Public Health Officials Research Articles

Modeling of PM10 Particulate Matter in Ahvaz City Using Remote Sensing and Meteorological Parameters

Introduction: In recent years, remote sensing (RS) products have emerged as effective tools for monitoring air pollution. This study aims to predict the concentrations of particulate matter with a diameter smaller than 10μm (PM10) using a multivariate linear regression (MLR) model, incorporating both Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) products and meteorological parameters. Material and Methods: In this study, data on PM10 concentrations, Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD), and meteorological parameters (wind speed, temperature, humidity, and horizontal visibility) were used. The study focused on the time 15:00 each day, as this time was identified as having significant data relevance. The methodology section also consisted of three steps: 1) pairwise correlation analysis: The relationship between meteorological parameters, AOD, and PM10 was assessed using the pairwise correlation method. 2) Model development: A MLR model was developed to predict PM10 concentrations. 3) Validation: The model was validated using a separate dataset, ensuring that 70% of the data was used for training, and 30% for testing and validation. Results: The pairwise correlation analysis revealed a strong correlation (0.86) between AOD remote sensing index and PM10. The highest correlation (0.9) was observed during the spring season. The five developed equations to estimate the PM10 index yielded correlation coefficients ranging from 0.86 to 0.90. Notably, the highest correlation was achieved when AOD data and all the meteorological parameters were u tilized simultaneously. These results highlighted the utility of remote sensing products and meteorological data in air quality monitoring and prediction. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that a MLR model incorporating AOD and meteorological parameters can effectively predict PM10 concentrations in Ahvaz City, particularly during dust storms in hot seasons. These findings can aid policymakers and public health officials in developing strategies to mitigate the adverse effects of dust storms on air quality and public health.

Apologizing for Intergroup Criticism Reduces Rejection of Public Health Officials’ Pro-Vaccine Messages

ABSTRACT Compared to other medical experts, public health officials face added scrutiny of their pro-vaccine messages due to distrust of the US federal government. We consider reactions to such critical messages through the lens of conversational norms. Conversational pragmatics suggest that polite communication is essentially cooperative in nature, avoiding criticism of the other or excessive praise of the self. Applied to intergroup communication, this suggests that critical messages from outgroups will be viewed as impolite. Distrusted outgroup sources (such as government officials) are particularly expected to be uncooperative and impolite, increasing message rejection. Importantly, this perspective suggests that apologizing for the norm violation should mitigate these effects. Applying this reasoning to scientific messaging, we demonstrate that a message critical of the under-vaccinated is more likely to be rejected if made by a US federal public health official than by a private medical expert. However, this effect is reduced if the public health official apologizes in advance for violating the norm against criticizing other groups. Improved perceptions of the apologizing source’s motives and reduced message threat were associated with higher vaccination intentions. Practical and theoretical implications for intergroup communication are discussed.

A microbial symphony: a literature review of the factors that orchestrate the colonization dynamics of the human colonic microbiome during infancy and implications for future health

Since the advent of new sequencing and bioinformatic technologies, our understanding of the human microbiome has expanded rapidly over recent years. Numerous studies have indicated causal links between alterations to the microbiome and a range of pathological conditions. Furthermore, a large body of epidemiological data is starting to suggest that exposure, or lack thereof, to specific microbial species during the first five years of life has key implications for long-term health outcomes. These include chronic inflammatory and metabolic conditions such as diabetes, asthma, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and obesity, with the effects lasting into adulthood. Human microbial colonisation during these first five years of life is a highly dynamic process, with multiple environmental exposures recently being characterised to have influence before the microbiome stabilises and resembles that of an adult at 3-5 years. This short period of time, known as the window of opportunity, appears to “prime” immunoregulation for later life. Understanding and appreciating this aspect of human physiology is therefore crucial for clinicians, scientists, and public health officials. This review outlines the most recent evidence for the pre- and post-natal environments that order the development of the microbiome, how these influences metabolic and immunoregulatory pathways, and their associated health outcomes. It also discusses the limitations of the current knowledge base, and describes the potential microbiome-mediated interventions and public health measures that may have therapeutic potential in the future.

Stakeholder analysis and their roles in livestock disease reporting and response in Northern Kenya

IntroductionLivestock are central to pastoral livelihoods. A major constraint in pastoral production is livestock diseases, which is often exacerbated by inadequate surveillance systems. Reporting of disease outbreaks from pastoral communities to animal health workers is one of the challenges that affects effective and timely response to disease outbreaks. This study aimed to understand animal disease reporting and response in pastoral areas of Northern Kenya. Stakeholders, their roles, information flow among them and methods used for both livestock disease reporting and response and their strengths and challenges were identified.MethodsThe study was carried out in Marsabit County, a pastoral county in Kenya. Pretested tools were used to guide data collection through Focus Group Discussions, Narrative and Key Informant Interviews with pastoralists, County government Animal Health Workers, agrovets and private animal health workers, Community Disease Reporters, Chiefs, County Public Health Officers and local Non-Governmental Organization staff. Net mapping was further used where participants drew links among the various stakeholders and assigned them perceived influence and power. Output from thematic analysis, notes taken during data collection and net maps were used to produce a network of stakeholders and their links using Gephi software. Centrality measures were generated and recorded. Perceived power and influence scores were used to produce a graph and the reasons for the scores documented. Methods used for livestock disease reporting and response were obtained from thematic analysis.ResultsA network of 19 stakeholders with 67 links among them was identified. Major stakeholders were the Animal Owners/Pastoralists, Government Animal Health Workers, County Director of Veterinary Services, the Chief and radio based on network indices of Total degree and Betweenness Centrality, and also based on perceived scores of influence and power. Pastoralists had pivotal roles in both livestock disease reporting and response, Government Animal Health Workers (GAHWs) were mainly involved in disease surveillance and mass interventions including treatment and vaccinations. Non-state actors like NGOs and iNGOs collaborated and supported the County Government with resources to manage outbreaks. Various methods were used for reporting diseases, with use of mobile phones highly mentioned while for response to disease occurrences, the methods included trainings and treatment by both Government and Private AHWs and use of alternative veterinary practices by pastoralists. Various challenges constraining livestock disease response were highlighted, the most frequent challenges centered around low numbers and under resourcing of Animal Health Workers.ConclusionThese findings show that designing an efficient livestock disease surveillance system in pastoral areas requires recognition and utilization of all stakeholders and understanding of their roles. Gaps highlighted in disease response should be prioritized by the government and its development partners for improved animal health service delivery in pastoral areas. These inadequacies in livestock disease response have a direct effect on veterinary practice as mandated by the Government of Kenya Veterinary Surgeons and Para-professionals Act. The results are important for guiding policy formulation to support mitigation of disease impacts in similar areas with limited access to quality veterinary services.

From the Screen to the Streets: Technology-Facilitated Violence Against Public Health Professionals

This qualitative study sought to explore the experiences of public health professionals in Canada who were targets of harassment, abuse, and threatening behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic. Public health professionals from across Canada who held responsibility for public health measures in their respective jurisdictions participated in in-depth interviews. Using constructivist grounded theory and constant comparative analysis a cycle of violence was identified. Results revealed that as infections and deaths due to COVID-19 began to rise across the globe, participants engaged in efforts to educate the public through mainstream media and social media. While education efforts were generally positively received at the onset of the pandemic, as collective frustration with public health restrictions rose and misinformation began to proliferate, social media fueled outrage and polarization, and public anger began to focus on public health officials. Harassment, abuse, and threats on social media were followed by threats delivered through telephone and paper mail, and finally direct physical threats and confrontation—which were then glorified and amplified on social media. As reported by others, harassment and abuse were particularly virulent for public health professionals who were women or visible minority individuals. We conclude that the pattern of abuse identified in this study is reminiscent of the cycle of violence previously identified with respect to those who become radicalized on social media. These findings serve as a poignant example from which to develop guidelines for all professionals and researchers at risk of online abuse both in the health sector and beyond.

How stress influences e-cigarette health message perceptions and intentions to abstain from vaping among young adults who vape

PurposeWhile most U.S. young adults attribute e-cigarette use (vaping) to stress coping, it is relatively unknown how young adults’ stress levels influence their e-cigarette health message responses and vaping abstinence intentions. MethodsIn an online crowdsourcing study, young adults who currently vape (N = 346, Mage = 25.24) were assessed for their past-30-day stress levels. Then, they saw a message about the health effects of vaping and were asked questions about the messages and their vaping abstinence intentions. We performed multiple regressions to examine the main effects of stress levels on message evaluation (message perceptions, effects perceptions) and intentions to abstain from vaping. We then examined the indirect effects of stress levels on abstinence intentions mediated by each message outcome, respectively. Models controlled for sociodemographic characteristics, mental health status, and past-30-day e-cigarette use and cigarette smoking. ResultsParticipants with higher stress levels reported more negative message evaluation (ps < 0.05). Additionally, participants with higher stress levels reported lower abstinence intentions via more negative message perceptions (b = -0.02, SE = 0.01, 95 % CI = -0.041, −0.004). Likewise, participants with higher stress levels reported lower abstinence intentions via more negative effects perceptions (b = -0.03, SE = 0.01, 95 % CI = -0.046, −0.008). ConclusionsHigher stress levels were associated with negative message evaluation among young adults who vape. Additionally, the association of stress levels and abstinence intentions was mediated by negative message evaluation. Public health officials may need to account for stress levels in young adults to increase the effects of e-cigarette health messages on their intentions to abstain from vaping.

The association between short-term temperature variability and mortality in Virginia

The objective of this study is to determine the relationship between short-term temperature variability on neighboring days and mortality. The change in maximum temperature in Northern Virginia, Richmond, Roanoke, and Norfolk, Virginia, on neighboring days was calculated from airport observations and associated with total mortality over a multi-county area surrounding each weather station. The association between day-to-day temperature change and mortality, lagged over a 28-day period, was analyzed using distributed lag non-linear models that controlled for air quality, temporal trends, and other factors. Days following large temperature declines were associated with an increased risk of mortality in three of the four locations, and temperature increases were linked to higher mortality risk in two cities. For example, the relative risk of mortality for a 12°C daily temperature decline (1st percentile) was 1.74 [0.92, 3.27] in Roanoke and 1.16 [0.70, 1.92] in Richmond. The net effect of short-term temperature increases was smaller, with the largest relative risk of 1.03 [0.58, 1.83] for a 12°C increase (99th percentile) in maximum temperature in Norfolk. In Richmond and Roanoke, there was an observed lagged effect of increased mortality (maximum relative risks varying from 1.08 to 1.10) that extended from 5 to 25 days associated with large temperature declines of 15°C or more. In contrast, there was a strong and immediate (lag 0–3 day) increase in the risk of mortality (1.10 to 1.15) in northern Virginia and Norfolk when the temperature increase exceeded 10°C (short-term warming). In general, consecutive day warming had a more immediate mortality impact than short-term cooling, when the peak mortality is lagged by one week or more. However, cooling of at least 10°C after a hot (summer) day reduced mortality relative to comparable cooling following a cold (winter) day, which is associated with high mortality. This differential mortality response as a function of temperature suggests that there is some relationship between average temperature, temperature variability, and season. The findings of this study may be useful to public health officials in developing mitigation strategies to reduce the adverse health risks associated with short-term temperature variability.

Core Competencies of the Public Health Workforce in Climate Change and Extreme Weather Events Preparedness, Response, and Recovery: A Scoping Review.

Climate change poses a significant threat to public health and safety, necessitating an urgent, coordinated response. Public health officials must be well-trained to effectively prepare for, respond to, and recover from extreme weather events. Despite emerging frameworks, a gap remains in their systematic application, risking future unpreparedness. This review aimed to identify the necessary competencies for public health professionals to manage climate change and the best methods to teach these skills. An academic librarian helped develop a keyword chain for a PubMed search, which included original articles and reviews concerning our research questions published in English or French between 1 January 2013 and 31 January 2024. Out of 255 potential articles, 31 were included in this scoping review. The results aligned with our objectives, revealing three main themes: core competencies, training and pedagogy strategies, and assessment approaches for public health professionals' preparedness, responses, and recovery in the context of climate change and extreme weather events. This scoping review enabled us to provide a set of clear recommendations for future research and practice in training the public health workforce for managing extreme weather events and climate change.

Supporting students’ wellbeing through a virtual resilience application during COVID-19 pandemic

The coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) impacted learning experiences of students around the world. To limit the spread of the infectious virus, public health officials had to implement various measures that included lockdowns and physical isolation. Such measures also impacted students’ access to support systems and negatively impacted their overall wellbeing. Through this project, students at a community college were offered access to a virtual resilience training through the Headversity application. The Headversity application provides training in six skills namely, mental health, mindfulness, self-expertise, energy management, hardness and mental fitness. Students completed a pre and post survey designed to gather their experiences. The Headversity service provider shared the performance indicators every 3 months. The performance indicators showed the skills that was accessed more frequently and the skills that needed more attention. A total of 346 students enrolled to use the application. Of these, 163 enrolled to complete the survey. It was evident from students’ feedback that the virtual application was easy to navigate, helped them to train on relevant skills and was timely given the COVID-19 pandemic. However, a few students indicated that they would have preferred contact with a trainer rather than getting generic support system through the application.

Accuracy of estimating a human-sighted visual range for short-term particulate matter concentration in Chiang Mai, Thailand

Background: Haze crisis in the North Thailand has occurred more than decade. Although four air monitoring stations (Air4Thai) are installed in Chiang Mai, three stations are in the city. According to the California Department of Public Health, communities have used both measurement devices and visual estimates as the concentration of smog changes quickly. Therefore, particle levels are estimated from visual assessments or visual views as another measurement as well. This study aims to assess whether human-sighted visual range is reliable or not in Chiang Mai areas. Objectives: To determine accuracy of human-sighted visual range to estimating short-term Particulate Matter (PM) concentration Methods: A retrospective study was conducted purposively among hospitals and Public Health Office at 25 districts in Chiang Mai province where DustBoy air measurement devices were installed and reported air quality including PM2.5, PM10, temperature and relative humidity. The human-sighted visual range (Hr) were reported by trained health staff following the manual applied from “Wildfire Smoke, A Guide for Public Health Officials”. The Hr were reported into six color levels: blue, green, yellow, light orange, dark orange, and red., three times per day in morning (9.00), afternoon (13.00) and evening (16.00). Data was collected between April and May 2018. Both data were matched according to the date and time, excepted data with relative humidity exceeded 65% were excluded. Descriptive statistics described general data and Cohen's kappa statistics analyzed the accuracy of Hr. Results: Hr accuracy for PM10 was at a good level (79.21%) while Hr for PM2.5 was not useful (26.49%). Conclusion: Human-sighted visual range could be applicable for PM10 assessments for community. However, it would not be effective in early-morning, twilight-hours, rainy day, cloudy or humidity &gt;65%. Moreover, personal experience and judgment should be of concern.

Managing the largest school-based COVID-19 outbreak: insights and mitigation strategies

The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by SARS-CoV-2, has significantly impacted educational environments due to their role in community transmission. Early reports indicated low transmission rates in schools, but subsequent studies showed variability, including significant outbreaks like the one in Israel. This study investigates a large COVID-19 outbreak in a boarding school in Brazil, analyzing transmission dynamics and the effectiveness of control measures such as mass testing and isolation. A total of 291 individuals from the school community were tested, revealing an overall infection rate of 64.6%. Initial cases were identified through antigen testing, followed by extensive RT-qPCR testing. Mass testing and timely isolation of infected individuals significantly reduced transmission rates. Whole-genome sequencing was performed on seven positive samples, and environmental contamination was confirmed, with 11 of 35 surface samples testing positive for SARS-CoV-2. The outbreak was controlled within 30 days through rigorous testing, isolation, and environmental disinfection. The study emphasizes the importance of mass testing, including asymptomatic individuals, and highlights the role of environmental contamination in transmission. The findings contribute to understanding COVID-19 outbreaks in educational settings and provide practical insights into managing future outbreaks through comprehensive testing and control strategies. These results may guide policymakers and public health officials in improving pandemic response measures in similar environments.

Policy Analysis for Anemia and Pregnant Women Care Eleviation Program Through Prospective Bride’s Preparation

Background: The percentage of pregnant women experiencing anemia in Indonesia has increased 37.1% compared to 2018 Riskesdas. The incidence of stunting is also influenced by the anemia and nutritional status of the mother during pregnancy. The implementation of 1000HPK has been widely implemented in all districts and cities throughout Indonesia but there are still obstacles in policy integration and cross-sector coordination caused by a lack of understanding of the program so that priority placement is not determined. Aim: to obtain policy recommendations for improving programs to prevent and alleviate anemia and Chronic Energy Deficiency (CED) for pregnant women through the process of prospective bride’s preparation. Research method: The method used Action research with 3 stages. The sample are key persons of 1000 HPK program which are Public Health Office, BKKBN, Midwifery and Nursing Health Providers, and Regional Ministry of Religion (Kemenag and KUA). 24 people participate in FGD and 5 people for the In-depth Interview which was carried out at a place agreed upon by the respondents. Results: of the research provide recommendations for the need for collaboration between schools and universities for health education, schools and community health centers in providing blood supplement tablets, the need for an SOP for administration flow and procurement flow for Fe tablets as well as evaluation and monitoring. Modifying Fe tablets to make them popular with teenagers, creating health check formats for use, utilizing research and community service results and utilizing digital-based communications. Conclusion: achieving the goals of the anemia policy program requires cooperation and collaboration between various stakeholders. Keywords: Policy, Anemia, CED, Pregnant Women, Prospective Brides

Impact of border control measures on public health center operations and staffing at international airports during the emergence of the SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.529 (Omicron) variant of concern

Objective Ota City, located in southeastern Tokyo, including Haneda Tokyo International Airport, has numerous scattered lodging facilities. Shortly after the first case of SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.529 (Omicron) variant was reported abroad, the Japanese government strengthened border control measures, including quarantine procedures and public health official involvement, for incoming travelers. This study aims to propose effective and efficient border control measures to prevent future outbreaks of emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases.Methods Border control measures implemented between November 2021 and mid-January 2022 were analyzed from three perspectives: chronological changes in government notifications, the situation of in-flight contacts and Omicron cases, and the support system for coronavirus-disease 2019 control department of the Ota City Public Health Center. Additionally, a questionnaire survey was conducted among public health centers with jurisdiction over the top four international airports. This survey aimed to assess the effectiveness of the support system, evaluate cooperation with related organizations, identify common issues faced by public health concerns, and gather suggestions for improvements in future border control measures.Results The definition and treatment of in-flight contacts of Omicron-positive individuals were initially outlined on November 30, 2021, and underwent frequent revisions until January 14, 2022. Between December 1, 2021, and January 12, 2022, only one Omicron case was identified among the 470 tests conducted on in-flight contacts. However, out of 136 additional domestic specimens collected (including 57 positives for genetic analysis), 40 were confirmed Omicron positive. The results of the questionnaire survey across the four public health centers largely mirrored the issues and suggestions identified by Ota City officials. A significant portion of these issues arose from managing temporary non-Japanese residents staying near international airports.Conclusion Border control measures should be implemented to delay the domestic spread of the virus. In this reason, it is crucial to avoid placing an undue burden on public health officials responsible for handling domestic infections. Since response policies and target definitions may need to adapt to unknown pathogens, they may be changed frequently, baffling the officials; however, a system for collecting real-time data from frontline sites and making evidence-based decisions is essential. Additionally, deploying liaisons from national and prefectural governments to focal points of emergency response would strengthen the support system by promoting unified instructions and information sharing.

Review Based Study of Monkeypox Disease: A Public Health Emergency of International Concern.

Monkeypox, a zoonotic disease, has become the hot topic spreading across the newspaper headlines like a forest fire. The disease is transmitted from one individual to another by close, intimate contact such as cuddling, kissing, or contact with fluids in the dermal lesions. Though it is a self-limiting disease with symptoms akin to Smallpox (but a milder version), some severe cases have been reported as well. WHO has reported the case fatality rate of Monkeypox infection to be around 3–6%, which is slightly higher than that of COVID-19. Incubation period of the disease is 6–13 days on an average (range of 5–21 days). The monkeypox virus, which was previously exclusive to West and Central African nations and caused endemic diseases in monkeys and people, has recently been linked to human infections in non-endemic areas including the United States of America (USA) and more than 30 additional countries. The monkeypox outbreak continues to be a worldwide health emergency, the highest degree of alert recognised by the World Health Organization. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises vaccination for those who have been exposed to the disease as well as those who may be at higher risk of contracting it, such as those who have been identified by public health officials as a contact of someone who has the disease.

Fifty Years of Psychiatric Classification and Epidemiology Interactions: What is a Mental Disorder?

Psychiatric clinical diagnostic formulation has evolved over time. The changes alter our understanding and our ability to provide a public health perspective on the epidemiology of mental disorders in large populations. Epidemiology is an important perspective and set of tools to assess prevalence, treated prevalence, untreated prevalence, individual risks for mental disorders, and possible links to the etiology of disorders by following the trails of environmental exposures, biological measures, interpersonal dynamics, and genetic risk factors. As communities develop health-care services to treat individuals with mental disorders, knowledge about their prevalence and treatment requirements is also important. Since severe mental disorders may require institutional care, the diagnostic criteria used may either protect an individual’s liability for dangerous behavior (i.e. the insanity defense) or be used to control political and social dissidents. The criteria may also be used to determine evidence-based treatment options and eligibility for disability benefits. In this paper, using my vantage points as a physician scientist and public health officer, with leadership positions in national federal and professional mental health organizations, I address the developments in these areas over the past 50 years that have influenced institutional positions in the U.S. National Institute of Mental Health, the World Health Organization, the American Psychiatric Association, and the Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress. These perspectives may aid the next generation of investigators to advance the epidemiological and mental disorder classification scientific fields.

The Role of E-Kinerja, Additional Employee Income (TPP) and Work Ability towards Job Performance Mediate by Job Satisfaction in Public Health Office, Malang Regencyh

E-Kinerja is a tool for calculating employee performance allowances by implementing an e-performance system, providing employee performance allowances more evenly for the same work. Additional Employee Income (TPP) is an incentive given to civil servants (PNS) in the form of additional income in order to improve performance, and it is given to employees as a bonus for the performance achieved. Work ability is the skills individuals possess in carrying out tasks given to individuals concerned. Therefore, apart from being driven by a person's outstanding abilities and sufficient motivation, peak performance is also supported by a conducive environment. The research aims to determine and analyze the description of E-Kinerja, Employee Income Allowance (TPP), Work Ability, Employee Job Satisfaction and Employee Performance at the Malang District Health Service. This research uses an explanatory research approach. Explanatory research. E-Kinerja system, Employee Income Allowance (TPP), work ability on performance through job satisfaction. Analysis techniques used: classical assumption test, validity test, reliability test, path analysis test. The research results show an influence of E-Kinerja, TPP (Employee Income Allowance), and Work Ability on Employee Job Satisfaction at the Malang District Health Service. The research results show an influence of E-Kinerja, Employee Income Allowance, and Work Ability on Employee Performance at the Malang District Health Service. The research results show job satisfaction influences employee performance at the Malang District Health Service. The research results show that the influence of E-Kinerja, Employee Income Allowance (TPP), and Work Ability on Performance is mediated by Employee Job Satisfaction at the Malang District Health Service.

Beliefs, taboos, usages, health perceptions, and practices toward wildlife among different ethnicities in Tak and Mae Hong Son Provinces, Thailand

This concurrent qualitative study was carried out with the main objective to determine wildlife beliefs, taboos, usages, health perceptions, and practices among ten ethnic groups in four communities in Tak and Mae Hong Son provinces of Thailand from November 2020 to January 2021. We also gathered comprehensive information on study respondents’ knowledge related to potential risk behaviors that could lead to zoonotic disease transmission and infection. Furthermore, we intended to use the study’s findings to develop communication strategies and health literacy improvement interventions for mitigating risky behaviors, with a focus on ethnic groups and particular individuals who live in close proximity to forests and wildlife, to prevent future pandemics. Sixty-five respondents were purposively selected based on their extensive knowledge, active participation in local cultural contexts, beliefs, and exposure to wildlife contact or consuming game animals. Twenty (30.8%) participated in in-depth interviews (IDIs), while 45 (69.2%) participated in eight focused group discussions (FGDs). The results revealed that the characteristics of wildlife contact are similar and distinct based on their beliefs and taboos among various ethnic groups and study locations, which are influenced by cultural backgrounds and traditions. Although some ethnic groups do not have explicit restrictions on the consumption of wildlife, others adhere to specific beliefs and taboos that forbid the consumption or killing of specific wild animals. These beliefs frequently correspond with conservation initiatives, thereby facilitating the preservation of threatened species. The study also revealed a lack of appropriate health knowledge, perceptions, and practices regarding wildlife contact and consumption. As a result, it is recommended that public health officials and local governments develop and execute communication and education initiatives. These campaigns should aim to increase health literacy and promote safe handling, preparation, and cooking practices to reduce the risk of zoonotic disease transmission and infection effectively. Moreover, it is necessary to design and implement wildlife conservation education and outreach activities. The programs should promote environmental stewardship while considering the cultural contexts, beliefs, and practices of various ethnic groups. The activities should involve diverse stakeholders, including local leaders, religious influencers, community members, schoolteachers, students, health professionals, village health volunteers, and civil society organizations.

Experiences and Lessons Learned From Surging the Governmental Public Health Workforce During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the United States relied on the public health workforce to control the spread of COVID-19 while continuing to provide foundational public health services. Facing longstanding staffing shortages, state, tribal, local, and territorial (STLT) public health agencies (PHAs) used various strategies and supports to surge the workforce in response to the pandemic. The study explored (1) the types of strategies and supports STLT PHAs used to surge the public health workforce during the pandemic, (2) assessments of surge strategies and supports, and (3) approaches to using the range of surge strategies available. We conducted 27 semi-structured interviews in 2023 and performed thematic analysis. Interviewees included STLT public health officials, leaders of organizations that directly supported the COVID-19 workforce surge, and public health workforce experts indirectly involved in the workforce surge. To surge the workforce, interviewees relied on partnerships, staffing agencies, the National Guard, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Foundation's COVID-19 Corps, the Medical Reserve Corps, and other strategies. Interviewees valued strategies that rapidly engaged staff and volunteers at no cost to their PHA and flexible funding from the federal government to support surge efforts but noted shortcomings in the strategies and supports available. Interviewees described using multiple strategies simultaneously but noted challenges in implementing these strategies due to inadequate planning and insufficient staff and resources. The study underscores the need for STLT PHAs to establish mechanisms to surge the workforce as part of ongoing planning for emergency preparedness. Focus areas include building administrative and hiring capacity within STLT PHAs and sustaining partnerships and contractual agreements that helped fill staffing gaps during the pandemic. To support efforts to build workforce capacity to meet future surge management needs, STLT PHAs should consider creative solutions to attract and retain staff, as well as opportunities to engage students in public health work.

Changes in the lives of Muslim women infected with HIV by their husbands in Thailand’s southernmost border provinces

ABSTRACT The study aimed to investigate the stories of Muslim women living with HIV/AIDS after their marriage. The data was derived from in-depth interviews with 10 women infected with HIV as well as a focus group discussion and non-participatory observation of 10 public health officers and medical professionals and 10 people from their community. Analytic induction was used for data analysis. The results revealed that the informants were infected with HIV from their husbands after marriage because the husbands had been addicted to injectable drugs before marriage. Moreover, the study revealed that the women’s mental state wasn’t significantly affected. Some women experienced regret or ideas of committing suicide because of the death of their husbands as well as the lack of mental support, but not because of the diagnosis of the HIV/AIDS infection. The informants believed that it was a test by God and revealed no anger against their husbands who carried and transmitted the infection. Some of the informants, recognized as HIV carriers, could join hospital activities to get HIV drug resistance. Gaining acceptance from others encouraged these women to continue living. The subjects explained that they did not feel depressed by the infection or disappointed with those who did not accept them. Some of the women mentioned plans to move out to new communities in search of greater acceptance once they achieved better economic status. Moreover, the study confirmed that Thai people in the southernmost border provinces were overall still repulsed by and biased against those infected with HIV/AIDS.

Unveiling Milan's hidden cases of plague occurred in autumn 1629, before the great 1630 epidemic.

In the summer of 1630, Milan experienced the most devastating plague epidemic in its history. In this study, addressed to investigate the earliest phases of the epidemic in the autumn of 1629, a set of unpublished and only partially known primary sources produced by the city's Officium Sanitatis was consulted and compared for the first time. Including those of two foreigners who died in the Lazzaretto, it was possible to ascertain a total of 39 cases of plague occurred in Milan between 9 October 1629 and the first weeks of 1630, of which 29 (74.4%) ended in death. Seven deaths presumably occurred at home were not recorded in the Liber Mortuorum, in which at least three other deaths caused by plague were deliberately attributed to a different cause. In particular, the case of the Vicario di Provisione in charge, Alfonso Visconti, probably the first death from plague occurred in Milan that year, was deliberately concealed for political reasons. Nevertheless, the spread of the disease remained limited in autumn 1629 and it was probably stopped until the following spring more by climatic factors than by the interventions of public health officials.