COVID-19 Outbreaks Linked to Workplaces, 23 US Jurisdictions, August-October 2021.

OBJECTIVES: Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, several outbreaks were linked with facilities employing essential workers, such as long-term care facilities and meat and poultry processing facilities. However, timely national data on which workplace settings were experiencing COVID-19 outbreaks were unavailable through routine surveillance systems. We estimated the number of US workplace outbreaks of COVID-19 and identified the types of workplace settings in which they occurred during August-October 2021. METHODS: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention collected data from health departments on workplace COVID-19 outbreaks from August through October 2021: the number of workplace outbreaks, by workplace setting, and the total number of cases among workers linked to these outbreaks. Health departments also reported the number of workplaces they assisted for outbreak response, COVID-19 testing, vaccine distribution, or consultation on mitigation strategies. RESULTS: Twenty-three health departments reported a total of 12 660 workplace COVID-19 outbreaks. Among the 12 470 workplace types that were documented, 35.9% (n = 4474) of outbreaks occurred in health care settings, 33.4% (n = 4170) in educational settings, and 30.7% (n = 3826) in other work settings, including non-food manufacturing, correctional facilities, social services, retail trade, and food and beverage stores. Eleven health departments that reported 3859 workplace outbreaks provided information about workplace assistance: 3090 (80.1%) instances of assistance involved consultation on COVID-19 mitigation strategies, 1912 (49.5%) involved outbreak response, 436 (11.3%) involved COVID-19 testing, and 185 (4.8%) involved COVID-19 vaccine distribution. CONCLUSIONS: These findings underscore the continued impact of COVID-19 among workers, the potential for work-related transmission, and the need to apply layered prevention strategies recommended by public health officials.

A Qualitative Examination of How Somali Young Adults Think About and Understand Violence in Their Communities.

Violence prevention efforts must take into consideration the potentially stigmatizing labels associated with violence, and how youth perceive different types of violence in their communities. Somali communities and individuals in North America have at times been labeled as at-risk for violence, with two notable examples being gang violence and ideologically motivated violence, or violent radicalization. Little is known, however, about how the youth themselves think about and understand these types of violence in their communities. In this article, we seek to answer the following questions: How do Somali immigrants think about violence in their communities, and the stigma related to this violence? and What are the implications of these perceptions/beliefs for violence prevention? Data are drawn from two qualitative studies conducted as part of an ongoing community-based participatory research (CBPR) collaboration between academic partners and Somali communities in three cities in North America. Study 1 consists of nine focus groups (n = 36, male only), and Study 2 consists of in-depth interviews (n = 40, male and female). All participants are Somali young adults living in North America. Overall, radicalization to violence is seen as a remote and irrelevant issue in the Somali community. Participants distance themselves from the idea of radicalization to violence and from those who participate in radical acts or held such beliefs. In contrast, gang involvement is characterized as a major problem for Somali communities, and a product of the marginalization associated with being a refugee in Canada or the United States. Findings suggest that prevention efforts focused on gangs are more likely to be acceptable to communities than those focused on violent extremism.

Impact of a Global Child Mental Health Observership Program: Participant Evaluation, Perceptions, and Outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: The authors describe the participant outcomes and global impact of a structured international observership program in child and adolescent mental health (CAMH) at a United States (US) pediatric academic center. METHODS: The quality improvement phase of the observership program was conducted for 2 years and included 12 participants from 9 different countries. Observers utilized a question guide to describe their clinical and academic experiences in the US in relation to their countries. Each observer completed a program evaluation at the end of the observership, and provided progress reports ranging 6-20 months following completion of the program. RESULTS: Observers valued their experience in the program with overall high evaluation ratings. Observers described major differences and similarities as well as strengths and weaknesses of the US system of care in comparison with their countries' system of care, with perspectives provided on available therapies (pharmacological and non-pharmacological), multidisciplinary treatment, and the role of culture. All observers returned to their countries upon completion of the program and demonstrated significant CAMH clinical and academic productivity with publications, leadership roles, training, education, clinical care, and advocacy in their countries after participation in the observership. CONCLUSION: The outcomes of this program demonstrate that the development and implementation of an onsite educational observership experience in an academic setting have significant potential to build international collaboration and partnerships, in order to meet the underserved mental health needs of children and adolescents globally. Such experiences promote professional growth for all involved and advance CAMH care and advocacy worldwide.

SAFETY OF AND HUMORAL IMMUNE RESPONSE TO THE MERIAL RECOMBITEK CANINE DISTEMPER VIRUS VACCINE IN MANED WOLVES (CHRYSOCYON BRACHYURUS).

This study evaluated the safety of and humoral response to the Merial Recombitek® recombinant canine distemper virus (rCDV) vaccine in maned wolves (n = 9, age 2-9 yr). All maned wolves had prior history of annual vaccination with the Merial Purevax® ferret rCDV vaccine. Serum neutralization (SN) to CDV was measured prior to initial vaccination with the rCDV Recombitek vaccine followed by a booster vaccination at 4-6 wk. Final SN titers were obtained at 13 wk post initial vaccination. The maned wolves developed no observable adverse side effects through the study. Pre-Recombitek vaccination SN titers ranged from negative to 1: 8. Postvaccination CDV titers ranged from negative to 1: 8, and were therefore below the range of that considered protective in domestic dogs.

Orbital Floor Fractures.

The orbital bones are thin and exposed, making the orbital walls vulnerable to fractures. The floor of the orbit is the weakest portion of this 4-sided pyramid structure. Blunt force trauma is the primary mechanism of injury in young men between the ages of 18 and 30 years. Computerized tomography is the primary imaging technique to diagnose orbital fractures. Conservative versus surgical management is determined by maxillofacial and ophthalmology specialists.

Multi-tier mental health program for refugee youth.

OBJECTIVE: We sought to establish that refugee youths who receive a multi-tiered approach to services, Project SHIFA, would show high levels of engagement in treatment appropriate to their level of mental health distress, improvements in mental health symptoms, and a decrease in resource hardships. METHOD: Study participants were 30 Somali and Somali Bantu refugee youths in the English language learner classroom in a middle school in New England. Project SHIFA is a multi-tiered program including prevention and community resilience building for the community at large, school-based early intervention groups for at-risk students, and direct intervention using an established trauma model (trauma systems therapy) for those with significant psychological distress. Data were collected from students at time of enrollment, 6-month follow-up, and 12-month follow-up. Measures used were the War Trauma Screening Scale, Adolescent Post-War Adversities Scale-Somali version, UCLA PTSD Reaction Index for DSM-IV (Revision 1), and the Depression Self-Rating Scale. RESULTS: Students across all tiers of the program demonstrated improvements in mental health and resources. Resource hardships were significantly associated with symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder over time, and the stabilization of resource hardships coincided with significant improvements in symptoms of depression and posttraumatic stress disorder for the top tier of participants. CONCLUSIONS: Project SHIFA is a promising model of treatment for young refugees.