Wastewater Surveillance for Identifying SARS-CoV-2 Infections in Long-Term Care Facilities, Kentucky, USA, 2021-2022.

Persons living in long-term care facilities (LTCFs) were disproportionately affected by COVID-19. We used wastewater surveillance to detect SARS-CoV-2 infection in this setting by collecting and testing 24-hour composite wastewater samples 2-4 times weekly at 6 LTCFs in Kentucky, USA, during March 2021-February 2022. The LTCFs routinely tested staff and symptomatic and exposed residents for SARS-CoV-2 using rapid antigen tests. Of 780 wastewater samples analyzed, 22% (n = 173) had detectable SARS-CoV-2 RNA. The LTCFs reported 161 positive (of 16,905) SARS-CoV-2 clinical tests. The wastewater SARS-CoV-2 signal showed variable correlation with clinical test data; we observed the strongest correlations in the LTCFs with the most positive clinical tests (n = 45 and n = 58). Wastewater surveillance was 48% sensitive and 80% specific in identifying SARS-CoV-2 infections found on clinical testing, which was limited by frequency, coverage, and rapid antigen test performance.

Omicron COVID-19 Case Estimates Based on Previous SARS-CoV-2 Wastewater Load, Regional Municipality of Peel, Ontario, Canada.

We determined correlations between SARS-CoV-2 load in untreated water and COVID-19 cases and patient hospitalizations before the Omicron variant (September 2020-November 2021) at 2 wastewater treatment plants in the Regional Municipality of Peel, Ontario, Canada. Using pre-Omicron correlations, we estimated incident COVID-19 cases during Omicron outbreaks (November 2021-June 2022). The strongest correlation between wastewater SARS-CoV-2 load and COVID-19 cases occurred 1 day after sampling (r = 0.911). The strongest correlation between wastewater load and COVID-19 patient hospitalizations occurred 4 days after sampling (r = 0.819). At the peak of the Omicron BA.2 outbreak in April 2022, reported COVID-19 cases were underestimated 19-fold because of changes in clinical testing. Wastewater data provided information for local decision-making and are a useful component of COVID-19 surveillance systems.

COVID-19 Mortality in Public Hospitals in a Brazilian State: An Analysis of the Three Waves of the Pandemic.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze COVID-19 deaths in public hospitals in a Brazilian state, stratified by the three waves of the pandemic, and to test their association with socio-clinical variables. METHODS: Observational analytical study, where 5436 deaths by COVID-19 occurred in hospitals of the public network of Espírito Santo, between 1 April 2020, and 31 August 2021, stratified by the three waves of the pandemic, were analyzed. For the bivariate analyses, the Pearson's chi-square, Fisher's Exact or Friedman's tests were performed depending on the Gaussian or non-Gaussian distribution of the data. For the relationship between time from diagnosis to death in each wave, quantile regression was used, and multinomial regression for multiple analyses. RESULTS: The mean time between diagnosis and death was 18.5 days in the first wave, 20.5 days in the second wave, and 21.4 days in the third wave. In the first wave, deaths in public hospitals were associated with the following variables: immunodeficiency, obesity, neoplasia, and origin. In the second wave, deaths were associated with education, O2 saturation < 95%, chronic neurological disease, and origin. In the third wave, deaths were associated with race/color, education, difficulty breathing, nasal or conjunctival congestion, irritability or confusion, adynamia or weakness, chronic cardiovascular disease, neoplasms, and diabetes mellitus. Origin was associated with the outcome in the three waves of the pandemic, in the same way that education was in the second and third waves (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The time interval between diagnosis and death can be impacted by several factors, such as: plasticity of the health system, improved clinical management of patients, and the start of vaccination at the end of January 2021, which covered the age group with the higher incidence of deaths. The deaths occurring in public hospitals were associated with socio-clinical characteristics.

A policy review of the introduction of the MenACWY vaccine in toddlers across multiple countries.

INTRODUCTION: Immunization is the best strategy to protect individuals from invasive meningococcal disease (IMD). To support decision-making around immunization, this paper considers what has led four countries and regions of two more to introduce the quadrivalent MenACWY vaccine in toddlers (ages 12-24 months). AREAS COVERED: A narrative literature review was conducted to identify countries that have introduced a MenACWY vaccination program for toddlers. Information from peer-reviewed publications, reports, and policy documents for each identified country was extracted. Australia, Chile, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and regions of Italy and Spain have introduced the MenACWY vaccine in their toddler programs, driven by the rising incidence of MenW and MenY and the vaccine's ability to provide protection against other serogroups. Australia and the Netherlands considered the economic impacts of implementing a MenACWY toddler vaccination program. Vaccination uptake and effects are reported for three countries; however, in two, isolating the vaccine's effect from the collateral effect of COVID-related measures is difficult. EXPERT OPINION: Increased convergence of vaccination policies and programs is needed internationally, as IMD recognizes no borders.PL AIN LANGUAGE SUMMARYVaccination is the best defense against meningitis, a deadly disease. While someone of any age can contract it, children 0-24 months of age are disproportionately affected. The increasing number of cases of meningitis has led four countries plus regions of two more to introduce into their vaccination schedules for toddlers (ages 12-24 months) a vaccine that protects against four different serogroups rather than one serogroup alone. This paper considers what has driven that shift.

Epidemiology Surveillance and Capacity Improvement: A Characterization of Texas, 2017.

OBJECTIVES: In response to increasing caseloads of foodborne illnesses and high consequence infectious disease investigations, the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) requested funding from the Texas Legislature in 2013 and 2015 for a new state-funded epidemiologist (SFE) program. METHODS: Primary cross-sectional survey data were collected from 32 of 40 local health departments (LHDs) via an online instrument and analyzed to quantify roles, responsibilities, and training of epidemiologists in Texas in 2017 and compared to similar state health department assessments. RESULTS: Sixty-six percent of SFEs had epidemiology-specific training (eg, master's in public health) compared to 45% in state health department estimates. For LHDs included in this study, the mean number of epidemiologists per 100 000 was 0.73 in medium LHDs and 0.46 in large LHDs. SFE positions make up approximately 40% of the LHD epidemiology workforce of all sizes and 56% of medium-sized LHD epidemiology staff in Texas specifically. CONCLUSIONS: Through this program, DSHS increased epidemiology capacity almost twofold from 0.28 to 0.47 epidemiologists per 100 000 people. These findings suggest that capacity funding programs like this improve epidemiology capacity in local jurisdictions and should be considered in other regions to improve general public health preparedness and epidemiology capacity.

Capacidad potencial de un centro coordinador de urgencias y emergencias para predecir ingresos hospitalarios y en unidades de cuidados intensivos por COVID-19 / Potential capacity of an emergency dispatch center to predict COVID-19–related hospital and intensive care unit admissions

Objetiv: Analizar la asociación entre la demanda asistencial percibida en el Centro Coordinador de Urgencias y Emergencias (CCUE) de Castilla La Mancha (CLM) y los ingresos hospitalarios y en unidades de cuidados intensivos (UCI) por COVID-19, así como sus características temporales, para valorar la potencial aplicación como herramienta predictiva de ingresos por COVID-19. Método: Estudio observacional retrospectivo de las llamadas diarias realizadas al CCUE de CLM entre el 1 de marzo y el 14 de octubre de 2020. Se analizaron los códigos “diarrea”, “disnea”, “fiebre” y “malestar general” que fueron usados como variables predictoras, y su relación con los ingresos hospitalarios y en UCI. Resultados: A través del 112 se recibieron 831.943 llamadas (máximo el 13 de marzo: 10.582 llamadas). En la línea 900 fueron 208.803 llamadas (máximo el 15 de marzo: 23.744 llamadas). Se encontró una relación estadísticamente significativa entre los códigos de regulación estudiados y el número de llamadas con los ingresos hospitalarios y en UCI, con una capacidad predictora de 2 semanas en relación a los picos de ocupación. Los códigos con mayor relación fueron “malestar general” y “diarrea”. Conclusiones: Se encontró una asociación entre el número de llamadas a un CCUE por disnea, fiebre, malestar general y diarrea y el número de llamadas con los ingresos hospitalarios y en UCI por COVID-19 con una antelación de 2 semanas, principalmente por malestar general y diarrea. El diseño de sistemas expertos predictivos y su automatización mediante inteligencia artificial podría formar parte de los programas de preparación, planificación y anticipación de los sistemas de salud ante futuras pandemias.

Objectives: To analyze the association between the perceived care demand in the emergency call center of Castilla La Mancha (and hospital and ICU admissions for COVID-19, as well as their temporal characteristics, to explore its potential capacity as a predictive tool for COVID hospital admissions. Material and methods: Retrospective observational study on the daily calls made to the emergency call center of Castilla La Mancha, both calls to 112 and those made to COVID line, in the period between March 1 and October 14, 2020. The data were analyzed by codes "diarrhea", "dyspnea", "fever" and "general discomfort" that were used as predictor variables, and their relationship with hospital admissions and ICU admissions. Results: A total of 831,943 calls were received at the CLM emergency call center through 112, with a maximum on March 13, 2020 with 10,582 calls. On COVID line, a total of 208,803 calls were received in that period, with a maximum on March 15 with 23,744. A statistically significant relationship was found between the regulation codes studied (specific symptoms) and the number of calls with hospital admissions and ICU admissions, with a predictive capacity of 2 weeks in relation to occupancy peaks. The codes with the greatest relationship were "general malaise" and "diarrhea". Conclusion: We have found an association between the number of calls to a CCUE due to dyspnea, fever, general discomfort, diarrhea and the number of calls with hospital admissions and ICU for COVID-SARS-2 2 weeks in advance, mainly due to general discomfort and diarrhea. The design of predictive expert systems and their automation using artificial intelligence could be part of the preparation, planning and anticipation programs of health systems in the near future in the event of future pandemics. (AU)

Potential capacity of an emergency dispatch center to predict COVID-19-related hospital and intensive care unit admissions. / Capacidad potencial de un centro coordinador de urgencias y emergencias para predecir ingresos hospitalarios y en unidades de cuidados intensivos por COVID-19.

OBJECTIVES: To analyze the association between the perceived care demand in the emergency call center of Castilla La Mancha (and hospital and ICU admissions for COVID-19, as well as their temporal characteristics, to explore its potential capacity as a predictive tool for COVID hospital admissions. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective observational study on the daily calls made to the emergency call center of Castilla La Mancha, both calls to 112 and those made to COVID line, in the period between March 1 and October 14, 2020. The data were analyzed by codes "diarrhea", "dyspnea", "fever" and "general discomfort" that were used as predictor variables, and their relationship with hospital admissions and ICU admissions. RESULTS: A total of 831,943 calls were received at the CLM emergency call center through 112, with a maximum on March 13, 2020 with 10,582 calls. On COVID line, a total of 208,803 calls were received in that period, with a maximum on March 15 with 23,744. A statistically significant relationship was found between the regulation codes studied (specific symptoms) and the number of calls with hospital admissions and ICU admissions, with a predictive capacity of 2 weeks in relation to occupancy peaks. The codes with the greatest relationship were "general malaise" and "diarrhea". CONCLUSION: We have found an association between the number of calls to a CCUE due to dyspnea, fever, general discomfort, diarrhea and the number of calls with hospital admissions and ICU for COVID-SARS-2 2 weeks in advance, mainly due to general discomfort and diarrhea. The design of predictive expert systems and their automation using artificial intelligence could be part of the preparation, planning and anticipation programs of health systems in the near future in the event of future pandemics.

OBJETIVO: Analizar la asociación entre la demanda asistencial percibida en el Centro Coordinador de Urgencias y Emergencias (CCUE) de Castilla La Mancha (CLM) y los ingresos hospitalarios y en unidades de cuidados intensivos (UCI) por COVID-19, así como sus características temporales, para valorar la potencial aplicación como herramienta predictiva de ingresos por COVID-19. METODO: Estudio observacional retrospectivo de las llamadas diarias realizadas al CCUE de CLM entre el 1 de marzo y el 14 de octubre de 2020. Se analizaron los códigos "diarrea", "disnea", "fiebre" y "malestar general" que fueron usados como variables predictoras, y su relación con los ingresos hospitalarios y en UCI. RESULTADOS: A través del 112 se recibieron 831.943 llamadas (máximo el 13 de marzo: 10.582 llamadas). En la línea 900 fueron 208.803 llamadas (máximo el 15 de marzo: 23.744 llamadas). Se encontró una relación estadísticamente significativa entre los códigos de regulación estudiados y el número de llamadas con los ingresos hospitalarios y en UCI, con una capacidad predictora de 2 semanas en relación a los picos de ocupación. Los códigos con mayor relación fueron "malestar general" y "diarrea". CONCLUSIONES: Se encontró una asociación entre el número de llamadas a un CCUE por disnea, fiebre, malestar general y diarrea y el número de llamadas con los ingresos hospitalarios y en UCI por COVID-19 con una antelación de 2 semanas, principalmente por malestar general y diarrea. El diseño de sistemas expertos predictivos y su automatización mediante inteligencia artificial podría formar parte de los programas de preparación, planificación y anticipación de los sistemas de salud ante futuras pandemias.

Methodologies to measure the coverage of vitamin A supplementation: a systematic review.

Countries are increasingly transitioning from event-based vitamin A supplementation (VAS) distribution to delivery through routine health system contacts, shifting also to administrative, electronic-based monitoring tools, a process that brings certain limitations affecting the quality of administrative VAS coverage. At present, there is no standardised methodology for measuring the coverage of VAS delivered through routine health services. To address this gap, we conducted a systematic review of the literature to identify and recommend methods to measure VAS coverage, with the aim of providing guidance to countries on the collection of consistent data for planning, monitoring and evaluating VAS programmes integrated into routine health systems. We searched the PubMed®, Embase®, Scopus, Google Scholar and World Health Organization (WHO) Global Index Medicus databases for studies published from 1 January 2000 to 1 January 2021, reporting original data on VAS coverage and methodologies used for measurement. We screened 2371 original titles and abstracts, assessed twenty-seven full-text articles and ultimately included eighteen studies. All but two studies used a coverage cluster survey (CCS) design to measure VAS coverage, adapting the WHO Vaccination Coverage Cluster Surveys methodology, by modifying sample size and sampling parameters. Annual two-dose VAS coverage was reported from only four studies. Until electronic-based systems to collect and analyse VAS data are equipped to measure routine two-dose VAS coverage using administrative data, CCSs that comply with the 2018 WHO Vaccination Coverage Cluster Surveys Reference Manual represent the gold-standard method for effective VAS programme monitoring.

Impact of Human Papillomavirus Vaccination, Rwanda and Bhutan.

Rwanda and Bhutan, 2 low- and middle-income countries, implemented primarily school-based national human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination in 2011 (Rwanda) and 2010 (Bhutan). We estimated vaccination effectiveness through urine-based HPV prevalence surveys in schools in 2013-2014 and 2017. In Rwanda, 912 participants from baseline surveys and 1,087 from repeat surveys were included, and in Bhutan, 973 participants from baseline surveys and 909 from repeat surveys were included. The overall effectiveness against vaccine-targeted HPV types (i.e., HPV-6/11/16/18) was 78% (95% CI 51%-90%) in Rwanda, and 88% (6%-99%) in Bhutan and against other α-9 types was 58% (21-78) in Rwanda and 63% (27-82) in Bhutan. No effect against other HPV types was detectable. Prevalence of vaccine-targeted HPV types decreased significantly, as well as that of other α-9 types, suggesting cross-protection. These findings provide direct evidence from low- and middle-income countries of the marked effectiveness of high-coverage school-based, national HPV vaccination programs.

Crónica de una pandemia anunciada: caso Santander (Parte 1) / Chronicle of a pandemic foretold: Santander case (Part 1)

Resumen Introducción: la pandemia de COVID-19 llegó al departamento de Santander el 17 de marzo de 2020; los primeros casos fueron importados y relacionados, manteniendo una baja ocurrencia generalizada hasta finales de mayo. Desde ese momento empiezan a aumentar los casos de manera rápida, consecuencia de la flexibilización laboral de mitad de mayo y el desconfinamiento desde el 1 de junio. Se tiene como objetivo generar un insumo a los tomadores de decisiones en el mejoramiento de la respuesta a la pandemia Materiales y métodos: se realizó un análisis del comportamiento de la pandemia por COVID-19 en Santander, a partir de datos de registros oficiales y análisis de efectos colaterales desde la visión de la salud pública y un enfoque de Una Salud. Resultados: Se comienzan a evidenciar los efectos colaterales de la pandemia que no afectan únicamente al sector salud. Aún no se conocen las consecuencias del día sin IVA (19 de junio) en la ocurrencia de infectados. Una evaluación preliminar de la respuesta gubernamental en Santander sugiere falta de preparación; es notoria la disminuida capacidad de vigilancia en salud pública, en epidemiología de campo y capacidad diagnóstica, incapacidad de aumentar el número de unidades de cuidado intensivo, inadecuada comunicación con la sociedad, limitada capacidad de acción de las comunidades y falta de claridad en el manejo intersectorial de las diversas manifestaciones y efectos colaterales de la pandemia. Discusión: con base en el análisis, a comienzos de julio 2020 el panorama de respuesta a la pandemia es desalentador en Santander.

Abstract Introduction: the COVID-19 pandemic reached Santander on March 17, 2020. The first cases were imported and related, keeping a low occurrence in general, until the end of May. Since then the cases increased rapidly, consequence of the occupational flexibilization of mid-May and the lack of confinement since June 1. The objective of the study is to provide supplies to decision-makers to improve the response to the pandemic. Materials and methods: An analysis of the behavior of the COVID-19 pandemic in Santander was carried out, using data from official records and analysis of side effects from the public health perspective and a One Health approach. Results: the side effects of the pandemic that do not only affect the health sector are beginning to be evident. The consequences of the day without VAT (June 19) on the occurrence of infected people are still unknown. A preliminary evaluation of the government response in Santander suggests lack of preparation; It is evident the diminished capacity for surveillance in public health, field epidemiology and diagnostic capacity, inability to increase the number of intensive care units, inadequate communication with community, limited capacity for community action, and lack of clarity in intersectoral management of the various manifestations and side effects of the pandemic. Discussion: based on the analysis, in July 2020 the panorama of response to the pandemic is discouraging in Santander.

What is the best indicator of the harmful use of alcohol? A narrative review.

ISSUES: The monitoring of the harmful use of alcohol is a key focus of global health efforts, including the Sustainable Development Goals. The current indicator of harmful alcohol use for Sustainable Development Goals is the national adult (15+ years) alcohol per capita consumption (APC) in litres of pure alcohol. Recently, the age-standardised prevalence of heavy episodic drinking (HED) has been advanced as an alternative indicator. APPROACH: This narrative review is composed of a review of advantages and disadvantages of both indicators and an empirical analysis of their associations with alcohol-attributable health harm. KEY FINDINGS: APC is greatly associated with harm and is available for almost all countries on a yearly basis as it is largely derived from routinely collected statistics. HED is based on responses to population surveys not routinely performed for most countries. These surveys commonly exclude heavy drinking populations (e.g. army personnel, institutionalised, homeless). Even when included within the sampling frame, heavy drinkers are less likely to participate than other groups. The questions used to measure HED are susceptible to biases due to issues with respondents' comprehension, recall and misreporting. Furthermore, in a regression analysis of 182 countries, APC was better at predicting alcohol-attributable harm than HED. APC was also correlated with changes in the alcohol-attributable burden of disease (from 2010 to 2016), while HED was not. IMPLICATIONS: Based on these factors, APC was found to be the preferred indicator. CONCLUSIONS: APC should be retained as the main indicator of the harmful use of alcohol.

Denominators Matter: Understanding Medical Encounter Frequency and Its Impact on Surveillance Estimates Using EHR Data.

BACKGROUND: There is scant guidance for defining what denominator to use when estimating disease prevalence via electronic health record (EHR) data. OBJECTIVES: Describe the intervals between medical encounters to inform the selection of denominators for population-level disease rates, and evaluate the impact of different denominators on the prevalence of chronic conditions. METHODS: We analyzed the EHRs of three practices in Massachusetts using the Electronic medical record Support for Public Health (ESP) system. We identified adult patients' first medical encounter per year (2011-2016) and counted days to next encounter. We estimated the prevalence of asthma, hypertension, obesity, and smoking using different denominators in 2016: ≥1 encounter in the past one year or two years and ≥2 encounters in the past one year or two years. RESULTS: In 2011-2016, 1,824,011 patients had 28,181,334 medical encounters. The median interval between encounters was 46, 56, and 66 days, depending on practice. Among patients with one visit in 2014, 82-84 percent had their next encounter within 1 year; 87-91 percent had their next encounter within two years. Increasing the encounter interval from one to two years increased the denominator by 23 percent. The prevalence of asthma, hypertension, and obesity increased with successively stricter denominators - e.g., the prevalence of obesity was 24.1 percent among those with ≥1 encounter in the past two years, 26.3 percent among those with ≥1 encounter in the last one year, and 28.5 percent among those with ≥2 encounters in the past one year. CONCLUSIONS: Prevalence estimates for chronic conditions can vary by >20 percent depending upon denominator. Understanding such differences will inform which denominator definition is best to be used for the need at hand.

Epidemiologic Trends, Global Shifts in Meningococcal Vaccination Guidelines, and Data Supporting the Use of MenACWY-TT Vaccine: A Review.

Neisseria meningitidis is a major cause of meningitis and septicemia with cases, outbreaks, and epidemics reported globally in industrialized and non-industrialized countries. N. meningitidis is categorized into 12 serogroups; however, only 5 serogroups (A, B, C, W, Y) are responsible for the majority of disease. Invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) occurs unpredictably; protection is therefore best achieved by initiating proactive vaccination strategies. Vaccines are currently available for the five main disease-causing serogroups. With the evolution of meningococcal vaccines and changes in IMD epidemiology, different vaccination strategies have been used. Recently, the rapid clonal expansion of meningococcal serogroup W (MenW) has been associated with a change in the national and regional vaccination recommendations from monovalent meningococcal serogroup C vaccines to meningococcal serogroup A, C, W, Y (MenACWY) vaccines in several countries. This review highlights these and other changes in IMD epidemiology and meningococcal vaccination recommendations, summarizes information available for currently available conjugate MenACWY vaccines, and focuses on clinical study data for the most recently approved MenACWY conjugate vaccine, MenACWY vaccine conjugated to tetanus toxoid (MenACWY-TT). MenACWY-TT studies spanned multiple age groups and generally demonstrated safety and immunogenicity in comparison with other meningococcal vaccines and under concomitant administration of other routine vaccines. Continuous updates to meningococcal vaccine recommendations in response to changing epidemiology, as have been undertaken for MenW, are necessary to ensure optimal population protection. FUNDING: Pfizer, Inc.

Multirecombinant Enterovirus A71 Subgenogroup C1 Isolates Associated with Neurologic Disease, France, 2016-2017.

In 2016, an upsurge of neurologic disease associated with infection with multirecombinant enterovirus A71 subgenogroup C1 lineage viruses was reported in France. These viruses emerged in the 2000s; 1 recombinant is widespread. This virus lineage has the potential to be associated with a long-term risk for severe disease among children.

Test-retest reliability of adolescents' self-reported physical activity item in two consecutive surveys.

BACKGROUND: National monitoring of school-aged physical activity (PA) behaviours is necessary to inform policy makers. The Finnish School-aged Physical Activity (FSPA - LIITU in Finnish) is a physical activity monitoring study, collecting data from young adolescents aged 11 to 15 years through a nationally representative sample. This study included a single self-reported item question on moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA) from the preceding seven days. The question is used widely in the WHO Collaborative Cross-National Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study as a measure of meeting international PA recommendations. This study evaluated the test-retest reliability of the aforementioned MVPA item in two consecutive surveys while observing gender and age categorisation differences. METHODS: In this study, Finnish adolescents with mean ages of 11.5y, 13.5y and 15.5y (n = 2752) completed the HBSC and FSPA surveys in two 45 min class periods without a break in 2014. The HBSC survey completion mode was through pen and paper, and the FSPA study through a web-based questionnaire. The same MVPA question appeared in both surveys. Response alternatives (0-7 days per week) were grouped into four, and two categories in the analyses. Cohen's Kappa and ICC statistics were performed to test the intra-rater test-retest reliability of the measure. RESULTS: According to Cohen's Kappa, there was moderate agreement through the use of four (0.503) and two (0.599) categories, however, the proportion of adolescents that met the recommended daily 60 min of MVPA was 8% lower in the FSPA study than in the HBSC study (19% vs 27%). In addition, ICC for MVPA, as continuous variable (0-7 days) had good to excellent reliability (range 0.694-0.765) for boys and girls aged 13 to 15 years, but only fair (0.565) for boys aged 11. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that single item MVPA item was considered to have acceptable reliability of the measure for monitoring purposes of 13- and 15-year old boys, and 11y-, 13- and 15y-old girls meeting the international PA recommendations. There were differences in the prevalence in daily MVPA due to survey design.

Prospective Whole-Genome Sequencing in Tuberculosis Outbreak Investigation, France, 2017-2018.

During June 2017-April 2018, active tuberculosis with Beijing SIT1 isolates was diagnosed in 14 persons living in 4 distant cities in France. Whole-genome sequencing indicated that these patients belonged to a single transmission chain. Whole-genome sequencing-based laboratory investigations enabled prompt tracing of linked cases to improve tuberculosis control.

Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus Antibodies in Roe Deer, the Netherlands.

To increase knowledge of tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) circulation in the Netherlands, we conducted serosurveillance in roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) during 2017 and compared results with those obtained during 2010. Results corroborate a more widespread occurrence of the virus in 2017. Additional precautionary public health measures have been taken.

[Mass gatherings: a systematic review of the literature on large events]. / Gestión de la atención médica en las reuniones masivas de personas (mass gatherings): revisión sistemática.

OBJECTIVES: We reviewed the literature on mass gatherings published worldwide to determine event types and topics or epidemiologic aspects covered. Articles using the term mass gatherings indexed in the Scopus database between 2000 and 2015 were reviewed. Of the 518 returned, we selected 96 with relevant information. The main event types studied were related to sports (46%), music (25%) or religious/social content (23%), and the most commonly studied locations were the United States (n=21), the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (n=17), Australia (n=11), and the United Kingdom (n=10). The four most often studied events were the Hajj (n=17), the Olympic games (n=13), World Youth Day (n=8), and the FIFA World Cup (n=6). The main topics studied were models of health care (n=55), health care evaluation by means of rates of patients presenting for care or transferred to hospitals (n=21), respiratory pathogens (n=18), syndromic surveillance (n=10), and the global spread of diseases (n=10). Mass gatherings are an emerging area of study addressed by various medical specialties that have focused on studying the health care models used at such events. Emergency medicine is particularly involved with this research topic.

OBJETIVO: Se revisa la gestión de las reuniones masivas de personas a nivel mundial con el propósito de conocer los eventos, temas y aspectos epidemiológicos abordados. Para ello, se realizó una búsqueda bibliográfica de los documentos que utilizaban el concepto "mass gathering" indexados en la base de datos Scopus entre 2000 y 2015. De los 518 documentos recuperados se seleccionaron 96 con información relevante para su análisis específico. Los principales tipos de eventos estudiados fueron los deportivos (46%), musicales (25%) y religiosos/sociales (23%) desarrollados en Estados Unidos (n = 21), Reino de Arabia Saudita (n = 17), Australia (n = 11) y Reino Unido (n = 10). Los cuatro principales eventos fueron el Hajj (n = 17), Juegos Olímpicos (n = 13), Día de la Juventud (n = 8) y mundiales de fútbol (n = 6), y se evaluaron los diferentes modelos de asistencia sanitaria (n = 55), los ratios de presentación de pacientes y de traslado a hospitales (n = 21), los patógenos respiratorios (n = 18), la vigilancia sindrómica (n = 10) y la globalización de enfermedades (n = 10). Creemos que las reuniones masivas de personas constituyen un área de conocimiento incipiente vinculada con diferentes especialidades médicas, particularmente la medicina de emergencias, que se centra en la investigación de los modelos de asistencia sanitaria.

Prospective influenza vaccine safety surveillance using fresh data in the Sentinel System.

PURPOSE: To develop the infrastructure to conduct timely active surveillance for safety of influenza vaccines and other medical countermeasures in the Sentinel System (formerly the Mini-Sentinel Pilot), a Food and Drug Administration-sponsored national surveillance system that typically relies on data that are mature, settled, and updated quarterly. METHODS: Three Data Partners provided their earliest available ("fresh") cumulative claims data on influenza vaccination and health outcomes 3-4 times on a staggered basis during the 2013-2014 influenza season, collectively producing 10 data updates. We monitored anaphylaxis in the entire population using a cohort design and seizures in children ≤4 years of age using both a self-controlled risk interval design (primary) and a cohort design (secondary). After each data update, we conducted sequential analysis for inactivated (IIV) and live (LAIV) influenza vaccines using the Maximized Sequential Probability Ratio Test, adjusting for data-lag. RESULTS: Most of the 10 sequential analyses were conducted within 6 weeks of the last care-date in the cumulative dataset. A total of 6 682 336 doses of IIV and 782 125 doses of LAIV were captured. The primary analyses did not identify any statistical signals following IIV or LAIV. In secondary analysis, the risk of seizures was higher following concomitant IIV and PCV13 than historically after IIV in 6- to 23-month-olds (relative risk = 2.7), which requires further investigation. CONCLUSIONS: The Sentinel System can implement a sequential analysis system that uses fresh data for medical product safety surveillance. Active surveillance using sequential analysis of fresh data holds promise for detecting clinically significant health risks early. Limitations of employing fresh data for surveillance include cost and the need for careful scrutiny of signals. © 2015 The Authors. Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.