Old trees are perceived as a valuable element of the municipal forest landscape.

Urban trees are important to maintain biodiversity and, therefore, need public acceptance. Few studies, however, have addressed the topic of social acceptability of old trees. The aim of this research was to examine city residents' perception of old trees, including hollow-bearing ones, mainly in the aspect of safety and aesthetics. A total of 448 Warsaw municipal forest' users expressed their opinions by completing an online questionnaire. Several methods were used to analyse the results of the study: the Chi-square test of independence, the Kruskal-Wallis H test, the Mann-Whitney U test and the Quartimax method of factor rotation analysis. The results revealed a correlation between the frequency of forest visits and the level of sensitivity toward old trees, which translates to less radical notion of danger and less radical decisions about cutting such trees down. Age of the respondents (56+) was a factor contributing to higher willingness to protect and care for old trees. The results also indicated that outdoor activity in the urban forest may increase ancient trees acceptance by developing emotional connection with them, and eventually contribute to their protection.

[Meningitis and encephalitis in Poland in 2007]. / Zapalenia opon mózgowo-rdzeniowych i zapalenia mózgu w Polsce w 2007 roku.

In Poland, 3,361 cases of neuroinfections were reported in 2007, of which 1,078 had bacterial etiology, 1,717--viral aetiology, and 566--other or unknown origin. The etiological agent was determined in 611 (57%) cases of bacterial neuroinfections. Among them N. meningitidis was found in 224 cases, H. influenzae type B (Hib) in 35 cases and S. pneumoniae in 161 cases. An increasing trend in meningococcal infections incidence has been observed in 2007, and a substantial decrease ofHib incidence, related to increasing vaccination coverage. Viral neuroinfections incidence in 2007 increased compared to year 2006. Among confirmed cases, there were 233 cases oftick-borne encephalitis. Most of the cases were reported from endemic areas of north-eastern part of the country.

[National IHR Focal Point]. / Krajowy Punkt Centralny ds. Miedzynarodowych Przepisów Zdrowotnych.

Changing world and occurrence of new emerging disease and pathogens produce a great need of not only of a good laboratory and surveillance capacity but also good ways and channels of international communication. International Health Regulations (2005) oblige both WHO and state-parties to create a new elements in their surveillance and respond structures. To maintain a good communication in urgent situations WHO was oblige to designate a 6 WHO IHR Contacts Points in their Regional Offices and each country--IHR state-party had to designate or nominate National IHR Focal Point. This article describe functions and obligations of National IHR Focal Point with especially functionality of IHR NFP in Poland.

[Meningitis and encephalitis in Poland in 2006]. / Zapalenia opon mózgowo-rdzeniowych i zapalenia mózgu w 2006 roku.

In Poland, 3 693 cases of neuroinfections were reported in 2006, of which 989 had bacterial aetiology, 1 874--viral aetiology, and 512--other or unknown origin. The etiological agent was determined in 455 (46%) cases of bacterial neuroinfections. Among them Neisseria meningitidis was found in 148 cases, Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib) in 39 cases and Streptococcus pneumoniae in 119 cases. An increasing trend in meningococcal infections incidence has been observed in 2006, and a substantial decrease of Hib incidence, related to increasing vaccination coverage. Viral neuroinfections incidence in 2006 increased compared to year 2005. Etiological factors of central nervous system aseptic infections were established only in minor proportion of cases--3% of meningitis and 20% of encephalitis. Among confirmed cases, there were 317 cases of tick-borne encephalitis and 31 cases of herpetic encephalitis. Tick borne encephalitis incidence increased in 2006 (0.83), compared to 2004 - 2005. Most of the cases were reported from endemic areas of north-eastern part of the country.

[The surveillance of communicable diseases within the International Health Regulations (2005)]. / Nadzór nad chorobami zakaznymi w swietle Miedzynarodowych Przepisów Zdrowotnych (2005).

On the 15th of June 2007 entered into force the International Health Regulations entered into force with are the revision previous Health Regulations from 1969. The IHR (2005) were adopted on 58 World Health Assembly by WHO member-states. The new Regulations give a new opportunity and tools to protect and control of infections diseases. Because of a broad scope, IHR (2005) are also useful in detection of any event that may constitute a public health risk. The key terms as defined by IHR (2005) are: term of event, disease, public health risk (PHR), public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC), National IHR Focal Point and WHO IHR Contact Point. By new requirements State-Parties are involve in real time event management, they are also oblige to asses the event risk according to decision instrument in Annex 2 of IHR (2005). This article reviews the key obligations of IHR (2005) to both member-states and WHO and also the ways of emergence communications under this document.

[The prophylaxis of communicable diseases in points of entry under the International Health Regulations (2005)]. / Profilaktyka chorób zakaznych w punktach wejscia wedlug Miedzynarodowych Przepisów Zdrowotnych (2005).

The International Health Regulations (2005), which entered into force in June 2007, provide guidelines and recommendations to establish core capacities not only in communicable disease surveillance but also in preparedness and response to every, even unpredictable, public health emergencies. The points of entry are the trouble spot in the spread of diseases through international traffic. Noteworthy is fact that under IHR (2005) the point of entry is understand as a passage of international flow of travellers, baggage, cargo, containers, conveyances, goods and also postal parcels. The proper control and prophylaxis actions may mineralize or stop an international spreading of disease. That is why WHO puts an effort to help State-Parties to strengthen their national surveillance systems and develop core capacities in preparedness and response in points of entry. In the article the author gives examples of prophylaxis of communicable diseases in points of entry according to IHR (2005) recommendations.