Control Of Infectious Diseases Research Articles

An individual-level probabilistic model and solution for control of infectious diseases

<p>We present an individual-level probabilistic model to evaluate the effectiveness of two traditional control measures for infectious diseases: the isolation of symptomatic individuals and contact tracing (plus subsequent quarantine). The model allows us to calculate the reproduction number and the generation-time distribution under the two control measures. The model is related to the work of Fraser et al. on the same topic <sup>[<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="b1">1</xref>]</sup>, which provides a population-level model using a combination of differential equations and probabilistic arguments. We show that our individual-level model has certain advantages. In particular, we are able to provide more precise results for a disease that has two classes of infected individuals – the individuals who will remain asymptomatic throughout and the individuals who will eventually become symptomatic. Using the properties of integral operators with positive kernels, we also resolve the important theoretical issue as to why the density function of the steady-state generation time is the eigenfunction associated with the largest eigenvalue of the underlying integral operator. Moreover, the same theoretical result shows why the simple algorithm of repeated integration can find numerical solutions for virtually all initial conditions. We discuss the model's implications, especially how it enhances our understanding about the impact of asymptomatic individuals. For instance, in the special case where the infectiousness of the two classes is proportional to each other, the effects of the asymptomatic individuals can be understood by supposing that all individuals will be symptomatic but with modified infectiousness and modified efficacy of the isolation measure. The numerical results show that, out of the two measures, isolation is the more decisive one, at least for the COVID-19 parameters used in the numerical experiments.</p>

A state-dependent impulsive system with ratio-dependent action threshold for investigating SIR model

<abstract><p>In general, there is an imperative to amalgamate timely interventions and comprehensive measures for the efficacious control of infectious diseases. The deployment of such measures is intricately tied to the system's state and its transmission rate, presenting formidable challenges for stability and bifurcation analyses. In our pursuit of devising qualitative techniques for infectious disease analysis, we introduced a model that incorporates state-dependent transmission interventions. Through the introduction of state-dependent control, characterized by a non-linear action threshold contingent upon the combination of susceptible population density and its rate of change, we employ analytical methods to scrutinize various facets of the model. This encompasses addressing the existence, stability, and bifurcation phenomena concerning disease-free periodic solutions (DFPS). The analysis of the established Poincaré map leads us to the conclusion that DFPS indeed exists and maintains stability under specific conditions. Significantly, we have formulated a distinctive single-parameter family of discrete mappings, leveraging the bifurcation theorems of discrete maps to dissect the transcritical bifurcations around DFPS with respect to parameters such as $ ET $ and $ \eta_{1} $. Under particular conditions, these phenomena may give rise to effects like backward bifurcation and bistability. Through the analytical methodologies developed in this study, our objective is to unveil a more comprehensive understanding of infectious disease models and their potential relevance across diverse domains.</p></abstract>

DATA COLLECTION PROTOCOL FOR ORAL CORPUS OF MAJOR DEPRESSION DISORDER PATIENT

The collecting of oral data involving mental health patients in hospitals demands research ethics approval to mitigate risks or harm towards participants of the study. The appointment of psychiatric experts as clinical supervisors is imperative to facilitate the process of data collection through interviews, particularly with patients diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). The process of obtaining permission to access hospitals and interview patients involves research ethics approval from the Research Management and Innovation Centre, Sultan Idris Education University (RMIC-UPSI), and the Research Ethics Committee of the University of Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC-MREC). A total of 35 MDD patients were interviewed according to the study protocol and interview guidelines. The interview protocol is also subject to the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 (Act 342) due to the Covid-19 pandemic in Malaysia. The transcribed interview data can amount to 65,894 words when extracted into WordSmith 8.0 software. Overall, this data collection process encompasses, appointment of psychiatric experts as clinical supervisors, research ethics approval and field data collection protocols.

Reframing Occupational Infectious Diseases Control: Covid-19 And the Effects of The Recent Us Supreme Court's Decisions on Policy & Practice

Reframing Occupational Infectious Diseases Control: Covid-19 And the Effects of The Recent Us Supreme Court's Decisions on Policy & Practice

Monkeypox Diagnosis in Clinical Settings: A Comprehensive Review of Best Laboratory Practices.

An outbreak of monkeypox (Mpox) was reported in more than 40 countries in early 2022. Accurate diagnosis of Mpox can be challenging, but history, clinical findings, and laboratory diagnosis can establish the diagnosis. The pre-analytic phase of testing includes collecting, storing, and transporting specimens. It is advised to swab the lesion site with virus transport medium (VTM) containing Dacron or polyester flock swabs from two different sites. Blood, urine, and semen samples may also be used. Timely sampling is necessary to obtain a sufficient amount of virus or antibodies. The analytical phase of infectious disease control involves diagnostic tools to determine the presence of the virus. While polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is the gold standard for detecting Mpox, genome sequencing is for identifying new or modified viruses. As a complement to these methods, isothermal amplification methods have been designed. ELISA assays are also available for the determination of antibodies. Electron microscopy is another effective diagnostic method for tissue identification of the virus. Wastewater fingerprinting provides some of the most effective diagnostic methods for virus identification at the community level. The advantages and disadvantages of these methods are further discussed. Post-analytic phase requires proper interpretation of test results and the preparation of accurate patient reports that include relevant medical history, clinical guidelines, and recommendations for follow-up testing or treatment.

Pathogenic microbiota in the oral and nasal cavity of healthy individuals as a potential source of infections

Oral microbiota is personalized and varied among human habitats. Detection and identification of pathogenic bacteria and fungi are considered as a strategy for the prevention and control of infectious diseases. To date, no studies have investigated the prevalence of bacterial pathogens and fungi in healthy individuals in Vietnam, particularly the ethnic minorities.This study aimed to evaluate the presence of aerobic bacteria and fungi in the oral and nasal cavities of Jrai healthy individuals in the Central Highland. Oral and nasal swab samples of 140 healthy Vietnamese were collected. Microbiological procedures were performed using standard techniques. A total of 220 bacterial isolates were identified. Of which, 10% (22/220) were potentially pathogenic species including Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii, Escherichia coli, Neisseria meningitidis, and Staphylococcus aureus. The most predominant bacteria family was Moraxellaceae (40%, 88/220), followed by Streptococcaceae (36.82%, 81/220). Fungi were not detected in all samples. The oral and nasal cavity of healthy individuals harbors high frequencies of bacterial pathogens, suggesting its potential role as a source for these species. These pathogenic bacteria constitute the threat of their spread and the development of general infections. Infectious microbiota from the oral and nasal cavity should be examined as a preventive screening to control infectious diseases.

The United Nation's Civil Assistance Command in Korea's (UNCACK) Public Health Measures on Koje Island during the Korean War.

This study focuses on the health and sanitation projects carried out on Koje Island by the United Nations Civil Assistance Command in Korea (UNCACK). Koje Island was unique as it served as a destination for dispersed refugees and as an area for housing prisoners of war. Unlike in other regions, UNCACK was actively involved in the implementation of health and sanitation projects on Koje Island. Their infectious disease control projects on Koje Island serve as a valuable example for studying infectious disease prevention initiatives and local medical projects in modern and contemporary Korea. In this study, I examine the documents produced by UNCACK to assess the status of infectious disease control and vaccination plans. Additionally, I analyze the disease prevention initiatives implemented among the residents of Koje Island, including isolation, treatment, and improvement of living conditions. Finally, I explore the characteristics of the Koje Island preventive measures and assess the efforts and limitations of both UNCACK and the Korean government in addressing health issues during the Korean War. Despite the presence of refugees and POWs, Koje Island managed to implement systematic public health initiatives in a controlled environment, widely regarded as highly successful. The public health initiatives on Koje Island, led by UNCACK, provided an opportunity to utilize limited resources, manpower, and Korean health professionals, cultivating the skills necessary to manage infectious diseases effectively. Moreover, these initiatives on Koje Island, although modest, continued into the postwar period, influencing medical missionary activities, the demand for health services among residents, the establishment of independent medical institutions, and the implementation of local health projects.

감염자 접촉추적 시스템 구축에 따른 프라이버시 침해 문제 및 법적 대응방안

On May 5, 2023, the World Health Organization(WHO) announced that COVID-19 was no longer a “public health emergency of international concern.” The South Korean government also declared the end of the COVID-19 pandemic on the 11th of the same month. After more than three years, the COVID-19 crisis is over. Now is the time to look back on the experience of the past three years and make a comprehensive assessment of the national system for prevention of epidemics. In other words, the assessments are to evaluate the effectiveness of the current system in preventing and controlling the spread of infectious diseases, and to evaluate the constitutionality of the legal basis underlying the system.
 During the three years of the COVID-19 emergency, the government’s system for prevention of epidemics has evolved after much experience and criticisms, and Infectious Diseases Control and Prevention Act has been revised several times. In this article, I will focus on contact tracing system among the many systems contained in the Act.
 First of all, the contact tracing has been practiced for a long time as part of epidemiological investigations. However, advances in technology have made contact tracing more efficient, faster, and more accurate. Technology-Assisted Contact-Tracing systems can be divided into two main types: the first is the method used in South Korea, which tracks the movement of infected people through location data based on GPS signals, immigration records, credit card usages and etc. and combines them with visitation records to identify contacts. The second is the method used in Europe and the United States to identify contacts by utilizing Bluetooth-based Technology-Assisted Contact-Tracing, which is based on storing contact information using a smart phone app and Bluetooth, and then send a warning message to the stored contacts if they are tested positive for corona. This can be further divided into centralized and decentralized types based on whether the government is involved in verification and identification of contact.
 In this paper, I compare and analyze the two contact tracing systems to finally check the contact tracing system in Korea.
 First of all, South Korea’s contact tracing system involves the processing of a wide range of personal data by the state. Various personal data is integrated and analyzed through the KCDC’s data processing system. However, there is a risk that the right to the protection of personal data may be eroded through non-transparent data processing. This constitutes a serious violation of the principle of proportionality and the principle of transparency.
 On the other hand, contact tracing system via apps and Bluetooth has the advantage of being a privacy-friendly method that minimizes government intervention and excludes the collection of location data. However, this approach starts with the voluntary participation of citizens, and its success depends on their active participation. The basic premise for this method to work is that the app must be trustworthy in terms of privacy protection.
 In any contact tracing system, the process of contact tracing necessarily involves the processing of various personal data, so the principles relating to processing of personal data must be strictly observed. This should not be overlooked in the design of the system.

CD14 down-modulation as a real-time biomarker in Kawasaki disease.

The objectives of this study were to investigate the pathophysiology of Kawasaki disease (KD) from immunological and oxidative stress perspectives, and to identify real-time biomarkers linked to innate immunity and oxidative stress in KD. We prospectively enrolled 85 patients with KD and 135 patients with diverse conditions including immune, infectious and non-infectious diseases for this investigation. Flow cytometry was used to analyse the surface expression of CD14, CD38 and CD62L on monocytes, along with a quantitative assessment of CD14down-modulation. Additionally, oxidative stress levels wereevaluated using derivatives of reactive oxygen metabolites (d-ROMs) and antioxidant capacity measured by a free radical elective evaluator system. During the acute phase of KD, we observed a prominent CD14 down-modulation on monocytes, reflecting the indirect detection of circulating innate immune molecular patterns. Moreover, patients with KD showed a significantly higher CD14 down-modulation compared with infectious and non-infectious disease controls. Notably, the surface expression of CD14 on monocytes was restored concurrently withresponses to intravenous immunoglobulin and infliximab treatment in KD. Furthermore, d-ROM levels in patients with KD were significantly elevated compared with patients with infectiousand non-infectious diseases. Following intravenous immunoglobulin treatment, oxidative stress levels decreased in patients with KD. Monitoring CD14 down-modulation on monocytes in real-time is a valuable strategy for assessing treatment response, distinguishing KD relapse from concomitant infections and selecting second-line therapy after IVIG treatment in KD patients. The interplay between inflammation and oxidative stress likely plays a crucial role in the development of KD.

Engineering of novel hemagglutinin biosensors for rapid detection and drug screening of Influenza A H7N9 virus

New pathogenic influenza virus strains are constantly emerging, posing a serious risk to both human health and economic growth. To effectively control the spread of this virus, there is an urgent need for early, rapid, sensitive, simple, and cost-effective detection technologies, as well as new and effective antiviral drugs. In this study, we have successfully achieved a significant milestone by successfully fusing the H7N9 influenza virus hemagglutinin (HA) protein with the nano-luciferase component, resulting in the development of a novel set of biosensors. This remarkable achievement marks the first instance of utilizing this biosensor technology for influenza antibody detection. Our biosensor technology also has the potential to facilitate the development of antiviral drugs targeting specific epitopes of the HA protein, providing a promising avenue for the treatment of H7N9 influenza virus infections. Furthermore, our biosensors have broad applications beyond H7N9 influenza virus detection, as they can be expanded for the detection of other pathogens and drug screening applications in the future. By providing a novel and effective solution to the detection and treatment of influenza viruses, our biosensors have the potential to revolutionize the field of infectious disease control.

About Community Health Centers in the Main District of Chongqing Municipality Current Situation and Measures of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Introduction

With the acceleration of urbanization and the increase of population mobility, the public health and safety situation in the main urban area of Chongqing, as a modern metropolis with rapid economic development and dense population, has become increasingly complex and severe. The outbreak and spread of infectious diseases pose a serious threat to the lives and health of community residents and social stability, so it is crucial to strengthen the research on the prevention and control system of infectious diseases in grassroots community health service centers. Grassroots community health service centers in the main urban areas of Chongqing are the foundation and frontier of the entire public health prevention and control system, which is directly related to the health level of community residents and community public health safety. In the current global context of multiple, new, and frequent outbreaks of infectious diseases, it has become imperative to strengthen the construction of the infectious disease prevention and control system of grassroots community health service centers to improve the effectiveness and level of infectious disease prevention and control. This study will focus on the infectious disease prevention and control system of grassroots community health centers in the main urban areas of Chongqing, aiming to deeply analyze its composition structure, functional positioning, operation mechanism, personnel quality and facilities and equipment. Through the study and analysis of the infectious disease prevention and control system, existing problems and bottlenecks will be identified, and feasible and operable optimization suggestions will be made to promote the improvement and enhancement of the infectious disease prevention and control system. The significance of this study is not only to provide scientific basis and practical guidance for the improvement of the infectious disease prevention and control system in the main urban area of Chongqing, but also to provide reference and experience sharing for similar problems in other cities and regions, so as to jointly promote the modernization and standardization of the infectious disease prevention and control system of China's grassroots community health service centers, in order to ensure the health and safety of the community residents.

Patient and public involvement (PPI) in health care: A systematic mapping review of systematic reviews

Introduction: While patient and public involvement (PPI) is increasingly required by policymakers and funding agencies, the vast amount of literature on this topic makes it difficult for stakeholders who are at the beginning of their journey to find guidance on conceptual frameworks, successful methods, and good examples for PPI in contexts/settings similar to their own. Although there are various conceptual frameworks available, especially for PPI in research [1], little is known about which conceptual frameworks are successfully being implemented in health care practice. Recently, [2] highlighted different theoretical traditions and the need to further develop theory-driven approaches to guide the process of involvement in more strategic ways. 
 Objectives: The overarching goal of this mapping review is to identify systematic reviews on PPI in health care practice worldwide to: 
 
 further examine the different conceptualizations of PPI in health care used in the literature (i.e., definitions, models, frameworks);
 provide an overview of the methods used to promote and implement PPI in health care;
 provide an overview of contextual factors such as:
 
 - the settings in which PPI is implemented in health care; 
 - the demographic characteristics of the patients and the publics involved;
 - the desired, achieved and reported outcomes of PPI; and 
 - the outcomes used to measure the effectiveness of PPI. 
 Method and preliminary results: Methodologically, a mapping review design was chosen to give an overview of findings, identify research gaps in the field and to provide the audience with intuitive and accessible visualisations. This review is co-designed and carried out in partnership with a patient (JB), who is also an active volunteer, representative and chair of a patient organization. 
 In December 2021, the study was registered on the Open Science Forum (https://osf.io/9b5j3) and an initial search on PubMed, Cinahl and PsycInfo resulted in 3763 articles after deduplication. Titles and abstracts were screened independently by 2 reviewers (VC, JB) and 95 articles were selected for full-text review. 35 articles were included in the study for detailed data extraction (VC, IB, JB). The themes covered in the articles range from PPI in the education and skills training of health care staff, PPI in design, development and evaluation of health care services and products, quality improvement, patient safety, infectious disease control, crisis management, mental health and health promotion. While data extraction has been completed, data synthesis is still ongoing at the time of abstract submission. An updated search is planned for December 2022. With this mapping review of systematic reviews, we hope to provide an overview of the field and some guidance to those wanting to involve patients, caregivers and the public in their upcoming projects. 
 References
 [1] Greenhalgh T, et al. Frameworks for supporting patient and public involvement in research: Systematic review and co-design pilot. Health Expectations 2019;22(4):785-801. DOI: 10.1111/hex.12888. 
 [2] Ocloo J, et al. Exploring the theory, barriers and enablers for patient and public involvement across health, social care and patient safety: a systematic review of reviews. Health Research Policy and Systems 2021;19(1):8. DOI: 10.1186/s12961-020-00644-3.

A brief history of rabies in Haiti until the adoption of the One Health approach for its epidemiological surveillance and control

Rabies was first identified in dogs and humans by a French veterinarian, Jean Lompagieu Lapole, in 1788 in the colony of Saint-Domingue, which later became Haiti. Rabies has continued to persist in the country despite some intermittent successes in combating this disease over the past 20 years. We are trying to understand why rabies, which has officially existed in the country for around 250 years, is still classified as a neglected disease and continues to result in cases of human mortality. For a significant period, until the implementation of the Haiti Animal Rabies Surveillance Program (HARSP) in 2011, there was no robust initiative to fight against rabies based on regular vaccination campaigns and an effective epidemiological surveillance system despite certain efforts made by the Ministry of Agriculture and Pan American Health Organization Project of Strengthening Public Agricultural Services (RESEPAG): Projet de Renforcement des Services publics Agricoles (PAHO) to increase dog vaccinations. The HARSP program was established with technical assistance from the Center for Disease Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases (CDC) to control and eliminate rabies in the short term, according to the One Health approach. It was a passive surveillance system based on strengthening the rabies diagnostic capacity of the Veterinary Laboratory, training veterinary and public health technicians, and supporting rabies vaccination campaigns. This approach has resulted in effective cooperation between the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Public Health based on the “One Health” enabling the Ministry of Public Health to report daily on bite to the Ministry of Agriculture for further investigations. HARSP marked a pivotal moment in the Rabies Control and Elimination Program. Between January 2013 and December 2017, there were 9,342 reported human exposures to animals suspected of carrying rabies in Haiti. The number of Human exposures to rabies suspected animals in Haiti from January 2013 to December 2017 was 9,342 heads. Among these cases, 2.4% were confirmed, 4.9% probable, 17.8% suspected, and 74.6% discarded. The One Health rabies program has demonstrated the potential for achieving control of both animal and human rabies in Haiti if the ministries of Agriculture and Health commit unequivocally to continue their collaborative development efforts and adhere to HARSP methodology, including vaccinating over 70% of the dog population.

Dynamics and Event-Triggered Impulsive Control of a Fractional-Order Epidemic Model with Time Delay

Due to the lack of timely protection measures against infectious diseases, or based on the particularity of the transmission of some infectious diseases and the time-varying connections between people, the transmission dynamics of infectious diseases in the information society are becoming more and more complex and changeable. A fractional-order epidemic mathematical model with network weighting and latency is proposed in this paper, and the stability near the disease-free equilibrium point and endemic equilibrium point are discussed separately. Subsequently, an event-triggered impulsive control strategy based on an infection rate threshold is put forward. By selecting the appropriate control gain, the Zeno phenomenon can be eliminated on the premise of ensuring the stability of the control error system. Finally, the theoretical results were validated numerically and some conclusions are presented. These findings contribute to future research on the limited-time event-triggered impulsive control of infectious diseases.

Value chain analysis and identification of risk spots for infectious disease control in the pig industry, Punjab, India

Value chain analysis and identification of risk spots for infectious disease control in the pig industry, Punjab, India

Medical Device-Associated Healthcare Infections: Sterilization and the Potential of Novel Biological Approaches to Ensure Patient Safety.

Healthcare-associated infections caused by multi-drug-resistant pathogens are increasing globally, and current antimicrobial options have limited efficacy against these robust species. The WHO details the critically important bacterial and fungal species that are often associated with medical device HAIs. The effective sterilization of medical devices plays a key role in preventing infectious disease morbidity and mortality. A lack of adherence to protocol and limitations associated with each sterilization modality, however, allows for the incidence of disease. Furthermore, issues relating to carcinogenic emissions from ethylene oxide gas (EtO) have motivated the EPA to propose limiting EtO use or seeking alternative sterilization methods for medical devices. The Food and Drug Administration supports the sterilization of healthcare products using low-temperature VH2O2 as an alternative to EtO. With advances in biomaterial and medical devices and the increasing use of combination products, current sterilization modalities are becoming limited. Novel approaches to disinfection and sterilization of medical devices, biomaterials, and therapeutics are warranted to safeguard public health. Bacteriophages, endolysins, and antimicrobial peptides are considered promising options for the prophylactic and meta-phylactic control of infectious diseases. This timely review discusses the application of these biologics as antimicrobial agents against critically important WHO pathogens, including ESKAPE bacterial species.

Reciprocity, Fairness and the Financial Burden of Undertaking COVID-19 Hotel Quarantine in Australia.

In late March 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Australia introduced mandatory 14-day supervised quarantine at hotels and other designated facilities for all international arrivals. From July 2020, most states and territories introduced a fixed charge for quarantine of up to $3220 per adult. The introduction of the fee was rationalised on the basis that Australians had been allowed sufficient time to return and there was a need to recover some of the cost associated with administering the program. Drawing on an empirical study of 58 returned Australian citizens and residents quarantined between March 2020 and January 2021, this paper aims to explore how people experienced paying for hotel quarantine, particularly with respect to fairness and relatedly, the principle of reciprocity. Reciprocity requires that the state has an obligation to assist individuals in discharging their duty to comply with public health measures and avoid disproportionate burdens accruing to populations or individuals. Though participants had varying opinions on whether they thought it fair to be charged for their quarantine, for many, the fee constituted a significant burden and source of stress. Given the undertaking of quarantine is primarily for the benefit of the public good, we argue the financial cost imposed on individuals does not meet the demands of reciprocity. It is imperative that future quarantine and isolation arrangements consider seriously the need to minimise burdens of individuals subject to such measures, and that fees do not become a new norm in public health and infectious disease control.

APPLICATION OF PCR AND PCR-BASED TECHNIQUES IN VETERINARY MEDICINE

New tests for the detection and typing of animal pathogens have been developed for veterinary medicine. Careful systematization is required to determine the place of molecular-based tools’ applications in the existing system of epizootological and epidemiological surveillance. Today, molecular genetic tests, including PCR, are used in veterinary medicine and agriculture for the following purposes:- surveillance and diagnosis of infectious and certain invasive diseases, - typing of animal pathogens, the study of their eco-geographic features, the drift of genetic variability and evolution, - research of molecular mechanisms of the immune response and the host-pathogen interactions, - quality and safety control of agricultural products, including food and feeds, - control of the quality and safety of genetic resources of animals, - control of the circulation of pathogens in the environment, - analysis of the origin and certification of breeds of productive and non-productive animals, etc.
 The application of molecular genetic methods of monitoring and early diagnosis is regulated by the Manual and Code of the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH), the Program for the Global Control of Infectious Diseases of the World Health Organization, the guidelines on the monitoring of infectious diseases of animals and the control of the safety of agricultural products of the FAO. A large number of tests based on molecular diagnostic methods are recommended for use in infectious disease control programs, both emerging and economically significant, in the USA, Canada, and the countries of the European Union. This paper summarises the current PCR-based development scope and ways of its implementation in practical veterinary medicine.

Modeling Infectious Disease Trend using Sobolev Polynomials

Trend analysis plays an important role in infectious disease control. An analysis of the underlying trend in the number of cases or the mortality of a particular disease allows one to characterize its growth. Trend analysis may also be used to evaluate the effectiveness of an intervention to control the spread of an infectious disease. However, trends are often not readily observable because of noise in data that is commonly caused by random factors, short-term repeated patterns, or measurement error. In this paper, a smoothing technique that generalizes the Whittaker-Henderson method to infinite dimension and whose solution is represented by a polynomial is applied to extract the underlying trend in infectious disease data. The solution is obtained by projecting the problem to a finite-dimensional space using an orthonormal Sobolev polynomial basis obtained from Gram-Schmidt orthogonalization procedure and a smoothing parameter computed using the Philippine Eagle Optimization Algorithm, which is more efficient and consistent than a hybrid model used in earlier work. Because the trend is represented by the polynomial solution, extreme points, concavity, and periods when infectious disease cases are increasing or decreasing can be easily determined. Moreover, one can easily generate forecast of cases using the polynomial solution. This approach is applied in the analysis of trends, and in forecasting cases of different infectious diseases.

VISCERAL MIGRATING LARVA. CLINICAL CASES. UKRAINIAN BURDEN

Introduction. The work highlights the problematic issues of diagnosis and treatment of toxocariasis infection in people in Ukraine, which become even more acute and urgent due to the migration of the population and animals, and the destruction of the country's infrastructure as a result of the war unleashed by Russia.
 The aim of the study. Improvement of aspects of clinical, laboratory and instrumental diagnostics, as well as treatment of VML in humans
 Materials and methods. A literature research of the state of the problem of primary and differential diagnosis of the migrating larva in Ukraine and the world has been conducted. 2 clinical cases of diagnosis and treatment of migrating larva in are described.
 Results. The article describes two clinical cases of visceral migrating larva. The differences of these cases, in addition to the migrating formations in the lungs, were the asymptomatic course, the absence of eosinophilia, and the simultaneous determination of blood class G antibodies by ELISA to Toxocar and human roundworm (A. lumbricoide), which persisted even after treatment. Patients at the stage of diagnosis were examined in an oncology hospital, were consulted by thoracic surgeons and oncologists to exclude lung cancer. Both women were immunocompetent, one patient had a history of cervical cancer. From the epidemiological anamnesis, both women kept cats, and one of them, during chemotherapy for the treatment of a tumor, had a propensity for carnivorous raw-eating. Before prescribing systemic antiparasitic chemotherapy, the patients were examined by an ophthalmologist to exclude parasitic chorioretinitis. The patients were prescribed a 20-day course of albendazal 800 mg/day in two doses. Support therapy consisted of a 5-day course of prednisolone at a dose of 30 mg/day orally in two doses, which started one day before the appointment of albendazole. A control CT scan of the lungs after therapy did not reveal any formations, fibrosis, or calcifications.
 Discussion. This case proves that tocoscarosis in humans is a multidisciplinary medical and social problem. Conclusions were made on the need to restore the national registration of the disease, adopt national consensuses on treatment and diagnosis, and implement into clinical practice modern methods of verification of specific antibodies to nematodes based on immunoblotting.
 Conclusions. The registration of cases of VML and T. in the system of control and prevention of infectious diseases in Ukraine should be resumed. It is expedient to introduce specific studies on nematodes in clinical laboratory practice.