estado do Pará / Epidemiologist analysis of the patients diagnosed with Right Bunddle Branch in the Service of Electrocardiography of UEPA

O bloqueio de ramo direito (BRD) é um distúrbio do sistema de condução do coração, que pode ou não estar associado a cardiopatias, e possui uma etiologia variada, sendo o distúrbio de condução mais freqüentemente associado à doença de Chagas. O objetivo é determinar uma análise epidemiológica dos pacientes diagnosticados com BRD no Serviço de Eletrocardiografia da UEPA, atendidos de janeiro de 2002 a julho de 2005. Em relação ao método, trata-se de um estudo retrospectivo, descritivo e transversal, realizado com base nos dados contidos nos prontuários de 192 pacientes atendidos no Serviço de Eletrocardiografia da UEPA, cujo diagnóstico foi bloqueio de ramo direito. Os resultados foram os seguintes: 53,65% (103) dos pacientes são do sexo feminino; concentram-se na faixa etária de 51-60 anos (18,4%), 61-70 (15,7%) e 0-10 (12,5%); não possuem histórico familiar de doenças cardiovasculares (50%). Dos fatores de risco associados a doenças cardiovasculares: 55% (106) não possuem dislipidemia e apenas 11% (21) possuíam diabetes mellitus. Nos prontuários, 40% (77) se declararam hipertensos. No que diz respeito aos hábitos, 14% indivíduos se declararam tabagistas, 40% se disseram estressados e 39% praticava algum tipo de atividade física regularmente. Pode-se concluir que os pacientes diagnosticados com BRD no Serviço de Eletrocardiografia da UEPA são na sua maioria do sexo feminino, idades entre 51 e 60 anos, seguidos daqueles com idade entre 61 e 70 anos, não possuindo histórico de fatores de risco ou hábitos que levem a acreditar em cardiopatias.

Epidemiologic Transition of Communicable Diseases in Korea: Academia's Contributions to the National Communicable Disease Prevention and Control Programs / 한국역학회지

This paper describes the transition of communicable diseases in Korea since 1970s. Some of Korean's general living background and health indicators are introduced, followed by trends in the changes during the last several decades in socioeconomic, demographic, and living environmental status, which are closely associated with the transition of communicable diseases. The current incidence of classified, notifiable disease, the incidence by year, and the transition of communicable diseases are presented. Governmental responses to prevent and control communicable diseases, including both emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases, which have become recognized as having public health importance are described. Finally, the role played by academia during the last several decades in the successful control of communicable diseases is analyzed.