Excess mortality in Europe coincides with peaks of COVID-19, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), November 2023 to February 2024.

Since the end of November 2023, the European Mortality Monitoring Network (EuroMOMO) has observed excess mortality in Europe. During weeks 48 2023-6 2024, preliminary results show a substantially increased rate of 95.3 (95% CI:  91.7-98.9) excess all-cause deaths per 100,000 person-years for all ages. This excess mortality is seen in adults aged 45 years and older, and coincides with widespread presence of COVID-19, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) observed in many European countries during the 2023/24 winter season.

Investigation of the association between lithium levels in drinking water and suicide mortality in Hungary.

BACKGROUND: In recent decades, a series of ecological studies from various countries have attempted to reveal whether there is an association between trace amounts of lithium in drinking water and suicide mortality. With some notable exceptions, results have indicated that there is an inverse association between these two variables. Since Hungary had extremely high rates of suicide with a persistent spatial pattern, we consider that our country is ideal to investigate this research question. METHODS: We carried out our research on Hungarian data at the level of districts (n = 197). The dependent variable was the age- and gender-standardized mortality ratio for suicide (sSMR). Our main explanatory variable was the tap water lithium level (Li) from public drinking water supply systems using their own water source (n = 1 325). Those data, which give full national coverage, were aggregated to the level of districts. Confounding factors were religiosity, alcohol consumption and income. Various regression models were used for statistical calculations. RESULTS: Findings from our most appropriate regression model - adjusted for relevant confounding variables and able to handle spatial autocorrelation and heteroscedasticity - suggest a significant (p < 0.05) and a trend-like (p < 0.1) negative association between Li and sSMR in the total population and among males, respectively. However, such an association was not found between these two variables among females. CONCLUSION: In line with the majority of findings from other countries, our results indicate that the intake of lithium with drinking water may have a gender-dependent suicide-protective effect.

Ahead of the second wave: Early warning for COVID-19 by wastewater surveillance in Hungary.

Wastewater based epidemiology is a potential early warning tool for the detection of COVID-19 outbreak. Sewage surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 RNA was introduced in Hungary after the successful containment of the first wave of the pandemic to forecast the resurge of infections. Three wastewater treatment plants servicing the entire population (1.8 million) of the capital, Budapest were sampled weekly. 24 h composite (n = 44) and grab samples (n = 21) were concentrated by an in-house flat sheet membrane ultrafiltration method. The efficiency and reproducibility of the method was comparable to those previously published. SARS-CoV-2 RNA was quantified using RT-qPCR of the N gene. The first positive signal in sewage was detected 2 weeks before the rise in case numbers. Viral concentration and volume-adjusted viral load correlated to the weekly new cases from the same week and the rolling 7-day average of active cases in the subsequent week. The correlation was more pronounced in the ascending phase of the outbreak, data was divergent once case numbers plateaued. Wastewater surveillance was found to be effective in predicting the second wave of the outbreak in Hungary. Data indicated that even relatively low frequency (weekly) sampling is useful and at the same time, cost effective tool in outbreak detection.

Impacts of long-term ragweed pollen load and other potential risk factors on ragweed pollen allergy among schoolchildren in Hungary.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Hungary is one of the areas in Europe most infected with ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.) and its pollen, and is the most important cause of seasonal allergic rhinoconjunctivitis in the country. The aim of the study was to investigate the association between ragweed pollen allergy and long-term ragweed pollen load, as well as analysis of the the impacts of additional potential risk factors on health outcomes. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A modified version of standardized questionnaires, based on the International Study of Asthma and Allergy in Childhood, were completed by the parents of schoolchildren aged 8 - 9 attending 3rd grade classes throughout the country. Pollen load was calculated for each settlement from daily ragweed pollen concentrations monitored by 19 monitoring stations in the country. Descriptive and analytical statistical methods were applied. RESULTS: At national level there was a significant inverse association between prevalence of ragweed allergy and its pollen load, but significance was lost after excluding data from Budapest, the capital city, due to the impact of urbanization. In the adjusted model, parental atopic disease was the strongest risk factor (either parent had atopic disease aOR=2.60; 95% CI=2.31-2.93 or both parents had atopic disease aOR=4.56; 95% CI=3.71-5.60). Further significant risk factors were male gender (aOR=1.52; 95% CI=1.36-1.71), lower respiratory infection in the first two years of life (aOR=1.91; 95% CI=1.70-2.16), and unshared children's room (aOR=1.22; 95% CI=1.09-1.37). Allergy was significantly less common among children whose parents received social aid (aOR=0.83; 95% CI=0.72-0.97) and whose mother smoked during pregnancy (aOR=0.80; 95% CI=0.64-0.99). CONCLUSIONS: Higher ragweed pollen exposure was not found to be associated with higher risk of ragweed allergy.

[Regional differences of mortality from malignancies in Hungary]. / A daganatos halálozás területi különbségei Magyarországon.

INTRODUCTION: The mortality of the Hungarian population is very unfavourable in relation to other European countries. Mortality from malignant diseases is the second most frequent cause of death in both sexes. The most frequent localisation of cancer is that of the bronchi and the lungs, followed by colorectal, breast and oral cavity cancers. AIM: Of the publication was to demonstrate the spatial distribution of mortality from malignant diseases of all sites, bronchi and the lungs, as well as mortality from cancer of the thyroid gland and leukaemias, and to evaluate the possible impact of the Chernobyl nuclear accident on the frequency of cancer mortality. METHOD: The spatial distribution of mortality in the country is evaluated by computing standardized mortality ratio on settlement level, using geographical information system. In case of frequent mortality events a region analysis was carried out, in the opposite case--a cluster analysis. RESULTS: Regarding the spatial distribution of mortality from all malignant diseases of 0-64 year-old males there are regions with excess mortality in almost each county. In case of women of this age group, there is a significantly higher mortality in Budapest, in three counties in the Eastern part of the country, and in some settlements in Transdanubia. Mortality from the cancer of the bronchi and the lungs significantly accumulates in both sexes in four counties in Eastern Hungary. Mortality from cancer of the thyroid gland and leukaemias does not show typical spatial accumulation as well. CONCLUSIONS: The premature mortality from all malignant diseases and of cancer of the bronchi and lungs of the Hungarian male and female population shows an increasing tendency. Mortality from the latter cause shows a typical spatial accumulation, which causes should be investigated in analytical epidemiological studies. The potential causative role of the Chernobyl accident could not be proven in any case.