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Objective: Despite widespread availability of COVID-19 vaccines, millions of Americans have not received the recommended vaccine doses. In the District of Columbia (DC), COVID-19 vaccination rates are lowest among residents who are Non-Hispanic (NH) Black and among school-aged children. We assessed COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among staff and parents of students in DC K-12 public and public charter schools. Methods: We conducted a telephone-based survey from February 6 to April 16, 2022 to staff, students, and parents of students who participated in school-based COVID-19 screening testing. COVID-19-related survey items included: vaccination status, reasons for not getting vaccinated, perceived vaccine access, and trusted COVID-19 information sources. Utilizing time-to-event analyses, we evaluated differences across demographic groups. Results: The interview response rate was 25.8% (308/1193). Most unvaccinated participants were NH Black and ages 5 to 11 years. Median time from vaccine eligibility to uptake was 236 days for NH Black participants vs. 10 days for NH White participants. Vaccine safety was the top concern among unvaccinated participants. Government and healthcare providers were the most trusted COVID-19 information sources. Conclusions: Differences in timing of vaccine uptake among respondents and greater vaccine hesitancy among NH Black participants compared to other racial/ethnic groups highlight a need for continued tailored outreach and communication using trusted sources to convey the importance, benefits, and safety of COVID-19 vaccination.

Background: COVID-19 screening testing (ST) can detect asymptomatic or pre-symptomatic cases, allowing for prompt identification of cases and close contacts. This study examined parents' and school staffs' knowledge and attitudes toward to a pilot school-based ST program in a school district in southern Arizona. Methods: In May 2021, online surveys to parents and school staff were administered to examine attitudes toward ST and impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Unweighted percent estimates were calculated, and bivariate differences were examined by demographics. Associations were assessed using chi-square tests and logistic regression. Results: The survey had response rates of 10% (606/6085) and 22% (187/849) among parents and staff, respectively. Approximately one-third of responding parents (35%) would or already allow their child to participate in school-based ST, 37% would not participate; 28% were unsure. Among responding staff, 46% would or already participate in ST, 33% would not; 21% were unsure. The top concern (38%) among responding staff was taking job-related leave if testing positive. Conclusion: Schools work to balance the needs of students, families, and staff by implementing supportive and flexible policies and practices founded on buy-in and acceptance from their communities.

BACKGROUND: COVID‐19 screening testing (ST) can detect asymptomatic or pre‐symptomatic cases, allowing for prompt identification of cases and close contacts. This study examined parents' and school staffs' knowledge and attitudes toward to a pilot school‐based ST program in a school district in southern Arizona. METHODS: In May 2021, online surveys to parents and school staff were administered to examine attitudes toward ST and impacts of the COVID‐19 pandemic. Unweighted percent estimates were calculated, and bivariate differences were examined by demographics. Associations were assessed using chi‐square tests and logistic regression. RESULTS: The survey had response rates of 10% (606/6085) and 22% (187/849) among parents and staff, respectively. Approximately one‐third of responding parents (35%) would or already allow their child to participate in school‐based ST, 37% would not participate; 28% were unsure. Among responding staff, 46% would or already participate in ST, 33% would not; 21% were unsure. The top concern (38%) among responding staff was taking job‐related leave if testing positive. CONCLUSION: Schools work to balance the needs of students, families, and staff by implementing supportive and flexible policies and practices founded on buy‐in and acceptance from their communities [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: Despite widespread availability of COVID‐19 vaccines, millions of Americans have not received the recommended vaccine doses. In the District of Columbia (DC), COVID‐19 vaccination rates are lowest among residents who are Non‐Hispanic (NH) Black and among school‐aged children. We assessed COVID‐19 vaccine hesitancy among staff and parents of students in DC K‐12 public and public charter schools. METHODS: We conducted a telephone‐based survey from February 6 to April 16, 2022 to staff, students, and parents of students who participated in school‐based COVID‐19 screening testing. COVID‐19‐related survey items included: vaccination status, reasons for not getting vaccinated, perceived vaccine access, and trusted COVID‐19 information sources. Utilizing time‐to‐event analyses, we evaluated differences across demographic groups. RESULTS: The interview response rate was 25.8% (308/1193). Most unvaccinated participants were NH Black and ages 5 to 11 years. Median time from vaccine eligibility to uptake was 236 days for NH Black participants vs. 10 days for NH White participants. Vaccine safety was the top concern among unvaccinated participants. Government and healthcare providers were the most trusted COVID‐19 information sources. CONCLUSIONS: Differences in timing of vaccine uptake among respondents and greater vaccine hesitancy among NH Black participants compared to other racial/ethnic groups highlight a need for continued tailored outreach and communication using trusted sources to convey the importance, benefits, and safety of COVID‐19 vaccination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The kala-azar elimination programme has resulted in a significant reduction in visceral leishmaniasis (VL) cases across the Indian Subcontinent. To detect any resurgence of transmission, a sensitive cost-effective surveillance system is required. Molecular xenomonitoring (MX), detection of pathogen DNA/RNA in vectors, provides a proxy of human infection in the lymphatic filariasis elimination programme. To determine whether MX can be used for VL surveillance in a low transmission setting, large numbers of the sand fly vector Phlebotomus argentipes are required. This study will determine the best method for capturing P. argentipes females for MX. Methodology/Principal findings: The field study was performed in two programmatic and two non-programmatic villages in Bihar, India. A total of 48 households (12/village) were recruited. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention light traps (CDC-LTs) were compared with Improved Prokopack (PKP) and mechanical vacuum aspirators (MVA) using standardised methods. Four 12x12 Latin squares, 576 collections, were attempted (12/house, 144/village,192/method). Molecular analyses of collections were conducted to confirm identification of P. argentipes and to detect human and Leishmania DNA. Operational factors, such as time burden, acceptance to householders and RNA preservation, were also considered. A total of 562 collections (97.7%) were completed with 6,809 sand flies captured. Females comprised 49.0% of captures, of which 1,934 (57.9%) were identified as P. argentipes. CDC-LTs collected 4.04 times more P. argentipes females than MVA and 3.62 times more than PKP (p<0.0001 for each). Of 21,735 mosquitoes in the same collections, no significant differences between collection methods were observed. CDC-LTs took less time to install and collect than to perform aspirations and their greater yield compensated for increased sorting time. No significant differences in Leishmania RNA detection and quantitation between methods were observed in experimentally infected sand flies maintained in conditions simulating field conditions. CDC-LTs were favoured by householders. Conclusions/Significance: CDC-LTs are the most useful collection tool of those tested for MX surveillance since they collected higher numbers of P. argentipes females without compromising mosquito captures or the preservation of RNA. However, capture rates are still low. Author summary: Molecular xenomonitoring, screening insects for pathogen DNA/RNA, may be used for surveillance of diseases transmitted by insects. Since the proportion of insects infected with pathogens is very low in areas targeted for disease elimination, large numbers of females need to be screened. We compared three different methods for collecting Phlebotomus argentipes sand fly females, the vector of parasites causing the disease visceral leishmaniasis in the Indian subcontinent, to determine which collected the largest number of females. Other factors that may also influence selection of a particular method of collection by a disease control programme, such as the time it takes to collect and sort samples, the acceptance of householders for a particular collection method and whether RNA degradation in insect samples differed between collection methods, were also considered. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention light traps (CDC-LTs) proved to be more useful than two types of aspiration methods for collecting higher numbers of sand fly females and RNA preservation was retained. Furthermore, they took less time to install than to perform aspirations and were favoured by householders. Therefore, CDC-LTs were considered to be the most suitable collection method for molecular xenomonitoring of sand flies in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The highly transmissible severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Omicron variant led to increased hospitalizations, staffing shortages, and increased school closures. To reduce spread in school-aged children during the Omicron peak, the District of Columbia implemented a test-to-return strategy in public and public charter schools after a 2-week break from in-person learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background The primary aims of this study were to determine the incidence of Giardia infections in dairy herds on farms in the New York City Watershed region and to evaluate risk factors associated with infections. Because co-infections of Giardia and Cryptosporidium spp. are common in this population, we also evaluated the effect of herd infection status on Giardia infections. Methods Farms were grouped into three cohorts based on their prior infection status with Giardia and/or Cryptosporidium spp. The sampling plan included collecting fecal samples from all calves below 30 days of age and proportional sampling of calves, young stock, and adults. A total of 10,672 fecal samples were collected and analyzed for the presence of Giardia cysts using zinc sulfate flotation. Herds enrolled in the study were sampled seasonally for a study period of two years. The probability of shedding cysts past a certain age and the factors that influenced the likelihood of shedding were evaluated using survival analysis. Linear regression was used to evaluate factors that were associated with the intensity of shedding. Results The majority of Giardia infections occurred in calves within their first 180 days of age, with the most number of calves shedding Giardia cysts between 11 and 20 days of age. The incidence of shedding of Giardia cysts ranged from 0.0004 per animal day for cattle in the low risk cohort to 0.0011 per animal day for cattle in the high risk cohort. The likelihood of shedding was influenced by the prior infection status of the herd and the season of collection. Infected animals shed on average 9,658 cysts/gram and the intensity of shedding Giardia cysts varied significantly with the age (p < 0.0001) and the season of collection (p = 0.0151 for Spring). Conclusion Giardia infections are common in dairy herds in the New York City watershed, particularly in calves less than 6 months of age. Seasonality may be an important factor in the perpetuation of infections based on changes in management practices corresponding to weather patterns of a particular season. A dairy herd's prior infection status with Cryptosporidium influences the likelihood of infection with Giardia.

Background: The primary aims of this study were to determine the incidence of Giardia infections in dairy herds on farms in the New York City Watershed region and to evaluate risk factors associated with infections. Because coinfections of Giardia and Cryptosporidium spp. are common in this population, we also evaluated the effect of herd infection status on Giardia infections. Methods: Farms were grouped into three cohorts based on their prior infection status with Giardia and/or Cryptosporidium spp. The sampling plan included collecting fecal samples from all calves below 30 days of age and proportional sampling of calves, young stock, and adults. A total of 10,672 fecal samples were collected and analyzed for the presence of Giardia cysts using zinc sulfate flotation. Herds enrolled in the study were sampled seasonally for a study period of two years. The probability of shedding cysts past a certain age and the factors that influenced the likelihood of shedding were evaluated using survival analysis. Linear regression was used to evaluate factors that were associated with the intensity of shedding. Results: The majority of Giardia infections occurred in calves within their first 180 days of age, with the most number of calves shedding Giardia cysts between 11 and 20 days of age. The incidence of shedding of Giardia cysts ranged from 0.0004 per animal day for cattle in the low risk cohort to 0.0011 per animal day for cattle in the high risk cohort. The likelihood of shedding was influenced by the prior infection status of the herd and the season of collection. Infected animals shed on average 9,658 cysts/gram and the intensity of shedding Giardia cysts varied significantly with the age (p < 0.0001) and the season of collection (p = 0.0151 for Spring). Conclusion: Giardia infections are common in dairy herds in the New York City watershed, particularly in calves less than 6 months of age. Seasonality may be an important factor in the perpetuation of infections based on changes in management practices corresponding to weather patterns of a particular season. A dairy herd's prior infection status with Cryptosporidium influences the likelihood of infection with Giardia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Improving ventilation has been one of several COVID-19 prevention strategies implemented by kindergarten through grade 12 (K-12) schools to stay open for safe in-person learning. Because transmission of SARS-CoV-2 occurs through inhalation of infectious viral particles, it is important to reduce the concentration of and exposure time to infectious aerosols (1-3). CDC examined reported ventilation improvement strategies among U.S. K-12 public school districts using telephone survey data collected during August-December 2022. Maintaining continuous airflow through school buildings during active hours was the most frequently reported strategy by school districts (50.7%); 33.9% of school districts reported replacement or upgrade of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems; 28.0% reported installation or use of in-room air cleaners with high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters; and 8.2% reported installation of ultraviolet (UV) germicidal irradiation (UVGI) devices, which use UV light to kill airborne pathogens, including bacteria and viruses. School districts in National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) city locales, the West U.S. Census Bureau region, and those designated by U.S. Census Bureau Small Area Income Poverty Estimates (SAIPE) as high-poverty districts reported the highest percentages of HVAC system upgrades and HEPA-filtered in-room air cleaner use, although 28%-60% of all responses were unknown or missing. Federal funding remains available to school districts to support ventilation improvements. Public health departments can encourage K-12 school officials to use available funding to improve ventilation and help reduce transmission of respiratory diseases in K-12 settings., Competing Interests: All authors have completed and submitted the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors form for disclosure of potential conflicts of interest. No potential conflicts of interest were disclosed.

Competing Interests: Nivedha Panneer reports stock ownership in Gilead Sciences, outside the current work. No other conflicts of interest were reported.