Hygiene Practices and Early Childhood Development in the East Asia-Pacific Region: A Cross-Sectional Analysis.

Poor hygiene might be a risk factor for early childhood development (ECD). This study investigated the associations of three hygiene practices ('wash hands before a meal,' 'wash hands after going to the toilet,' and 'brush teeth'), separately and combined, with ECD. Six thousand six hundred ninety-seven children (4 [0.8] years) from the East Asia-Pacific Early Child Development Scales validation study were included in this cross-sectional analysis. The hygiene variables were recoded to have comparable values as 'always,' 'sometimes,' and 'never.' These variables were then grouped to create combined categories. The binary outcome variables, poor ECD, were defined as a score < age-specific 25th centile. Modified Poisson regression models were used to analyse the associations. Data collection was performed between 2012 and 2014, and the analyses were conducted in April 2022. Compared with children who 'always' washed their hands before a meal, those who did it 'sometimes' (Prevalence Ratio [PR]: 1.30 [95% CI: 1.16-1.46]) or 'never' (PR: 1.35 [1.18-1.55]) had a higher likelihood of poorer overall development. Comparable results were identified for the other two hygiene practices and the other four domain-specific outcomes (p < 0.05). Compared with children who always followed the three hygiene practices, the likelihood of poor overall ECD increased as the combined hygiene practice decreased among children with poor hygiene practices (PRnever: 1.67 [1.40-2.00]; PRrarely: 1.49 [1.30-1.71]; PRsometimes: 1.30 [1.14-1.49]). Children who did not always follow good hygiene practices had a higher likelihood of poor ECD independently of sociodemographic factors. Considering these findings, future hygiene practice interventions and trials should consider including ECD outcomes.

Fruit and vegetable consumption during the COVID-19 lockdown in Sri Lanka: an online survey.

Purpose: The COVID-19 pandemic has drastically altered the dietary patterns of individuals. This study aimed to investigate the changes in the purchase and consumption of fruit and vegetables in Sri Lanka during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: An online cross-sectional survey assessed the self-reported changes in fruit and vegetable consumption and purchase using Google forms. Logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the association between decreased consumption of imported fruits and increased home-grown food intake with socio-demographic variables. Results: Among the 3621 survey respondents, 63.0% and 43.3% reported a decreased intake of imported and local fruits purchased from the market, respectively. Although the overall vegetable consumption has declined, the leafy vegetable consumption has increased by 40.7%. Imported fruit intake has significantly reduced among youngsters, males, respondents living in municipal areas, employed, and those with lower monthly incomes. Among the respondent, 48.9% declared an increased consumption of home-grown fruits or vegetables. Responders living away from Colombo and rural areas were more likely to report a higher intake of home-grown fruits and vegetables (OR 2.021; 95% CI, 1.762-2.318, P < 0.001). Employed males residing in municipal areas were less likely to report an increased intake (OR 0.689; 95% CI, 0.574-0.827, P < 0.001). Conclusion: Purchase of imported and local fruits from the market has reduced. Although the overall vegetable consumption was decreased, there has been an increase in the consumption of leafy vegetables. Furthermore, consumption of home-grown fruits and vegetables has increased considerably. Well-established food distribution programs are essential in future pandemics to promote healthy eating.

Who Can Buffer Marginalization Risk? Affect Experience, Affect Valuation, and Social Marginalization in Japan and Brazil.

Previous research has associated social marginalization with the rejection of mainstream cultural values. Since cultural values reflect affect valuation, the present research investigates the relationships between social marginalization and ideal/actual affect in two different non-WEIRD cultures, Brazil and Japan. As a social marginalization index, we used the NEET-Hikikomori Risk Scale (NHR). We predicted that cultural differences would emerge in the valuation of affective states. Affect valuation theory suggests that in East Asia, individuals are encouraged to pursue and value low arousal positive emotions (LAP: e.g., calmness, serenity) over high arousal positive emotions (HAP: e.g., excitement, elation, etc.) as they can harm social relationships in these societies. In contrast, Latin American cultures value HAP over LAP, because social relationships are promoted through vibrant positive emotional expression in these cultures. Hence, we hypothesized that individuals' ideal affect, actual affect, and the discrepancy between ideal and actual affect would be associated with higher risk of social marginalization. Participants from Japan (N = 54) and Brazil (N = 54) reported their ideal affect and actual affect and completed the NEET-Hikikomori Risk Scale (NHR). Regression analyses showed that actual HAP and the discrepancy between ideal and actual HAP were negatively associated with NHR in Brazil, but no association was found in the Japanese data. The other variables, including ideal affect, were only minorly or not significantly associated with NHR. Though the study has limitations regarding its small sample size, we can explore future perspectives and discuss the relationships between emotion and cultural marginalization. Socioecological factors that promote actual HAP in Brazilians may encourage other mainstream cultural ideals, which buffers against cultural marginalization.

Challenges in foot-and-mouth disease virus strain selection as an input to attain broad vaccine intraserotype cross-protection.

Introduction: Vaccination against foot-and-mouth disease virus is regarded as the most effective way to prevent disease. Selection of appropriate vaccine strains is challenging due to lack of cross-protection between serotypes and incomplete protection between some strains within a serotype. Vaccine effectiveness can be affected by vaccine formulation, vaccination approaches, and also by emerging field variants. Therefore, a precise evaluation of the protective capacity of the selected vaccine virus is essential.Areas covered: This article discusses the limitations of currently in use in vitro methods to assess the protective capacity of vaccine strains. It includes the assessment of well-established South American vaccine strains, O1/Campos and A24/Cruzeiro, against outbreaks/emergencies in the continent, as well as against recent isolates from East and Southeast Asia.Expert opinion: In vitro methods, and particularly r1 values, used to evaluate the protective capacity of vaccine strains are not conclusive and do not cover the variety of field scenarios. At present, an option when facing emergencies could be to use well-established vaccine strains with broad antigenic/immunogenic coverage, including conditions that lead to increased coverage such as vaccine formulations and vaccination schemes.

Gastric Braunina cordiformis and a review of helminth parasitism in the finless porpoise (Neophocaena phocaenoides)

A pregnant adult female finless porpoise (Neophocaena phocaenoides) stranded off the coast of Phuket, Thailand and died during attempted rehabilitation. The cadaver was frozen for use in a Marine mammal stranding training event. During necropsy, the animal was observed to have approximately 60% of the gastric mucosa embedded with exophytic, heart shaped digenean trematodes interpreted to be Braunina cordiformis. Tissue samples were collected from the stomach to include the embedded parasites and these were evaluated histopathologically, confirming the diagnosis. This is the first report of Braunina cordiformis trematodes in Asian waters and the first report of the parasite in a finless porpoise.(AU)

Gastric Braunina cordiformis and a review of helminth parasitism in the finless porpoise (Neophocaena phocaenoides)

A pregnant adult female finless porpoise (Neophocaena phocaenoides) stranded off the coast of Phuket, Thailand and died during attempted rehabilitation. The cadaver was frozen for use in a Marine mammal stranding training event. During necropsy, the animal was observed to have approximately 60% of the gastric mucosa embedded with exophytic, heart shaped digenean trematodes interpreted to be Braunina cordiformis. Tissue samples were collected from the stomach to include the embedded parasites and these were evaluated histopathologically, confirming the diagnosis. This is the first report of Braunina cordiformis trematodes in Asian waters and the first report of the parasite in a finless porpoise.

Melioidosis en paciente del sudeste asiático / Melioidosis in a Southeast Asian patient

La melioidosis es una enfermedad infecciosa causada por una bacteria gram-negativa intracelular facultativa, Burkholderia pseudomallei, que se encuentra en el suelo y el agua. Es de importancia para la salud pública en las zonas endémicas, sobre todo el sudeste asiático. Se han descrito casos fuera de las regiones endémicas en su mayoría adquiridos por los visitantes a estas áreas. Se presenta el caso de un paciente masculino con sintomatología respiratoria, elementos de sepsis y contracción volumétrica, en el que se diagnosticó diabetes mellitus de debut, neumonía adquirida en la comunidad y finalmente se aisló en hemocultivo la Burkholderia pseudomallei. Se comenzó tratamiento recomendado acorde al antibiograma, observándose evolución satisfactoria del paciente(AU)

Melioidosis is an infectious disease caused by a facultative intracellular gram-negative bacterium, Burkholderia pseudomallei, found in soil and water. It is of importance for public health in endemic areas, especially Southeast Asia. Cases have been described outside the endemic regions, mostly acquired by visitors to these areas. The case is presented of a male patient with respiratory symptoms, elements of sepsis and volumetric contraction, in which the diagnosis of onset diabetes mellitus and community-acquired pneumonia, while Burkholderia pseudomallei was finally isolated in hemoculture. The recommended treatment was started according to the antibiogram, observing the patient's satisfactory evolution(AU)

Melioidosis en paciente del sudeste asiático / Melioidosis in a Southeast Asian patient

La melioidosis es una enfermedad infecciosa causada por una bacteria gram-negativa intracelular facultativa, Burkholderia pseudomallei, que se encuentra en el suelo y el agua. Es de importancia para la salud pública en las zonas endémicas, sobre todo el sudeste asiático. Se han descrito casos fuera de las regiones endémicas en su mayoría adquiridos por los visitantes a estas áreas. Se presenta el caso de un paciente masculino con sintomatología respiratoria, elementos de sepsis y contracción volumétrica, en el que se diagnosticó diabetes mellitus de debut, neumonía adquirida en la comunidad y finalmente se aisló en hemocultivo la Burkholderia pseudomallei. Se comenzó tratamiento recomendado acorde al antibiograma, observándose evolución satisfactoria del paciente(AU)

Melioidosis is an infectious disease caused by a facultative intracellular gram-negative bacterium, Burkholderia pseudomallei, found in soil and water. It is of importance for public health in endemic areas, especially Southeast Asia. Cases have been described outside the endemic regions, mostly acquired by visitors to these areas. The case is presented of a male patient with respiratory symptoms, elements of sepsis and volumetric contraction, in which the diagnosis of onset diabetes mellitus and community-acquired pneumonia, while Burkholderia pseudomallei was finally isolated in hemoculture. The recommended treatment was started according to the antibiogram, observing the patient's satisfactory evolution(AU)

Love and sexual relationships in a globalized world / Relacionamentos amorosos e sexuais em um mundo globalizado / Rapports amoureux et sexuels dans un monde globalisé / Relacionamientos amorosos y sexuales en un mundo globalizado

With the development of globalized exchanges, sexual and/or sentimental relationships between developed and developing countries are becoming more and more frequent. Through the comparative study of relationships between Occidental and Thai or Malay people, we will see how Occidental and Oriental actors use hierarchies of gender, class and race to try to valorise their economic, cultural, social and symbolic capital. In Thailand, lower-class women seek access to financial stability while in the neighbouring country, upper-class women aspire to freedom from local culture. For Occidental men, what hides behind their desire of the “other” is a rejection of "Occidental values", especially sexual equality, and a return to values considered more "stable", "traditional", and "hierarchical". We will see how love interactions in a globalized context are an instrument to valorise the different forms of capital, in Bourdieu‟s sense, and a way to redefine social hierarchies. (AU)

Com o desenvolvimento dos intercâmbios globalizados, as interações sexuais e/ou amorosas entre os países desenvolvidos e em desenvolvimento se tornaram mais frequentes. Por meio de um estudo comparativo das relações entre Ocidentais e Tailandeses e Malaios, veremos como sujeitos Ocidentais e Orientais usam as hierarquias de gênero, classe e raça para valorizar seus capitais econômico, cultural, social e simbólico. Se na Tailândia, as mulheres oriundas das classes desfavorecidas buscam uma certa segurança financeira, no país vizinho, as mulheres das classes abastadas desejam a liberdade em relação à cultura local. Para os homens ocidentais, o desejo pelo "outro" esconde uma rejeição dos "valores ocidentais", particularmente a igualdade entre os sexos, e o desejo de retomar valores considerados mais "estáveis", "tradicionais" e "hierárquicos". Nós veremos como as interações amorosas globalizadas valorizam diferentes formas de capital, no sentido de Bourdieu, redefinindo hierarquias sociais. (AU)

Avec le développement des échanges mondialisés, les interactions sexuelles et/ou amoureuses entre les pays développés et en développement deviennent plus fréquentes. A travers l‟étude comparative des relations entre Occidentaux et Thaïlandais ou Malaisiens nous verrons comment, par le biais des hiérarchies de genre, de classe et de "race", les acteurs occidentaux et orientaux tentent de revaloriser leur capital économique, culturel, social et symbolique. Si en Thaïlande les femmes issues des classes défavorisées peuvent espérer une certaine assurance financière, dans le pays voisin les femmes d'un milieu aisé souhaitent accéder à davantage de liberté face à l'emprise de la culture locale. Ce désir de l'autre cache souvent chez les Occidentaux un rejet des dites "valeurs occidentales", notamment l'égalité des sexes, et une volonté de retour vers des valeurs considérées "stables", "traditionnelles" et "hiérarchisées". (AU)

Con el desarrollo de los intercambios globalizados, las interacciones sexuales y/o amorosas entre el Occidente y los países en desarrollo se tornan más frecuentes. Por medio de los estudios comparativos de las relaciones entre Occidentales y Tailandesas o Malayas vemos como, por la perspectiva de las jerarquías de genero, de clase y de “raza”, lo actores occidentales y orientales tienden a valorar sus capitales económicos, culturales, sociales y simbólicos. Si en Tailandia las mujeres oriundas de las clases desfavorecidas pueden esperar una cierta seguridad financiera, en el país vecino, las mujeres de las clases abastadas desean el acceso a la libertad frente a la cultura y de la religión locales. Este deseo por el otro esconde, frecuentemente, por parte de los Occidentales un rechazo de los dichos “valores occidentales”, particularmente a la igualdad entre los sexos, y una voluntad de retornar a valores considerados más “estables”, “tradicionales” y "jerárquicos”. Vemos así como las interacciones amorosas globalizadas son un instrumento de valorización de diferentes maneras de capital, no sentido de Bourdieu, y una manera de redefinir las jerarquías sociales. (AU)

Genetic structure of the whitefly Bemisia tabaci populations in Colombia following a recent invasion.

The whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) is one of the most important pests causing economic losses in a variety of cropping systems around the world. This species was recently found in a coastal region of Colombia and has now spread inland. To investigate this invasive process, the genetic structure of B. tabaci was examined in 8 sampling locations from 2 infested regions (coastal, inland) using 9 microsatellite markers and the mitochondrial COI gene. The mitochondrial analysis indicated that only the invasive species of the B. tabaci complex Middle East-Asia Minor 1 (MEAM 1 known previously as biotype B) was present. The microsatellite data pointed to genetic differences among the regions and no isolation by distance within regions. The coastal region in the Caribbean appears to have been the initial point of invasion, while the inland region in the Southwest showed genetic variation among populations most likely reflecting founder events and ongoing changes associated with climatic and topographical heterogeneity. These findings have implications for tracking and managing B. tabaci.

Love and sexual relationships in a globalized world / Relacionamentos amorosos e sexuais em um mundo globalizado / Rapports amoureux et sexuels dans un monde globalisé / Relacionamientos amorosos y sexuales en un mundo globalizado

With the development of globalized exchanges, sexual and/or sentimental relationships between developed and developing countries are becoming more and more frequent. Through the comparative study of relationships between Occidental and Thai or Malay people, we will see how Occidental and Oriental actors use hierarchies of gender, class and race to try to valorise their economic, cultural, social and symbolic capital. In Thailand, lower-class women seek access to financial stability while in the neighbouring country, upper-class women aspire to freedom from local culture. For Occidental men, what hides behind their desire of the “other” is a rejection of "Occidental values", especially sexual equality, and a return to values considered more "stable", "traditional", and "hierarchical". We will see how love interactions in a globalized context are an instrument to valorise the different forms of capital, in Bourdieu‟s sense, and a way to redefine social hierarchies.

Com o desenvolvimento dos intercâmbios globalizados, as interações sexuais e/ou amorosas entre os países desenvolvidos e em desenvolvimento se tornaram mais frequentes. Por meio de um estudo comparativo das relações entre Ocidentais e Tailandeses e Malaios, veremos como sujeitos Ocidentais e Orientais usam as hierarquias de gênero, classe e raça para valorizar seus capitais econômico, cultural, social e simbólico. Se na Tailândia, as mulheres oriundas das classes desfavorecidas buscam uma certa segurança financeira, no país vizinho, as mulheres das classes abastadas desejam a liberdade em relação à cultura local. Para os homens ocidentais, o desejo pelo "outro" esconde uma rejeição dos "valores ocidentais", particularmente a igualdade entre os sexos, e o desejo de retomar valores considerados mais "estáveis", "tradicionais" e "hierárquicos". Nós veremos como as interações amorosas globalizadas valorizam diferentes formas de capital, no sentido de Bourdieu, redefinindo hierarquias sociais.

Avec le développement des échanges mondialisés, les interactions sexuelles et/ou amoureuses entre les pays développés et en développement deviennent plus fréquentes. A travers l‟étude comparative des relations entre Occidentaux et Thaïlandais ou Malaisiens nous verrons comment, par le biais des hiérarchies de genre, de classe et de "race", les acteurs occidentaux et orientaux tentent de revaloriser leur capital économique, culturel, social et symbolique. Si en Thaïlande les femmes issues des classes défavorisées peuvent espérer une certaine assurance financière, dans le pays voisin les femmes d'un milieu aisé souhaitent accéder à davantage de liberté face à l'emprise de la culture locale. Ce désir de l'autre cache souvent chez les Occidentaux un rejet des dites "valeurs occidentales", notamment l'égalité des sexes, et une volonté de retour vers des valeurs considérées "stables", "traditionnelles" et "hiérarchisées".

Con el desarrollo de los intercambios globalizados, las interacciones sexuales y/o amorosas entre el Occidente y los países en desarrollo se tornan más frecuentes. Por medio de los estudios comparativos de las relaciones entre Occidentales y Tailandesas o Malayas vemos como, por la perspectiva de las jerarquías de genero, de clase y de “raza”, lo actores occidentales y orientales tienden a valorar sus capitales económicos, culturales, sociales y simbólicos. Si en Tailandia las mujeres oriundas de las clases desfavorecidas pueden esperar una cierta seguridad financiera, en el país vecino, las mujeres de las clases abastadas desean el acceso a la libertad frente a la cultura y de la religión locales. Este deseo por el otro esconde, frecuentemente, por parte de los Occidentales un rechazo de los dichos “valores occidentales”, particularmente a la igualdad entre los sexos, y una voluntad de retornar a valores considerados más “estables”, “tradicionales” y "jerárquicos”. Vemos así como las interacciones amorosas globalizadas son un instrumento de valorización de diferentes maneras de capital, no sentido de Bourdieu, y una manera de redefinir las jerarquías sociales.

Influences on the Knowledge and Beliefs of Ordinary People about Developmental Hierarchies.

This paper is motivated by the idea that development and developmental hierarchies have been constructed and embraced for centuries by scholars and policy makers, and have been disseminated among ordinary people. Recent research shows that most people have constructions of development hierarchies that are similar across countries. In this paper, we extend this research by examining how basic social factors influence ordinary people´s beliefs about development and developmental hierarchies in six countries: Argentina, China, Egypt, Iran, Nepal and the United States. Results show that the understanding and perception of developmental hierarchies vary by gender and education. These results are important because they show how distinct groups of people have differential access to information or ideas.

Heidegger, Ostasien und Technologie / Heidegger, the East and Technology / Heidegger, Oriente e Tecnologia

Heidegger hat sich in seinem späten Werk mit der planetarischen Hegemonie der modernen Technik beschäftigt, die immer einschneidender an der Definition unserer Gewohnheiten, Sprache und an den Horizonten der Erwartungen teilnimmt. Neben der Wiederaufnahme der metaphysischen Wege, die die Welt verwestlicht haben, und neben des In Frage Stellens der Essenz der derzeitigen Herrschaft, hat sich Heidegger einigen Nischen der Andersartigkeit zugewendet, die in der Lage sind, den Boden der technischen Objektivierung zum Beispiel für den Dialog mit einer bestimmten östlichen Andersartigkeit zu nähren. Genau in dieser Schwierigkeit sah er ein Versprechen. Eine grundlegende Frage: wenn sich, geopolitisch gesehen, der östliche Teil an sich letztendlich verwestlicht hat, wie könnte uns dann die von Heidegger in Frage gestellte östliche Andersartigkeit inmitten des technologischen Imperiums und mit der ihr eigenen Geschwindigkeit und Bestimungen die wahre Kraft der Verwandlung bieten?.

In his later work, Heidegger discussed the global hegemony of modern technology, which has become increasingly incisive in the definition of our habits, language and horizons of expectation. In addition to revisit the metaphysical paths that westernized the world and to question the essence of the current domination, Heidegger also turned to some niches of alterity capable of irrigating the soil of technical reification, e.g., for the dialogue with some oriental alterity. It was precisely in the difficulty of this dialogue that he saw a promise. Bottom line: if the East itself, geopolitically speaking, eventually became westernized, how, amid the empire of technology, with its speed and peculiar framework, the eastern alterity interrogated by Heidegger could possibly offer us genuine sap of transformation?.

Heidegger ocupou-se, em sua obra tardia, com a hegemonia planetária da técnica moderna, cada vez mais incisiva na definição dos nossos hábitos, linguagem e horizontes de expectativa. Além de repisar os caminhos metafísicos que ocidentalizaram o mundo, e de questionar a essência da atual dominação, voltou-se para alguns nichos de alteridade, capazes de irrigar o solo da objetificação técnica, por exemplo, para o diálogo com certa alteridade oriental. Precisamente na dificuldade desse diálogo ele enxergava uma promessa. Questão de fundo: se o próprio Oriente, geopoliticamente falando, acabou se ocidentalizando, de que modo, em meio ao império da tecnologia, com sua velocidade e enquadramento peculiares, a alteridade oriental interrogada por Heidegger poderia nos oferecer genuína seiva de transformação?.

Heidegger, Ostasien und Technologie / Heidegger, Oriente e Tecnologia / Heidegger, the East and Technology

Heidegger hat sich in seinem spãten Werk mit der planetarischen Hegemonie der modernen Technik beschãftigt, die immer einschneidender an der Definition unserer Gewohnheiten, Sprache und an den Horizonten der Erwartungen teilnimmt. Neben der Wiederaufnahme der metaphysischen Wege, die die Welt verwestlicht haben, und neben des In Frage Stellens der Essenz der derzeitigen Herrschaft, hat sich Heidegger einigen Nischen der Andersartigkeit zugewendet, die in der Lage sind, den Boden der technischen Objektivierung zum Beispiel für den Dialog mit einer bestimmten õstlichen Andersartigkeit zu nãhren. Genau in dieser Schwierigkeit sah er ein Versprechen. Eine grundlegende Frage: wenn sich, geopolitisch gesehen, der õstliche Teil an sich letztendlich verwestlicht hat, wie kõnnte uns dann die von Heidegger in Frage gestellte õstliche Andersartigkeit inmitten des technologischen Imperiums und mit der ihr eigenen Geschwindigkeit und Bestimungen die wahre Kraft der Verwandlung bieten?(AU)

In his later work, Heidegger discussed the global hegemony of modern technology, which has become increasingly incisive in the definition of our habits, language and horizons of expectation. In addition to revisit the metaphysical paths that westernized the world and to question the essence of the current domination, Heidegger also turned to some niches of alterity capable of irrigating the soil of technical reification, e.g., for the dialogue with some oriental alterity. It was precisely in the difficulty of this dialogue that he saw a promise. Bottom line: if the East itself, geopolitically speaking, eventually became westernized, how, amid the empire of technology, with its speed and peculiar framework, the eastern alterity interrogated by Heidegger could possibly offer us genuine sap of transformation?(AU)

Heidegger ocupou-se, em sua obra tardia, com a hegemonia planetária da técnica moderna, cada vez mais incisiva na definição dos nossos hábitos, linguagem e horizontes de expectativa. Além de repisar os caminhos metafísicos que ocidentalizaram o mundo, e de questionar a essência da atual dominação, voltou-se para alguns nichos de alteridade, capazes de irrigar o solo da objetificação técnica, por exemplo, para o diálogo com certa alteridade oriental. Precisamente na dificuldade desse diálogo ele enxergava uma promessa. Questão de fundo: se o próprio Oriente, geopoliticamente falando, acabou se ocidentalizando, de que modo, em meio ao império da tecnologia, com sua velocidade e enquadramento peculiares, a alteridade oriental interrogada por Heidegger poderia nos oferecer genuína seiva de transformação?(AU)

Contibuições multifacetadas: trabalhadores da saúde e a erradicação da varíola na Índia / Multifaceted contributions: health workers and smallpox eradication in India

A erradicação da varíola no Sul da Ásia resultou dos múltiplos esforços de trabalhadores da saúde de vários níveis. Trabalhando a partir do interior de organizações internacionais e estruturas governamentais, o papel dos funcionários de campo, originários de várias nacionalidades e também provenientes de cidades e enclaves rurais dos países dessas regiões, foi crucial para o desenvolvimento e a distribuição de planos de ação. Entretanto, o papel desses funcionários é geralmente minimizado em histórias oficiais e acadêmicas que ressaltam, ao invés, os papéis desempenhados por um reduzido número de funcionários seniores dentro da Organização Mundial da Saúde e dos governos federais do subcontinente. Este artigo busca oferecer uma avaliação mais integral da complexa situação da erradicação da varíola. Nesse sentido, faz-se um esforço para sublinhar a grande utilidade da flexibilidade operacional apresentada pelos funcionários de campo, na qual as lições aprendidas no trabalho de campo tornaram-se parte integrante da distribuição de campanhas locais. Uma importante característica foi o cuidadoso engajamento com as comunidades-alvo, bem como a contratação por curtos períodos de pessoal dessas mesmas comunidades.

Smallpox eradication in South Asia was a result of the efforts of many grades of health-workers. Working from within the confines of international organisations and government structures, the role of the field officials, who were of various nationalities and also drawn from the cities and rural enclaves of the countries in these regions, was crucial to the development and deployment of policies. However, the role of these personnel is often downplayed in official histories and academic histories, which highlight instead the roles played by a handful of senior officials within the World Health Organization and the federal governments in the sub-continent. This article attempts to provide a more rounded assessment of the complex situation in the field. In this regard, an effort is made to underline the great usefulness of the operational flexibility displayed by field officers, wherein lessons learnt in the field were made an integral part of deploying local campaigns; careful engagement with the communities being targeted, as well as the employment of short term workers from amongst them, was an important feature of this work.