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Malaria stellt für nahezu die Hälfte der Weltbevölkerung eine Bedrohung dar. Mit geschätzten 200 Millionen neuen Fällen und ein bis zwei Millionen Toten pro Jahr bleibt Malaria eine wesentliche Ursache von Krankheit und Tod. Seit der Einführung von insektizid behandelten Moskitonetzen in den 1980er Jahren ist keine neue Methode zur Kontrolle von Malaria entwickelt worden und auch in naher Zukunft wird dies nicht erwartet. (Dieser Beitrag ist dem Bulletin of The World Health Organisation entnommen. Er wurde von Susanne Wünsch und Eberhard Knappe gekürzt und aus dem Englischen übersetzt.), südostasien – Zeitschrift für Politik • Kultur • Dialog, Bd. 19 Nr. 3 (2003): Gesundheit! Schönheit! Langes Leben! – Gesundheit und Bevölkerung in Südostasien

La pandemia de coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) constituye una extraordinaria crisis mundial de salud pública que ha creado la apremiante necesidad de intensificar la cooperación mundial. En un apartado especial del estudio trilateral se describen los incontables problemas que plantea el brote de COVID-19 en relación con los marcos integrados de políticas de salud, comercio y PI, y se hace referencia a las secciones pertinentes del estudio trilateral actualizado.

An integrated health, trade and IP approach to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic constitutes an extraordinary global public health crisis that has created a pressing need for intensified global cooperation. This updated information note maps the myriad challenges posed by the outbreak in relation to the integrated health, trade and IP policy frameworks. It provides cross-references to the relevant sections in the updated trilateral study

2019冠状病毒病大流行（新冠肺炎）是一场特殊的全球公共卫生危机，迫切需要加强全球合作。这份三边研究报告的特别插页描绘了疫情带来的关于卫生、贸易和知识产权政策综合框架的无数挑战。它交叉引用了最新三边研究报告中的相关章节.

تسعى هذه الدراسة إلى تعزيز فهم التفاعل بين المجالات السياساتية المختلفة للصحة والتجارة والملكية الفكرية، وكيفية تأثيرها على الابتكار الطبي والحصول على التقنيات الطبية. وتستعرض الطبعة الثانية على نحو شامل التطورات الجديدة في المجالات الرئيسية منذ إطلاق الدراسة أول مرة عام 2013.

Это исследование призвано дать более глубокое понимание взаимосвязи трех самостоятельных областей политики – здравоохранения, торговли и интеллектуальной собственности – и их влияния на медицинские инновации и доступ к медицинским технологиям. Второе издание является всесторонним обзором последних изменений в указанных ключевых областях со времени подготовки первой редакции в 2013 г.

تشكّل الجائحة الناجمة عن مرض كوفيد 2019 (كوفيد-19) أزمة عالمية استثنائية طالت الصحة العامة وتسبّبت في ظهور حاجة ملحّة إلى تكثيف التعاون على الصعيد العالمي. ويعرض الجزء الخاص الملحق بالدراسة الثلاثية العدد الهائل للتحديات التي يطرحها الوباء فيما يخص الأطر السياسية المتكاملة في مجالات الصحة والتجارة والملكية الفكرية. ويوفر إشارات مرجعية إلى الأقسام الوجيهة في الدراسة الثلاثية المحدثة

Пандемия коронавируса 2019 года (COVID-19) является уникальным санитарным кризисом глобального масштаба, продемонстрировавшим острую необходимость активизации международного сотрудничества. В специальном разделе трехстороннего исследования указаны многочисленные вызовы, обусловленные вспышкой этого заболевания, с точки зрения комплексной политики в области здравоохранения, торговли и ИС. В нем также приводятся перекрестные ссылки на соответствующие разделы нового издания трехстороннего исследования.

La pandémie de maladie à coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) constitue une crise mondiale extraordinaire de santé publique qui a créé un besoin urgent d’intensifier la coopération mondiale. Un encart spécial de l’étude trilatérale dresse un inventaire des défis multiples causés par l’épidémie en relation avec les cadres intégrés des politiques en matière de santé, de commerce et de propriété intellectuelle. Il contient des renvois aux sections pertinentes de l’étude trilatérale actualisée.

This study has emerged from an ongoing program of trilateral cooperation between WHO, WTO and WIPO. It responds to an increasing demand, particularly in developing countries, for strengthened capacity for informed policy-making in areas of intersection between health, trade and IP, focusing on access to and innovation of medicines and other medical technologies.

Background The Pacific Islands have environmental conditions highly favourable for transmission of leptospirosis, a neglected zoonosis with highest incidence in the tropics, and Oceania in particular. Recent reports confirm the emergence and outbreaks of leptospirosis in the Pacific Islands, but the epidemiology and drivers of transmission of human and animal leptospirosis are poorly documented, especially in the more isolated and less developed islands. Methodology/Principal findings We conducted a systematic review of human and animal leptospirosis within 25 Pacific Islands (PIs) in Polynesia, Melanesia, Micronesia, as well as Easter Island and Hawaii. We performed a literature search using four international databases for articles published between January 1947 and June 2017. We further included grey literature available on the internet. We identified 148 studies describing leptospirosis epidemiology, but the number of studies varied significantly between PIs. No data were available from four PIs. Human leptospirosis has been reported from 13 PIs, with 63% of all studies conducted in Hawaii, French Polynesia and New Caledonia. Animal leptospirosis has been investigated in 19 PIs and from 14 host species, mainly pigs (18% of studies), cattle (16%) and dogs (11%). Only 13 studies provided information on both human and animal leptospirosis from the same location. Serology results were highly diverse in the region, both in humans and animals. Conclusions/Significance Our study suggests that, as in other tropical regions, leptospirosis is widespread in the PIs while showing some epidemiological heterogeneity. Data are scarce or absent from many PIs. Rodents, cattle, pigs and dogs are all likely to be important carriers, but the relative importance of each animal species in human infection needs to be clarified. Epidemiological surveys with appropriate sampling design, pathogen typing and data analysis are needed to improve our understanding of transmission patterns and to develop effective intervention strategies., Author summary Leptospirosis is an important bacterial zoonosis that affects people and animals worldwide. It is common in tropical areas, especially in island ecosystems. Because islands are relatively small, isolated, and have limited health and diagnostic facilities, the disease burden is often underestimated. In this systematic review, we aimed to describe the extent of leptospirosis in the Pacific Islands, including the diversity of pathogens and animal reservoirs. We identified 148 studies from 21 Pacific islands that described Leptospira infection in humans or animals. In hospitalized febrile patients, leptospirosis was a common cause of the acute febrile illness, but accurate diagnosis was challenging and often delayed because symptoms overlapped with many other infectious diseases, and access to laboratory diagnosis was limited. A wide variety of animal hosts of Leptospira were identified, with rodents, cattle, pigs and dogs reported as important hosts; however, their relative importance in human infection remains unclear. Our review demonstrates that the epidemiology of leptospirosis varies across the Pacific Islands, but information about risk factors and transmission routes is currently limited. We recommend more integrated studies, using an eco-epidemiological approach that includes human, veterinary and environmental factors, and interactions between factors at different ecological scales.

International audience; To assess circulation of the Sabin 2 poliovirus vaccine strain in Madagascar after its withdrawal from the oral polio vaccine in April 2016, a reinforced poliovirus surveillance was implemented in three regions of Madagascar from January 2016 to December 2017. Environmental samples and stool specimens from healthy children were screened using the Global Polio Laboratory Network algorithm to detect the presence of polioviruses. Detected polioviruses were molecularly typed and their genomes fully sequenced. Polioviruses were detected during all but 4 months of the study period. All isolates were related to the vaccine strains and no wild poliovirus was detected. The majority of isolates belong to the serotype 3. The last detection of Sabin 2 occurred in July 2016, 3 months after its withdrawal. No vaccine-derived poliovirus of any serotype was observed during the study. Only few poliovirus isolates contained sequences from non-polio origin. The genetic characterization of all the poliovirus isolates did not identify isolates that were highly divergent compared to the vaccine strains. This observation is in favor of a good vaccine coverage that efficiently prevented long-lasting transmission chains between unvaccinated persons. This study underlines that high commitment in the fight against polioviruses can succeed in stopping their circulation even in countries where poor sanitation remains a hurdle.

International audience; Purpose of review: This systematic review evaluates published data related to the economic burden of drug-induced anaphylaxis (DIA) to understand preventive cost saving measures that could reduce the burden of these conditions.Recent findings: Although DIA has a relevant societal impact, there are limited and heterogenous available data related to its cost. Direct costs related to the management of acute phase of DIA was estimated by $529.6 to $3 125, depending on the number of emergency room visits/hospitalizations, emergency kits and transports in ambulance. Direct costs of investigations of DIA varied from $288 to $2 292.95 and the desensitization was estimated by $6 796. Main variables for this were: personnel, allergy screening procedures, medical consumables and space cost. The mean indirect cost was based on a mean absenteeism of 3 days per DIA corresponding to $381.2.Summary: More than reviewing the published data, we were able to identify variables that, if correctly managed, can reduce the economic burden of DIA, such as adjusting the timing of referral and etiological diagnosis, identification of potential risk and/or co-factors, correct written recommendations to patients. The evidence presented highlights the need of optimization of healthcare patients to patients suffering from DIA.

National audience; Le 5 juillet 2011, une nouvelle loi relative aux droits et à la protection des personnes faisant l'objet de soins psychiatriques et aux modalités de leur prise en charge a été promulguée . Elle organise notamment les prises en charge réalisées sans le consentement de la personne. Très critiquée pour sa dimension sécuritaire, elle accorde au juge une position prédominante et ouvre la voie à une obligation de soins ambulatoires. Elle ne résout pas cependant toutes les questions que soulève l'obligation de soins hors hôpital et l'on peut craindre des difficultés d'application en raison du contexte général dans le domaine de la prise en charge psychiatrique et dans le domaine judiciaire.

IntroductionAlthough socioeconomic inequalities in HIV prevention, testing and treatment services have been well documented, their drivers remain poorly understood. Understanding the different pathways between socioeconomic position and HIV testing across different countries could help designing tailored programs aimed at reducing such inequalities.MethodsWe analysed data from Demographic and Health Surveys conducted between 2010 and 2018 in 18 sub-Saharan African countries (Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Congo DR, Ethiopia, Guinea, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Niger, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe). Using a potential outcomes framework and the product method, we decomposed the total effect linking wealth and recent (< 12 months) HIV testing into i) direct effects, and ii) indirect effects, via demand-related (related to individual’s ability to perceive need for care and inclination to seek care) or supply-related (related to individual’s ability to reach, pay for and engage in health care) mediators. Multivariable gender-specific modified Poisson models were fitted to estimate proportions mediated, while accounting for exposure-mediator interaction when present.ResultsA total of 392,044 participants were included in the analysis. Pro-rich wealth-related inequalities were observed in a majority of countries, with nine countries with high levels of inequalities among women and 15 countries among men.The indirect effects of each mediator varied greatly across countries. The proportion mediated tended to be higher for demand-related than for supply-related mediators. For instance, among women, HIV-related knowledge was estimated to mediate up to 12.1% of inequalities in Côte d’Ivoire; this proportion was up to 31.5% for positive attitudes toward people living with HIV (PLHIV) in Senegal. For the four supply-related mediators, the proportion mediated was systematically below 7%. Similar conclusions were found when repeating analyses on men for the demand-related mediators, with higher proportions mediated by positive attitudes toward PLHIV (up to 39.9% in Senegal).ConclusionsOur findings suggest that socioeconomic inequalities in HIV testing may be mediated by the demand-side more than supply-side characteristics, with important variability across countries. Overall, the important inter-country heterogeneity in pathways of socioeconomic inequalities in HIV testing illustrates that addressing inequalities requires tailored efforts as well as upstream interventions.A French version of the abstract is available upon request from the corresponding author.

International audience; BACKGROUND: HIV self-testing (HIVST) is a critical testing approach particularly for reaching those at HIV risk who are hesitant or unable to access existing services. While the discreet and flexible nature of HIVST is appealing to users, these features can limit the ability for programmes to monitor and estimate the population-level impacts of HIVST implementation. This study triangulates publicly available routine programme data from Côte d'Ivoire in order estimate the effects of HIVST distribution on access to testing, conventional testing (self-testing excluded), HIV diagnoses, and antiretroviral treatment (ART) initiations.METHODS: We used quarterly programmatic data (Q3-2019 to Q1-2021) from ATLAS, a project that aims to promote and implement network-based HIVST distribution in West Africa, in addition to routine HIV testing services program data obtained from the PEPFAR dashboard. We performed ecological time series regression using linear mixed-models.RESULTS: Between Q3-2019 and Q1-2021, 99,353 HIVST kits were distributed by ATLAS in 78 health districts included in the analysis. The results (Table 1) show a negative but non-significant effect of the number of ATLAS HIVST on the volume of conventional tests (-190), suggesting the possibility of a slight substitution effect. Despite this, the the beneficial effect on access to testing is significant: for each 1000 HIVST distributed via ATLAS, 390 to 590 additional HIV tests were performed if 60% to 80% of HIVST are used . The effect of HIVST on HIV diagnosis was significant and positive, with 8 additional diagnoses per 1,000 HIVST distributed. No effect of HIVST was observed on ART initiations.CONCLUSIONS: Our study provides a standard methodology for estimating the population-level impact of HIVST that can be used across countries. It shows that HIVST distribution was associated with increased access to HIV testing and diagnosis in Côte d'Ivoire. Wide-scale adoption of this method will improve HIVST data quality and inform evidence-based programming.

To investigate the effect of omega-3 (ω-3) polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation and a multidomain intervention (MI) (physical activity counselling, cognitive training and nutritional advice) among community-dwelling older adults on levels of intrinsic capacity (IC), a construct recently proposed by the World Health Organization.Secondary analysis from the factorial-design 3-year Multidomain Alzheimer Preventive Trial (MAPT) with 1445 subjects (64.2 % female, mean age 75.3 years, SD = 4.4) randomized to one group of MI plus ω-3 (800 mg docosahexaenoic acid and 225 mg eicosapentaenoic acid/day); MI plus placebo; ω-3 supplementation alone; or placebo alone. Data collection was held between 2008 and 2014.IC domains were examined with the Geriatric Depression Scale (psychological); Short Physical Performance Battery (mobility); Z-score combining four tests (cognitive function); and handgrip strength (vitality). All domains were combined into a composite IC Z-score.After 3 years, IC Z-score decreased among all groups when time was considered continuous (MI plus ω-3: -0.16, 95 %CI: -0.22 to -0.10; MI alone: -0.13, 95 %CI: -0.19 to -0.07; ω-3 alone: -0.19, 95 %CI: -0.25 to -0.10; placebo: -0.20, 95 %CI: -0.26 to -0.14; all p0.0001). There were no significant differences between groups. In a sensitivity analysis with categorical time, significant within-group declines were first identified at 24 months for all groups.This trial designed to improve cognitive function was unable to find effects of the intervention on the composite IC Z-score. Further investigations are needed, especially trials providing stronger interventions (such as exercise training and a controlled diet) and also embracing the sensorial domain of IC.

International audience; In late 2017, Madagascar experienced a large urban outbreak of pneumonic plague, the largest outbreak to date this century. During the outbreak, there were widespread reports of plague patients presenting with atypical symptoms, such as prolonged duration of illness and upper respiratory tract symptoms. Reported mortality among plague cases was also substantially lower than that reported in the literature (25% versus 50% in treated patients). A prospective multicenter observational study was carried out to investigate potential reasons for these atypical presentations. Few subjects among our cohort had confirmed or probable plague, suggesting that, in part, there was overdiagnosis of plague cases by clinicians. However, 35% subjects reported using an antibiotic with anti-plague activity before hospital admission, whereas 55% had antibiotics with anti-plague activity detected in their serum at admission. Although there may have been overdiagnosis of plague by clinicians during the outbreak, the high frequency of community antibiotic may partly explain the relatively few culture-positive sputum samples during the outbreak. Community antibiotic use may have also altered the clinical presentation of plague patients. These issues make accurate detection of patients and the development of clinical case definitions and triage algorithms in urban pneumonic plague outbreaks difficult.

International audience

BACKGROUND: Chronic cough management necessitates a clear integrated care pathway approach. Primary care physicians initially encounter the majority of chronic cough patients, yet their role in proper management can prove challenging due to limited access to advanced diagnostic testing. A multidisciplinary approach involving otolaryngologists and chest physicians, allergists, and gastroenterologists, among others, is central to the optimal diagnosis and treatment of conditions which underly or worsen cough. These include infectious and inflammatory, upper and lower airway pathologies, or gastro-esophageal reflux. Despite the wide armamentarium of ancillary testing conducted in cough multidisciplinary care, such management can improve cough but seldom resolves it completely. This can be due partly to the limited data on the role of tests (eg, spirometry, exhaled nitric oxide), as well as classical pharmacotherapy conducted in multidisciplinary specialties for chronic cough. Other important factors include presence of multiple concomitant cough trigger mechanisms and the central neuronal complexity of chronic cough. Subsequent management conducted by cough specialists aims at control of cough refractory to prior interventions and includes cough-specific behavioral counseling and pharmacotherapy with neuromodulators, among others. Preliminary data on the role of neuromodulators in a proof-of-concept manner are encouraging but lack strong evidence on efficacy and safety. OBJECTIVES: The World Allergy Organization (WAO)/Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma (ARIA) Joint Committee on Chronic Cough reviewed the recent literature on management of chronic cough in primary, multidisciplinary, and cough-specialty care. Knowledge gaps in diagnostic testing, classical and neuromodulator pharmacotherapy, in addition to behavioral therapy of chronic cough were also analyzed. OUTCOMES: This third part of the WAO/ARIA consensus on chronic cough suggests a management algorithm of chronic cough in an integrated care pathway approach. Insights into the inherent limitations of multidisciplinary cough diagnostic testing, efficacy and safety of currently available antitussive pharmacotherapy, or the recently recognized behavioral therapy, can significantly improve the standards of care in patients with chronic cough. ispartof: WORLD ALLERGY ORGANIZATION JOURNAL vol:15 issue:5 ispartof: location:United States status: published

International audience; Objectives: Socioeconomic inequalities in HIV prevention services coverage constitute important barriers to global prevention targets, especially in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). We aimed at monitoring these inequalities from population-based survey data in 18 SSA countries between 2010 and 2018.Methods: We defined eight HIV indicators aimed at capturing uptake of HIV prevention services among adult participants. Country-specific wealth-related inequalities were measured using the Relative and Slope Index of Inequalities (RII and SII, respectively) and then pooled using random-effects meta-analyses. We compared inequalities between African regions using the Wilcoxon rank-sum test.Results: The sample consisted of 358 591 participants (66% women). Despite variability between countries and indicators, the meta-analysis revealed significant levels of relative and absolute inequalities in six out of eight indicators: HIV-related knowledge, positive attitudes toward people with HIV (PWH), condom use at last sexual intercourse, participation to prevention of mother-to-child transmission programs, medical male circumcision and recent HIV testing. The largest inequalities were reported in condom use, with condom use reported five times more among the richest versus the poorest [RII = 5.02, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.79–9.05] and in positive attitudes toward PWH, with a 32-percentage point difference between the richest and poorest (SII = 0.32, 95% CI 0.26–0.39). Conversely, no significant inequalities were observed in multipartnership and HIV seropositivity among youth. Overall, inequalities tended to be larger in West and Central vs. East and Southern African countries.Conclusion: Despite efforts to scale-up HIV-prevention programs, socioeconomic inequalities remain substantial over the continuum of HIV primary and secondary prevention in several SSA countries.

Background: The food industry uses artificial sweeteners in a wide range of foods and beverages, as alternatives to added sugars for which deleterious effects on several chronic diseases are now well established. The safety of these food additives is debated, with conflicting findings regarding their role in the etiology of various diseases. In particular, their carcinogenicity has been suggested by several experimental studies but robust epidemiological evidence is lacking. Thus, our objective was to investigate the associations between artificial sweetener intakes (total from all dietary sources, and most frequently consumed ones: aspartame E951, acesulfame-K E950 and sucralose E955) and cancer risk (overall and by site).Methods and findings: Overall, 102,865 adults from the French population-based cohort NutriNet-Santé (2009-2021) were included (median follow-up time=7.8y). Dietary intakes and consumption of sweeteners was obtained by repeated 24h-dietary records including brand names of industrial products. Associations between sweeteners and cancer incidence were assessed by Cox hazard models, notably adjusted for age, sex, education, physical activity, smoking, body mass index, height, weight-gain during follow-up, diabetes, family history of cancer, baseline intakes of energy, alcohol, sodium, saturated fatty acids, fibre, sugar, whole-grain foods and dairy products.Compared to non-consumers, higher consumers of total artificial sweeteners (i.e. above the median exposure in consumers) had higher risk of overall cancer (n=3358 cases, Hazard Ratio=1.13, 95% confidence interval=1.03 to 1.25, P-trend=0.002). In particular, aspartame (HR=1.15 (1.03 to 1.28) P=0.002) and acesulfame-K (HR=1.13 (1.01 to 1.26 P=0.007) were associated with increased cancer risk. Higher risks were also observed for breast cancer (n=979 cases, HR=1.22 (1.01 to 1.48) P=0.036 for aspartame) and obesity-related cancers (n=2023 cases, HR=1.13 (1.00 to 1.28) P=0.036 for total artificial sweeteners and HR=1.15 (1.01 to 1.32) P=0.026 for aspartame).Limitations of this study include potential selection bias, residual confounding, and reverse causality, though sensitivity analyses were performed to address these concerns.Conclusions: In this large cohort study, artificial sweeteners (especially aspartame and acesulfame-K), which are used in many food and beverage brands worldwide, were associated with increased cancer risk. These findings provide important and novel insights for the ongoing re-evaluation of food additive sweeteners by the European Food Safety Authority and other health agencies globally., Contexte: L'industrie alimentaire utilise des édulcorants artificiels dans une large gamme d'aliments et de boissons comme alternative aux sucres ajoutés dont les effets délétères sur plusieurs maladies chroniques sont maintenant bien établis. La sécurité de ces additifs alimentaires fait l'objet d'un débat, avec des résultats contradictoires concernant leur rôle dans l'étiologie de diverses maladies. En particulier, leur cancérogénicité a été suggérée par plusieurs études expérimentales mais des preuves épidémiologiques solides font défaut. Ainsi, notre objectif était d'étudier les associations entre les apports en édulcorants artificiels (dans l’ensemble, provenant de toutes les sources alimentaires, et les plus fréquemment consommés : aspartame E951, acésulfame-K E950 et sucralose E955) et le risque de cancer (toutes localisations et par site).Méthodes et résultats: Au total, 102 865 adultes de la cohorte française NutriNet-Santé (2009-2021) ont été inclus (durée médiane de suivi = 7,8 ans). Les apports alimentaires et la consommation d'édulcorants ont été obtenus par des enregistrements alimentaires répétés de 24h incluant les noms des marques des produits industriels. Les associations entre les édulcorants et l'incidence du cancer ont été évaluées par des modèles de Cox ajustés sur l'âge, le sexe, l'éducation, l'activité physique, le tabagisme, l'indice de masse corporelle, la taille, la prise de poids pendant le suivi, le diabète, les antécédents familiaux de cancer, les apports initiaux en énergie, alcool, sodium, acides gras saturés, fibres, sucre, aliments complets et produits laitiers.Par rapport aux non-consommateurs, les plus grands consommateurs d'édulcorants artificiels (participants dont la consommation est supérieure à la médiane) présentaient un risque plus élevé de cancer global (n=3358 cas, Hazard Ratio (HR)=1,13, intervalle de confiance à 95%=1,03 à 1.25, P-tendance=0,002). En particulier, l'aspartame (HR=1,15 (1,03 à 1.28) P=0,002) et l'acésulfame-K (HR=1,13 (1,01 à 1.26 P=0,007) étaient associés à un risque accru de cancer. Des risques plus élevés ont également été observés pour le cancer du sein (n=979 cas, HR=2 (1,01 à 1,48) P=0,036 pour l'aspartame) et les cancers liés à l'obésité (n=2023 cas, HR=1,13 (1,00 à 1.28) P=0,036 pour les édulcorants artificiels totaux et HR=1,15 (1,01 à 1,32) P=0,026 pour l'aspartame).Les limites de cette étude incluent un biais de sélection potentiel, une confusion résiduelle et une causalité inverse, bien que des analyses de sensibilité aient été effectuées pour répondre à ces préoccupations.Conclusions: Dans cette vaste étude de cohorte, les édulcorants artificiels (en particulier l'aspartame et l'acésulfame-K), qui sont utilisés dans de nombreuses marques d'aliments et de boissons dans le monde, ont été associés à un risque accru de cancer. Ces résultats fournissent de nouvelles informations importantes pour la réévaluation en cours des édulcorants par l'Autorité européenne de sécurité des aliments et d'autres agences de santé dans le monde.

International audience; Purpose of review: To identify patterns and key issues though a systematic review in order to support prevention strategies and reduce avoidable deaths related to drug-induced anaphylaxis (DAF).Recent findings: DAF rate has been estimated by 0.13-0.53/106 population/year. General global trends of DAF are increasing over time, mostly occurring at healthcare settings (62%) with a similar gender distribution and an average age of 53 years. Antibiotics, anaesthetics, radio-contrast media and NSAIDs were the most frequently implicated agents. Main comorbidities were personal history of drug allergy, cardiovascular diseases and asthma. Main manifestations were cardiovascular and respiratory commitments. Use of adrenaline is mentioned in only 29% of the articles.Summary: DAF is increasing worldwide and most cases are iatrogenic. This first systematic review of DAF identified key gaps and served as a wake-up call to prevent avoidable deaths. Phenotype at risk for DAF was represented by patients aged more than 54 years, with personal history of drug allergy/hypersensitivity with no or incomplete allergological work-up, cardiovascular disease and/or asthma with need of hospitalization and/or frequent healthcare assistance. Additional risk for those who need frequent use of intravenous antibiotics and/or undergoing surgery or image investigation with radiocontrast media.

Background Only one recommendation currently exists for the treatment of Lassa fever (LF), which is ribavirin administered in conjunction with supportive care. This recommendation is primarily based on evidence generated from a single clinical trial that was conducted more than 30 years ago–the methodology and results of which have recently come under scrutiny. The requirement for novel therapeutics and reassessment of ribavirin is therefore urgent. However, a significant amount of work now needs to be undertaken to ensure that future trials for LF can be conducted consistently and reliably to facilitate the efficient generation of evidence. Methodology We convened a consultation group to establish the position of clinicians and researchers on the core components of future trials. A Core Eligibility Criteria (CEC), Core Case Definition (CCD), Core Outcome Set (COS) and Core Data Variables (CDV) were developed through the process of a multi-stakeholder consultation that took place using a modified-Delphi methodology. Results A consensus position was achieved for each aspect of the framework, which accounts for the inclusion of pregnant women and children in future LF clinical trials. The framework consists of 8 core criteria, as well as additional considerations for trial protocols. Conclusions This project represents the first step towards delineating the clinical development pathway for new Lassa fever therapeutics, following a period of 40 years without advancement. Future planned projects will bolster the work initiated here to continue the advancement of LF clinical research through a regionally-centred, collaborative methodology, with the aim of delineating a clear pathway through which LF clinical trials can progress efficiently and ensure sustainable investments are made in research capacity at a regional level., Author summary Lassa fever (LF) is an acute viral haemorrhagic fever endemic to West Africa, causing an estimated 500,000 new infections and 10,000 deaths per year. At present, no treatment has been developed to specifically treat LF and only one prospective clinical trial has been conducted to evaluate the current treatment recommendation. Before a new era of LF clinical trials can begin, it is important to develop standardised methods and tools to ensure that trials are conducted in a consistent way and can generate reliable, comparable data. The aim of this project was initiate the first step to improve the comparability of LF studies by developing a standardised Phase III clinical trial methodology for LF therapeutics that could be applied in low-resource settings. Through multi-stakeholder consultation, we established a consensus position of clinicians and researchers on the core components of future Phase III clinical trials: Core Eligibility Criteria (CEC), Core Case Definition (CCD), Core Outcome Set (COS) and Core Data Variables (CDV).

During 2015-2016, Cape Verde, an island nation off the coast of West Africa, experienced a Zika virus (ZIKV) outbreak involving 7,580 suspected Zika cases and 18 microcephaly cases. Analysis of the complete genomes of 3 ZIKV isolates from the outbreak indicated the strain was of the Asian (not African) lineage. The Cape Verde ZIKV sequences formed a distinct monophylogenetic group and possessed 1-2 (T659A, I756V) unique amino acid changes in the envelope protein. Phylogeographic and serologic evidence support earlier introduction of this lineage into Cape Verde, possibly from northeast Brazil, between June 2014 and August 2015, suggesting cryptic circulation of the virus before the initial wave of cases were detected in October 2015. These findings underscore the utility of genomic-scale epidemiology for outbreak investigations. ispartof: EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASES vol:26 issue:6 pages:1084-1090 ispartof: location:United States status: published

International audience; The cestode Echinococcus multilocularis is the causative agent of alveolar echinococcosis, a severe helminthic zoonotic disease distributed in the Northern Hemisphere. The lifecycle of the parasite is mainly sylvatic, involving canid and rodent hosts. The absence of genetic data from most eastern European countries is a major knowledge gap, affecting the study of associations with parasite populations in Western Europe. In this study, EmsB microsatellite genotyping of E. multilocularis was performed to describe the genetic diversity and relatedness of 785 E. multilocularis isolates from four western and nine eastern European countries, as well as from Armenia and the Asian parts of Russia and Turkey. The presence of the same E. multilocularis populations in the Benelux resulting from expansion from the historical Alpine focus can be deduced from the main profiles shared between these countries. All 33 EmsB profiles obtained from 528 samples from the nine eastern European countries belonged to the European clade, except one Asian profile form Ryazan Oblast, Russia. The expansion of E. multilocularis seems to have progressed from the historical Alpine focus through Hungary, Slovakia, the Czech Republic and southern Poland towards Latvia and Estonia. Most of the samples from Asia belong to the Asian clade, with one EmsB profile shared between Armenia and Turkey, and two between Turkey and Russia. However, two European profiles were described from two foxes in Turkey, including one harboring worms from both European and Asian clades. Three EmsB profiles from three Russian samples were associated with the Arctic clade. Two E. multilocularis profiles from rodents from Lake Baikal belonged to the Mongolian clade, described for the first time here using EmsB. Further worldwide studies on the genetic diversity of E. multilocularis using both mitochondrial sequencing and EmsB genotyping are needed to understand the distribution and expansion of the various clades.

Background Effective vaccines are key components in overcoming the COVID-19 pandemic, so understanding the possible allergic reactions they might cause is essential. Data so far shows that the relative risk of a severe allergic reaction is slightly increased when compared with the overall risk of anaphylaxis due to vaccines, albeit the absolute risk remaining quite low. However, it is also important to be aware of what the population is searching for online, especially regarding controversial topics such as the CoViD-19 vaccines and severe allergic reactions that may result. Methods We conducted a Google Trends worldwide online search to look for any increase in Relative Search Volume (RSV) in the last 5 years regarding the search terms: “Anaphylaxis” and “Vaccine anaphylaxis”. Results We found that there was a major increase in the “Anaphylaxis” and “Vaccine anaphylaxis” RSV in December 2020, continuing up to January 2021, worldwide and in four selected countries. Conclusions We believe this sudden interest in anaphylaxis is related to reports of severe allergic reactions to these vaccines. This can lead to hesitancy in regards to vaccination, and our duty as health professionals is to recommend vaccination and assure that the vaccines are administered in well-equipped vaccination centres, assuring registries of all adverse / allergic reactions.

Health informatics and technological advances have the potential to improve the monitoring of medical and social protection of patients with communicable and non-communicable diseases through a disease management program and to reduce the financial burden on healthcare. In this chapter, we present a review of decision support systems and electronic health record management as tools for data analysis and data sharing and their integration in real time into health supply chains and social health protection, making health policies more efficient, particularly for those targeting patients infected with coronaviruses in need of health assistance.

International audience; Background: The COVID-19 outbreak brought an unprecedented challenge to the world. Knowledge in the field has been increasing exponentially and the main allergy societies have produced guidance documents for better management of allergic patients during this period. However, few publications so far have provided real-life data from the allergy community concerning allergy practice during the COVID-19 outbreak. Therefore, we proposed an international survey on the management of allergic patients during the current pandemic.Methods: We performed an online survey undertaken to reach out the worldwide allergy community by e-mail and social media. The web-based questionnaire contained 24 questions covering demographic data from the participants, clinical practice during this period, and questions related to the new international classification and coding tools addressed for COVID-19. It was circulated for 8 weeks and had anonymous and volunteer context.Results: Data are presented for 635 participants from 78 countries of all continents. Allergists with long-term professional experience were the main audience. As expected, we received many responses as "I have no data" or "I don't know" to the questions of the survey. However, most with more experience on managing allergic patients during the pandemic agreed that patients suffering from allergic or hypersensitivity conditions have no increased risk of contracting COVID-19 or developing SARS CoV-2. Also, participants mentioned that none of the allergy treatments (inhaled corticosteroids, allergen immunotherapy, biological agents) increased the risk of contracting COVID-19 infection including severe presentations.Conclusion: The data presented are a starting point in the process of getting feedback on all the recommendations provided by the allergy societies; it could also be the basis of new strategies to support health professionals while new COVID-19 specific treatments and vaccines are being explored. The information here presented intends to be helpful to the community but represents a course of action in a highly specific situation due to the state of emergency, and it should be helpful to health systems.

Objectives: The aim of the study is to compare how member states of the European Union (EU) develop their national physical activity (PA) recommendations and to provide an overview of the methodologies they apply in doing so. Information was collected directly from the physical activity focal points of EU member states in 2018. Five countries were chosen for detailed case study analysis of development processes. Design: Cross-sectional survey. Participants: The representatives of the 28 EU member state governments to the EU physical activity Focal Point Network. Outcome measures: From national documents we extracted data on (1) the participants of the development process, (2) the different methods used during development, and (3) on which sources national PA recommendations were based. An additional survey for case study countries provided details on (1) anonymised information on the participants of development process, (2) methods employed and rationale for choosing them, (3) development process and timeline, and (4) main source documents used for recommendation development. Results: Eighteen national documents on PA recommendations contained information about development process. The results showed that countries used different approaches to develop national recommendations. The main strategies were (1) adoption of WHO 2010 recommendations or (2) a combination of analysis and adoption of other national and international recommendations and literature review. All of the five case study countries relied on review processes rather than directly adopting WHO recommendations. Conclusions: While there are arguments for the use of particular strategies for PA recommendation development, there is currently no evidence for the general superiority of a specific approach. Instead, our findings highlight the broad spectrum of potential development methods, resources utilisation and final recommendations design currently available to national governments. These results may be a source of inspiration for other countries currently planning the development or update of national PA recommendations. This work was partly supported by the German Ministry of health; Bundesministerium für Gesundheit (ZMVI1-2520WHO001).

BackgroundYellow fever (YF) is a viral haemorrhagic fever endemic in tropical regions of Africa and South America. Current intervention policies, namely the Eliminate Yellow fever Epidemics (EYE) strategy are actioned through vaccination. However, the stockpiles and production mean that vaccination can be in short supply. As such, intervention strategies need to be optimised; one of the tools for doing this is mathematical modelling.MethodsWe fit a generalised linear model of YF reports to occurrence data available from 1987 to 2019 in Africa and South America and available serology survey data to estimate the force of infection across the continents. Then, using demographic and vaccination data, we examine the impact of interventions.FindingsWe estimate that in 2018 there were approximately 51,000 (95%CrI [31,000 - 82,000]) deaths due to YF in Africa and South America. When we examine the impact of mass vaccination campaigns in Africa, these amount to approximately 10,000 (95%CrI [6,000 - 17,000]) deaths averted in 2018 due to mass vaccination activities in Africa; this corresponds to a 47% reduction (95%CrI [10% - 77%]).InterpretationWe find that the majority, 92% (95%CrI [89% - 95%]), of global burden occurs in Africa and that mass vaccination activities have significantly reduced the current deaths per year due to YF. This methodology allows us to evaluate the effectiveness of vaccination campaigns past, present and future and illustrates the need for continued vigilance and surveillance of YF.FundingBMGF and MRC

Background Mass drug administration (MDA) can rapidly reduce the burden of Plasmodium falciparum (Pf). However, concerns remain about its contribution to select for antimalarial drug resistance. Methods We used Sanger sequencing and real-time PCR to determine the proportion of molecular markers associated with antimalarial resistance (k13, pfpm2, pfmdr1 and pfcrt) in Pf isolates collected before (n = 99) and after (n = 112) the implementation of two monthly MDA rounds with dihydroartemisinin–piperaquine (DHAp) for two consecutive years in Magude district of Southern Mozambique. Results None of the k13 polymorphisms associated with artemisinin resistance were observed in the Pf isolates analyzed. The proportion of Pf isolates with multiple copies of pfpm2, an amplification associated with piperaquine resistance, was similar in pre- (4.9%) and post-MDA groups (3.4%; p = 1.000). No statistically significant differences were observed between pre- and post-MDA groups in the proportion of Pf isolates neither with mutations in pfcrt and pfmdr1 genes, nor with the carriage of pfmdr1 multiple copies (p>0.05). Conclusions This study does not show any evidence of increased frequency of molecular makers of antimalarial resistance after MDA with DHAp in southern Mozambique where markers of antimalarial resistance were absent or low at the beginning of the intervention.

International audience; Abstract Background For ICD-11, the WHO emphasized the clinical utility of communication and the need to involve service users and carers in the revision process. Aims The objective was to assess whether medical vocabulary was accessible, which kinds of feelings it activated, whether and how users and carers would like to rephrase terms, and whether they used diagnosis to talk about mental health experiences. Method An innovative protocol focused on two diagnoses (depressive episode and schizophrenia) was implemented in 15 different countries. The same issues were discussed with users and carers: understanding, feelings, rephrasing, and communication. Results Most participants reported understanding the diagnoses, but associated them with negative feelings. While the negativity of “depressive episode” mostly came from the concept itself, that of “schizophrenia” was largely based on its social impact and stigmatization associated with “mental illness”. When rephrasing “depressive episode”, a majority kept the root “depress*”, and suppressed the temporal dimension or renamed it. Almost no one suggested a reformulation based on “schizophrenia”. Finally, when communicating, no one used the phrase “depressive episode”. Some participants used words based on “depress”, but no one mentioned “episode”. Very few used “schizophrenia”. Conclusion Data revealed a gap between concepts and emotional and cognitive experiences. Both professional and experiential language and knowledge have to be considered as complementary. Consequently, the ICD should be co-constructed by professionals, service users, and carers. It should take the emotional component of language, and the diversity of linguistic and cultural contexts, into account.

Summary Background Human dietary exposure to chemicals can result in a wide range of adverse health effects. Some substances might cause non-communicable diseases, including cancer and coronary heart diseases, and could be nephrotoxic. Food is the main human exposure route for many chemicals. We aimed to assess human dietary exposure to a wide range of food chemicals. Methods We did a total diet study in Benin, Cameroon, Mali, and Nigeria. We assessed 4020 representative samples of foods, prepared as consumed, which covered more than 90% of the diet of 7291 households from eight study centres. By combining representative dietary surveys of countries with findings for concentrations of 872 chemicals in foods, we characterised human dietary exposure. Findings Exposure to lead could result in increases in adult blood pressure up to 2·0 mm Hg, whereas children might lose 8·8–13·3 IQ points (95th percentile in Kano, Nigeria). Morbidity factors caused by coexposure to aflatoxin B1 and hepatitis B virus, and sterigmatocystin and fumonisins, suggest several thousands of additional liver cancer cases per year, and a substantial contribution to the burden of chronic malnutrition in childhood. Exposure to 13 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from consumption of smoked fish and edible oils exceeded levels associated with possible carcinogenicity and genotoxicity health concerns in all study centres. Exposure to aluminium, ochratoxin A, and citrinin indicated a public health concern about nephropathies. From 470 pesticides tested across the four countries, only high concentrations of chlorpyrifos in smoked fish (unauthorised practice identified in Mali) could pose a human health risk. Interpretation Risks characterised by this total diet study underscore specific priorities in terms of food safety management in sub-Saharan Africa. Similar investigations specifically targeting children are crucially needed. Funding Standards and Trade Development Facility.

International audience

Background To counter the increasing global risk of Yellow fever (YF), the World Health Organisation initiated the Eliminate Yellow fever Epidemics (EYE) strategy. Estimating YF burden, as well as vaccine impact, while accounting for the features of urban YF transmission such as indirect benefits of vaccination, is key to informing this strategy. Methods and findings We developed two model variants to estimate YF burden in sub-Saharan Africa, assuming all infections stem from either the sylvatic or the urban cycle of the disease. Both relied on an ecological niche model fitted to the local presence of any YF reported event in 34 African countries. We calibrated under-reporting using independent estimates of transmission intensity provided by 12 serological surveys performed in 11 countries. We calculated local numbers of YF infections, deaths and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) lost based on estimated transmission intensity while accounting for time-varying vaccination coverage. We estimated vaccine demand and impact of future preventive mass vaccination campaigns (PMVCs) according to various vaccination scenarios. Vaccination activities conducted in Africa between 2005 and 2017 were estimated to prevent from 3.3 (95% CI 1.2–7.7) to 6.1 (95% CI 2.4–13.2) millions of deaths over the lifetime of vaccinees, representing extreme scenarios of none or maximal herd effects, respectively. By prioritizing provinces based on the risk of urban YF transmission in future PMVCs, an average of 37.7 million annual doses for PMVCs over eight years would avert an estimated 9,900,000 (95% CI 7,000,000–13,400,000) infections and 480,000 (180,000–1,140,000) deaths over the lifetime of vaccinees, corresponding to 1.7 (0.7–4.1) deaths averted per 1,000 vaccine doses. Conclusions By estimating YF burden and vaccine impact over a range of spatial and temporal scales, while accounting for the specificity of urban transmission, our model can be used to inform the current EYE strategy., Author summary As large-scale vaccination campaigns are begun or continued with the aim to eliminate yellow fever (YF) epidemics in several countries, estimating disease burden and vaccine impact is timely. We developed two model variants to estimate YF burden in sub-Saharan Africa, each either representing the sylvatic or urban cycle of the disease. Both relied on an ecological niche model fitted to known records of YF in 34 African countries and calibrated using serological survey data. Local numbers of YF infections and deaths were derived while accounting for time-varying vaccination coverage. We estimated vaccine demand and the impact of future preventive mass vaccination campaigns according to various vaccination scenarios. By providing burden and vaccine impact estimates over a range of spatial and temporal scales, and accounting for the specificity of urban transmission, our model can be used to inform the current international strategy to counter the increasing global risk of yellow fever.

Because the NIS reports hospital discharges rather than unique patients, we were unable to identify patients with multiple hospitalizations or estimate the per-person costs of hepatitis A inpatient care. We were also not able to separately report the costs associated with liver transplantation. Even though using highly sensitive inclusion criteria might have introduced an element of cost over-estimation in some patients incidentally diagnosed with hepatitis A while admitted for other conditions, our results almost certainly underestimate hospitalization costs associated with the ongoing hepatitis A outbreaks because NIS does not include hospital-based physician fees. Moreover, the national $306.8 million estimate does not account for outpatient visits , emergency department visits that did not result in an admission to the same hospital, lost productivity , out-of-pocket costs to patients or their informal caregivers, or public health costs associated with the hepatitis A outbreaks, further reinforcing the conservative nature of this estimate. Given the high proportion of hospitalized patients during the ongoing hepatitis A outbreaks, we estimated the average hepatitis A-related hospitalization costs to highlight the preventable economic burden of these outbreaks on healthcare systems and state governments. Hepatitis A is a vaccine-preventable disease. Despite longstanding vaccination recommendations for adults at increased risk for hepatitis A virus infection or adverse consequences of infection, self-reported adult hepatitis A vaccination coverage with >2 doses was only 10.9% for persons >19 years of age in 2017 (6). Our findings underscore the importance of improving hepatitis A vaccination coverage among at-risk adults, in accordance with Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommendations (7).

Allergies have long been observed in Inborn Errors of Immunity (IEI) and might even be the first presentation resulting in delayed diagnosis or misdiagnosis in some cases. However, data on the prevalence of allergic diseases among IEI patients are limited and contradictory.To provide a worldwide view of allergic diseases, across a broad spectrum of IEI, and their impact on the timely diagnosis of IEI.This is a worldwide study, conceived by the World Allergy Organization (WAO) Inborn Errors of Immunity Committee. A questionnaire was developed and pilot-tested and was sent via email to collect data from 61 immunology centers known to treat pediatric and/or adult IEI patients in 41 countries. In addition, a query was submitted to The United States Immunodeficiency Network (USIDNET) at its website.Thirty centers in 23 countries caring for a total 8450 IEI patients responded. The USIDNET dataset included 2332 patients. Data from responders showed that a median (IQR) of 16.3% (10-28.8%) of patients experienced allergic diseases during the course of their IEI as follows: 3.6% (1.3-11.3%) had bronchial asthma, 3.6% (1.9-9.1%) atopic dermatitis, 3.0% (1.0-7.8%) allergic rhinitis, and 1.3% (0.5-3.3%) food allergy. As per the USIDNET data, the frequency of allergy among IEI patients was 68.8% (bronchial asthma in 46.9%). The percentage of IEI patients who presented initially with allergic disorders was 8% (5-25%) and diagnosis delay was reported in 7.5% (0.9-20.6%). Predominantly antibody deficiencies had the highest frequency of allergic disease followed by combined immunodeficiency with a frequency of 40.3% (19.2-62.5%) and 20.0% (10-32%) respectively. As per the data of centers, anaphylaxis occurred in 25/8450 patients (0.3%) whereas per USIDNET dataset, it occurred in 249/2332 (10.6%); drugs and food allergy were the main causes in both datasets.This multinational study brings to focus the relation between allergic diseases and IEI. Major allergies do occur in IEI patients but were less frequent than the general population. Initial presentation with allergy could adversely affect the timely diagnosis of IEI. There is a need for policies to raise awareness and educate primary care and other referring specialties on the association of allergic diseases with IEI. This study provides a network among centers for future prospective studies in the field.

The mass vaccination of dogs is a proven tool for rabies prevention. Besides parenteral delivery of inactivated vaccines, over the past several decades, several self-replicating biologics, including modified-live, attenuated and recombinant viruses, have been evaluated for the oral vaccination of dogs against rabies. Vaccines are included within an attractive bait for oral consumption by free-ranging dogs. Due to the high affinity between dogs and humans, such biologics intended for oral vaccination of dogs (OVD) need to be efficacious as well as safe. Baits should be preferentially attractive to dogs and not to non-target species. Although many different types have been evaluated successfully, no universal bait has been identified to date. Moreover, high bait acceptance does not necessarily mean that vaccine efficacy and programmatic success is predictable. The use of OVD in the laboratory and field has demonstrated the safety and utility of this technology. Within a One Health context, OVD should be considered as part of a holistic plan for the global elimination of canine rabies. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13567-018-0554-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

International audience; Background: Inpatient care accounts for the majority of mental health care costs and is not always beneficial. It can indeed have detrimental consequences if not used appropriately, and is unpopular among patients. As a consequence, its reduction is supported by international recommendations. Varying rates of psychiatric inpatient admissions therefore deserve to draw attention of researchers, clinicians and policy makers alike as such variations can challenge quality, equity and efficiency of care. In this context, our objectives were first to describe variations in psychiatric inpatient admission rates across the whole territory of mainland France, and second to identify their association with characteristics of the supply of care, which can be targeted by dedicated health policies. Methods: Our study was carried out in French psychiatric sectors' catchment areas for the year 2012. Inpatient admission rates per 100,000 adult inhabitants were calculated using data from the national psychiatric discharge database. Their variations were described numerically and graphically. We then carried out a negative binomial regression to identify characteristics of the supply of care (public and private care, health and social care, hospital and community-based care, specialised and non-specialised care) which were associated with these variations while adjusting our analysis for other relevant factors, in particular epidemiological differences. Results: Considerable variations in inpatient admission rates were observed between psychiatric sectors' catchment areas and were widespread on the French territory. Institutional characteristics of the hospital to which each sector was linked (private non-profit status, specialisation in psychiatry and participation to teaching activities and to emergency care) were associated with inpatient admission rates. Similarly, an increase in the availability of community-based private psychiatrists was associated with a decrease in the inpatient admission rate while an increase in the capacity of housing institutions for disabled individuals was associated with an increase in this rate. Conclusions: Our results advocate for a homogenous repartition of health and social care for mental disorders in lines with the health needs of the population served. This should apply particularly to community-based private psychiatrists, whose heterogeneity of repartition has often been underscored.

BACKGROUND: In war-torn Yemen, reports of confirmed cholera started in late September, 2016. The disease continues to plague Yemen today in what has become the largest documented cholera epidemic of modern times. We aimed to describe the key epidemiological features of this epidemic, including the drivers of cholera transmission during the outbreak.METHODS: The Yemen Health Authorities set up a national cholera surveillance system to collect information on suspected cholera cases presenting at health facilities. Individual variables included symptom onset date, age, severity of dehydration, and rapid diagnostic test result. Suspected cholera cases were confirmed by culture, and a subset of samples had additional phenotypic and genotypic analysis. We first conducted descriptive analyses at national and governorate levels. We divided the epidemic into three time periods: the first wave (Sept 28, 2016, to April 23, 2017), the increasing phase of the second wave (April 24, 2017, to July 2, 2017), and the decreasing phase of the second wave (July 3, 2017, to March 12, 2018). We reconstructed the changes in cholera transmission over time by estimating the instantaneous reproduction number, Rt. Finally, we estimated the association between rainfall and the daily cholera incidence during the increasing phase of the second epidemic wave by fitting a spatiotemporal regression model.FINDINGS: From Sept 28, 2016, to March 12, 2018, 1 103 683 suspected cholera cases (attack rate 3·69%) and 2385 deaths (case fatality risk 0·22%) were reported countrywide. The epidemic consisted of two distinct waves with a surge in transmission in May, 2017, corresponding to a median Rt of more than 2 in 13 of 23 governorates. Microbiological analyses suggested that the same Vibrio cholerae O1 Ogawa strain circulated in both waves. We found a positive, non-linear, association between weekly rainfall and suspected cholera incidence in the following 10 days; the relative risk of cholera after a weekly rainfall of 25 mm was 1·42 (95% CI 1·31–1·55) compared with a week without rain.INTERPRETATION: Our analysis suggests that the small first cholera epidemic wave seeded cholera across Yemen during the dry season. When the rains returned in April, 2017, they triggered widespread cholera transmission that led to the large second wave. These results suggest that cholera could resurge during the ongoing 2018 rainy season if transmission remains active. Therefore, health authorities and partners should immediately enhance current control efforts to mitigate the risk of a new cholera epidemic wave in Yemen.FUNDING: Health Authorities of Yemen, WHO, and Médecins Sans Frontières.

BACKGROUND: Chronic cough can be triggered by respiratory and non-respiratory tract illnesses originating mainly from the upper and lower airways, and the GI tract (ie, reflux). Recent findings suggest it can also be a prominent feature in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), laryngeal hyperresponsiveness, and COVID-19. The classification of chronic cough is constantly updated but lacks clear definition. Epidemiological data on the prevalence of chronic cough are informative but highly variable. The underlying mechanism of chronic cough is a neurogenic inflammation of the cough reflex which becomes hypersensitive, thus the term hypersensitive cough reflex (HCR). A current challenge is to decipher how various infectious and inflammatory airway diseases and esophageal reflux, among others, modulate HCR. OBJECTIVES: The World Allergy Organization/Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma (WAO/ARIA) Joint Committee on Chronic Cough reviewed the current literature on classification, epidemiology, presenting features, and mechanistic pathways of chronic cough in airway- and reflux-related cough phenotypes, OSA, and COVID-19. The interplay of cough reflex sensitivity with other pathogenic mechanisms inherent to airway and reflux-related inflammatory conditions was also analyzed. OUTCOMES: Currently, it is difficult to clearly ascertain true prevalence rates in epidemiological studies of chronic cough phenotypes. This is likely due to lack of standardized objective measures needed for cough classification and frequent coexistence of multi-organ cough origins. Notwithstanding, we emphasize the important role of HCR as a mechanistic trigger in airway- and reflux-related cough phenotypes. Other concomitant mechanisms can also modulate HCR, including type2/Th1/Th2 inflammation, presence or absence of deep inspiration-bronchoprotective reflex (lower airways), tissue remodeling, and likely cough plasticity, among others. ispartof: WORLD ALLERGY ORGANIZATION JOURNAL vol:14 issue:12 ispartof: location:United States status: published

Background The production and use of malaria rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) has risen dramatically over the past 20 years. In view of weak or non-existing in vitro diagnostics (IVD) regulations and post-marketing surveillance (PMS) systems in malaria endemic countries, the World Health Organization, later joined by the Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics, established an independent, centralized performance evaluation and Lot Testing (LT) programme to safeguard against poor quality of RDTs being distributed through the public health sector of malaria endemic countries. RDT performances and manufacturer quality management systems have evolved over the past decade raising questions about the future need for a centralized LT programme. Results Between 2007 and 2017, 6056 lots have been evaluated, representing approximately 1.6 Billion RDTs. A total of 69 lots (1.1%) failed the quality control. Of these failures, 26 were detected at receipt of the RDT lot in the LT laboratory, representing an estimated 7.9 million poor quality RDTs, and LT requesters were advised that RDTs were not of sufficient quality for use in patient management. Forty-three were detected after long-term storage in the laboratory, of which 24 (56%) were found to be due to a major issue with insufficient buffer volume in single use buffer vials, others predominantly showing loss of sensitivity. The annual cost of running the programme, based on expenses recorded in years 2014–2016, an estimated volume of 700 lots per year and including replenishment of quality control samples, was estimated at US$ 178,500 ($US 255 per lot tested). Conclusions Despite the clear benefits of the centralized LT programme and its low cost compared with the potential costs of each country establishing its own PMS system for RDTs, funding concerns have made its future beyond 2020 uncertain. In order to manage the risks of misdiagnosis due to low quality RDTs, and to ensure the continued safety and reliability of malaria case management, there is a need to ensure that an effective and implementable approach to RDT quality control continues to be available to programmes in endemic countries.

International audience; No abstract available

International audience; Background: Access to antiretroviral treatment has improved the life expectancy of HIV-positive patients, most often associated with a desire to limit childbearing. Women living with HIV (WLHIV) commonly have unmet need for contraception and could be at risk of unintended pregnancy. Preventing unintended pregnancies among women living with HIV are effective strategies to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV. Objective: The aim of this study was to assess unmet need for limiting childbirth and its associated factors among women living with HIV in Togo. Methods: This facility based cross-sectional study was conducted, between June and August 2016, among WLHIV in their reproductive age (15–49 years) in HIV-care settings in Centrale and Kara regions Data was collected using a structured and pretested questionnaire. WLHIV who desired to limit childbirth but not using contraception were considered to have unmet need of birth limitations. Univariate and multivariate Poisson regression models with robust variance were performed to identify associated factors with unmet needs. A multi-model averaging approach was used to estimate the degree of the association between these factors and the unmet need of birth limitations. Results: A total of 443 WLHIV were enrolled, with mean age of 34.5 years (standard deviation [SD] = 7.0). Among them 244 (55.1%) were in couple and 200 (45.1%) had at least the secondary level of education. 39.1% were followed-up in a private healthcare facility. At the time of the survey, 40.0% did not desire childbearing but only 9.0% (95% CI [6.7–12.1]) of them expressed unmet needs for limiting childbirth. In multivariable analysis, associated factors with unmet needs of birth limitations were: being aged 35 years or more (adjusted prevalence ratio (aPR) = 3.11, 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) [1.52–6.38]), living in couple (aPR = 2.32 [1.15–4.65]), living in Kara region (aPR = 0.10 [0.01–0.76]), being followed in a private healthcare facility (aPR = 0.08[0.01–0.53]) and having severe HIV symptoms (aPR = 3.50 [1.31–9.37]). Conclusion: Even though the unmet need for births limitation was relatively low among WLHIV in Togo, interventions to improve more access to contraceptive methods, and targeting 35 to 49 years old women, those in couple or followed in the public healthcare facilities would contribute to the eradication of mother-to-child transmission of HIV.

International audience; Domestic dogs are responsible for nearly all the »59,000 global human rabies deaths that occur annually. Numerous control measures have been successful at eliminating dog-mediated human rabies deaths in upper-income countries, including dog population management, parenteral dog vaccination programs, access to human rabies vaccines, and education programs for bite prevention and wound treatment. Implementing these techniques in resource-poor settings can be challenging; perhaps the greatest challenge is maintaining adequate herd immunity in free-roaming dog populations. Oral rabies vaccines have been a cornerstone in rabies virus elimination from wildlife populations; however, oral vaccines have never been effectively used to control dog-mediated rabies. Here, we convey the perspectives of the World Organisation for Animal Health Rabies Reference Laboratory Directors, the World Organisation for Animal Health expert committee on dog rabies control, and World Health Organization regarding the role of oral vaccines for dogs. We also issue recommendations for overcoming hesitations to expedited field use of appropriate oral vaccines.

International audience

ISI Document Delivery No.: JQ4GU Times Cited: 1 Cited Reference Count: 39 Jitaru, Petru Ingenbleek, Luc Marchond, Nathalie Laurent, Clemence Adegboye, Abimbola Hossou, Setondji Epiphane Kone, Abdoulaye Zie Oyedele, Awoyinka Dada Kisito, Chabi Sika K. J. Dembele, Yara Koreissi Eyangoh, Sara Verger, Philippe Le Bizec, Bruno Leblanc, Jean-Charles Guerin, Thierry Ingenbleek, Luc/0000-0001-9100-1460 Standard and Trade Development Facility (STDF)Science and Technology Development Fund (STDF) [STDF/PG/303] The project was funded by the Standard and Trade Development Facility (STDF) under grant STDF/PG/303. We would like to remember the late Marie Madeleine Gimou, the initiator of this study. Many thanks also to FAO staff (Renata Clarke, Markus Lipp, Caroline Merten, Blaise Ouattara, Jean Kamanzi, Sekou Hebie, and Alex Nyarko) who supported the Total diet study at various stages of its submission and implementation. The CPC management and various heads of national coordinating institutions of the participating countries, ABSSA (Benin), ANSSA (Mali), and NAFDAC (Nigeria), contributed to the success of this project. The scientific committee members, who provided guidance and validation of the methodology with their valuable experience of implementing total diet studies, are Katie Egan, Peter Furst, Adam Probert, Siswanto, and Christina Tlustos. We are extremely grateful for their support. 1 3 Pergamon-elsevier science ltd Oxford 1873-6750 B; International audience; This paper reports occurrence data related to 30 trace elements in food composite samples from a multi-regional Sub-Saharan Africa Total Diet Study. Herein, 2700 samples grouped in 225 food composite samples corresponding to 13 food groups: cereals, tubers, legumes, vegetables, fruits, nuts/seeds, meat, eggs, fish, milk/dairy, oil/fats, and beverages from eight locations in four countries, namely Benin (Littoral/Borgou), Cameroon (Duala/North), Mali (Bamako/Sikasso), and Nigeria (Lagos/Kano) were prepared as consumed, pooled, and analysed using a validated method based on inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. The occurrence data for Al, As, Cd, Hg, and Pb as regulated by the Codex Alimentarius are discussed herein. Although the levels of As, Cd, Hg, and Pb were above the limit of quantification, they were below the maximum limits set by the Codex in most samples analysed. A distinct feature was observed for cereals and tubers, as they were mostly contaminated with Al and Pb. A pilot study regarding the impact of using artisanal cookware (made from recycled aluminium) on the contamination of food samples was performed. Relevant contamination with Al and Pb when cooking tomato samples from Cameroon and Nigeria using artisanal aluminium cookware was compared to that when cooked using stainless-steel.