Displaying publications 1 - 20 of 231 in total

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  1. Insurance and epidemics: SARS, West Nile virus and Nipah virus
    von Overbeck J
    J Insur Med, 2003;35(3-4):165-73.
    PMID: 14971089
    Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) reminds us that sudden disease emergence is a permanent part of our world--and should be anticipated in our planning. Historically the emergence of new diseases has had little or no impact beyond a small, localized cluster of infections. However, given just the right conditions, a highly virulent pathogen can suddenly spread across time and space with massive consequences, as has occurred on several occasions in human history. In the wake of the SARS outbreak, we are now forced to confront the unpleasant fact that human activities are increasing the frequency and severity of these kinds of emergences. The idea of more frequent biological "invasions" with economic and societal impacts comparable to SARS, presents stakeholders in and the global economy with unprecedented new risks, challenges and even opportunities. As a major contributor to economic stability, the insurance industry must follow these trends very closely and develop scenarios to anticipate these events.
    Matched MeSH terms: Communicable Diseases, Emerging/epidemiology
  2. Fulltext Chickenpox in pregnancy: still a feared complication
    Zainur Rashid, Z., Sharifah Sulaiha, S.A., Darnina, A.J.
    International Medical Journal Malaysia, 2007;6(2):1-11.
    MyJurnal
    Varicella or chickenpox is an infectious disease caused by Varicella Zoster Virus (VZV), which commonly affects the children. It is a mild, self-limiting disease and rarely complicate to serious conditions except in adults. Decreasing incidence of chickenpox among children, probably owing to improved living conditions ,prevention and health care, is worrisome as growing number of adults are being infected. This creates disturbing concerns in many parties as women at childbearing age might get infected and not only are them at a great risk of serious complications, but also their unborn fetus or their newborn babies.
    Matched MeSH terms: Communicable Diseases
  3. Fulltext Implication of predator interaction of the spread of hantavirus infection
    Yusof, F. M., Md. Ismail, A. I. B., Abu Hasan, Y.
    MATEMATIKA, 2018;34(2):205-226.
    MyJurnal
    Hantaviruses are etiological agents of zoonotic diseases and certain other dis-
    eases, which pose a serious threat to human health. When rodent and predator popula-
    tions share in an ecology, the competitive force of the populations can lead to a reduction
    or elimination of a hantavirus outbreak. The effect of the predator eliminating rodents
    and predator populations that tends to reduce or eliminate hantavirus infection is investi-
    gated. The existence of several equilibrium points of the model is identified and local and
    global stabilities of the model at these equilibrium points are analysed in detail. Numerical
    simulations are carried out to illustrate our model results.
    Matched MeSH terms: Communicable Diseases
  4. Effect of predators on the spread of hantavirus infection
    Yusof F, Md Ismail A.I.B., Ali N
    Sains Malaysiana, 2014;43:1045-1051.
    Hantavirus is a serious disease caused by rodents which can lead to mortality. Many efforts have been carried out by researchers to develop and analyze mathematical models of Hantavirus infection. In this paper, the Peixoto and Abramson (2006) biodiversity model is modified to include the effect of predators and study the prediction of the modified model. When rodent and predator populations are in competition, the predator populations have the effect of reducing the prevalence of infection. Predators may be used for control and reduces the number of competing species to stabilize the populations at a persistent equilibrium.
    Matched MeSH terms: Communicable Diseases
  5. Fulltext Clinical manifestation and genetic analysis of familial rare disease genodermatosis xeroderma pigmentosum
    Yuniati R, Sihombing NRB, Nauphar D, Tiawarman B, Kartikasari DS, Dewi M, et al.
    Intractable Rare Dis Res, 2021 May;10(2):114-121.
    PMID: 33996357 DOI: 10.5582/irdr.2020.03143
    Xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) is a rare autosomal recessive disease characterized by hypersensitivity of the skin to ultraviolet radiation and other carcinogenic agents. This ailment is characterized by increased photosensitivity, skin xerosis, early skin aging, actinic keratosis, erythematous lesions, and hyperpigmentation macules. In this serial case report, we presented four cases with XP from two families in Indonesia. Both families were referred from rural referral health centers, and each family has two affected siblings. They had freckle-like pigmentation on the face, trunk, and extremities, which progressed since childhood. One patient of family 2 died because of an infectious disease. Histopathological examination using cytokeratine (CK), CD10, and Ber-EP4 staining from available tissue biopsy of one affected case of family 1 identified basal cell carcinoma (BCC) on the cheek and melanoma on the right eye. Mutation analysis found ERCC2, c2047C>T and XPC, c1941T>A in the first and second families, respectively. We suppose that this is the first case report of XP in Indonesia that incorporates clinical examination, genetic analysis, and extensive histopathological examination, including immunohistochemistry staining, and a novel pathogenic variant of XPC was found in the second family.
    Matched MeSH terms: Communicable Diseases
  6. Fulltext Assessing the impact of non-pharmaceutical interventions on the transmissibility and severity of COVID-19 during the first five months in the Western Pacific Region
    Yeoh EK, Chong KC, Chiew CJ, Lee VJ, Ng CW, Hashimoto H, et al.
    One Health, 2021 Jun;12:100213.
    PMID: 33506086 DOI: 10.1016/j.onehlt.2021.100213
    While most countries in the Western Pacific Region (WPR) had similar trajectories of COVID-19 from January to May, their implementations of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) differed by transmission stages. To offer a better understanding for an implementation of multidisciplinary policies in COVID-19 control, we compared the impact of NPIs by assessing the transmissibility and severity of COVID-19 in different phases of the epidemic during the first five months in WPR. In this study, we estimated the piecewise instantaneous reproduction number (R
    t
    ) and the reporting delay-adjusted case-fatality ratio (dCFR) of COVID-19 in seven WPR jurisdictions: Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Japan, Malaysia, Shanghai, Singapore, South Korea, and Taiwan. According to the results, implementing NPIs was associated with an apparent reduction of the piecewise R
    t
    in two epidemic waves in general. However, large cluster outbreaks raised the piecewise R
    t
    to a high level. We also observed relaxing the NPIs could result in an increase of R
    t
    . The estimated dCFR ranged from 0.09% to 1.59% among the jurisdictions, except in Japan where an estimate of 5.31% might be due to low testing efforts. To conclude, in conjunction with border control measures to reduce influx of imported cases which might cause local outbreaks, other NPIs including social distancing measures along with case finding by rapid tests are also necessary to prevent potential large cluster outbreaks and transmissions from undetected cases. A comparatively lower CFR may reflect the health system capacity of these jurisdictions. In order to keep track of sustained disease transmission due to resumption of economic activities, a close monitoring of disease transmissibility is recommended in the relaxation phase. The report of transmission of SARS CoV-2 to pets in Hong Kong and to mink in farm outbreaks highlight for the control of COVID-19 and emerging infectious disease, the One Health approach is critical in understanding and accounting for how human, animals and environment health are intricately connected.
    Matched MeSH terms: Communicable Diseases, Emerging
  7. Fulltext Postbiotics Applications as Infectious Disease Control Agent in Aquaculture
    Yao Ang C, Sano M, Dan S, Leelakriangsak M, M Lal T
    Biocontrol Sci, 2020;25(1):1-7.
    PMID: 32173662 DOI: 10.4265/bio.25.1
    Aquaculture is developing so fast that infectious disease outbreak happens regularly. Antibiotic treatment results in development of antibiotic resistance pathogens, thus cause urgent action in searching of other alternative treatment method. Postbiotic was one of the explored strategies among various proposed alternatives. Due to its benefits in agriculture industry, it may be useful in aquaculture industry. Although many reviews were reported on other alternative strategies, the review on postbiotic in aquaculture is limited. This mini review provides an overview of different postbiotics as aquaculture disease control agents. Peptides and exopolysaccharides have antimicrobial properties against bacterial pathogens. Then, short chain fatty acids have both antimicrobial activities against bacterial pathogens and immunostimulating effects to aquatic organism. Vitamins, peptidoglycan and lipopolysaccharide are reported as immunostimulants. Finally, cell surface proteins and teichoic acid can act as vaccine.
    Matched MeSH terms: Communicable Diseases/drug therapy*
  8. Fulltext Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP): a versatile technique for detection of micro-organisms
    Wong YP, Othman S, Lau YL, Radu S, Chee HY
    J Appl Microbiol, 2018 Mar;124(3):626-643.
    PMID: 29165905 DOI: 10.1111/jam.13647
    Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) amplifies DNA with high specificity, efficiency and rapidity under isothermal conditions by using a DNA polymerase with high displacement strand activity and a set of specifically designed primers to amplify targeted DNA strands. Following its first discovery by Notomi et al. ( Nucleic Acids Res 28: E63), LAMP was further developed over the years which involved the combination of this technique with other molecular approaches, such as reverse transcription and multiplex amplification for the detection of infectious diseases caused by micro-organisms in humans, livestock and plants. In this review, available types of LAMP techniques will be discussed together with their applications in detection of various micro-organisms. Up to date, there are varieties of LAMP detection methods available including colorimetric and fluorescent detection, real-time monitoring using turbidity metre and detection using lateral flow device which will also be highlighted in this review. Apart from that, commercialization of LAMP technique had also been reported such as lyophilized form of LAMP reagents kit and LAMP primer sets for detection of pathogenic micro-organisms. On top of that, advantages and limitations of this molecular detection method are also described together with its future potential as a diagnostic method for infectious disease.
    Matched MeSH terms: Communicable Diseases/diagnosis*; Communicable Diseases/microbiology; Communicable Diseases/parasitology; Communicable Diseases/virology
  9. Malaysian society and health: issues and challenges in the 21st century
    Wong YL, Mohd Amin J
    JUMMEC, 2005;8:53-58.
    Malaysia, like many aspiring developing countries, is undergoing a health transition that has seen the concomitant decrease in communicable diseases and increase in chronic diseases due to urbanization, modernization and ageing population. Health in the Malaysian society will thus increasingly focus on emerging problems that are both chronic and infectious in nature, such as, heart disease, diabetes, cancer, mental health, hepatitis and HIV/AIDS. Re-emerging diseases previously well-controlled, such as, tuberculosis for instance is another addition to these immediate health issues facing Malaysian society today. Despite the tremendous health gains and above average health status that Malaysians now enjoy, we are compelled to take stock of these urgent issues as well as to anticipate and handle serious challenges to our health in the 21st century. In this paper, we review the changing trends and discuss related challenges in disease pattern, environmental health, demographic impacts on health, migration influxes and health, effects of globalization on health, mental health and wellness as well as fundamental access and equality in health care. Being proactive, resilient and innovative, Malaysian society would forge ahead towards our Vision for Health in this new era. KEYWORDS: Society and health, health trends and issues, Vision for Health, Malaysia
    Matched MeSH terms: Communicable Diseases
  10. Fulltext Nationwide study of factors associated with public's willingness to use home self-test kit for dengue fever in Malaysia
    Wong LP, Atefi N, AbuBakar S
    BMC Public Health, 2016 08 12;16:780.
    PMID: 27520825 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-016-3409-y
    BACKGROUND: As there is no specific treatment for dengue, early detection and access to proper treatment may lower dengue fatality. Therefore, having new techniques for the early detection of dengue fever, such as the use of dengue test kit, is vitally important. The aims of the study were: 1) identify factors associated with acceptance of a home self-test kit for dengue fever if the dengue test is available to the public and 2) find out the characteristics of the test kits that influence the use of the dengue test kit.

    METHODS: A national telephone survey was carried out with 2,512 individuals of the Malaysian public aged 18-60 years old. Individuals were contacted by random digit dialling covering the whole of Malaysia from February 2012 to June 2013.

    RESULTS: From 2,512 participants, 6.1 % reported to have heard of the availability of the dengue home test kit and of these, 44.8 % expressed their intention to use the test kit if it was available. Multivariate logistic regressions indicated that participants with primary (OR: 0.65; 95 % CI: 0.43-0.89; p = 0.02, vs. tertiary educational level) and secondary educational levels (OR: 0.73; 95 % CI: 0.57-0.90; p = 0.01, vs. tertiary educational level) were less likely than participants with a tertiary educational level to use a home self-testing dengue kit for dengue if the kit was available. Participants with lower perceived barriers to dengue prevention (level of barriers 0-5) were less likely (OR: 0.67, 95 % CI: 0.53-0.85, p 

    Matched MeSH terms: Communicable Diseases/diagnosis
  11. Nipah virus infection: pathology and pathogenesis of an emerging paramyxoviral zoonosis
    Wong KT, Shieh WJ, Kumar S, Norain K, Abdullah W, Guarner J, et al.
    Am J Pathol, 2002 Dec;161(6):2153-67.
    PMID: 12466131
    In 1998, an outbreak of acute encephalitis with high mortality rates among pig handlers in Malaysia led to the discovery of a novel paramyxovirus named Nipah virus. A multidisciplinary investigation that included epidemiology, microbiology, molecular biology, and pathology was pivotal in the discovery of this new human infection. Clinical and autopsy findings were derived from a series of 32 fatal human cases of Nipah virus infection. Diagnosis was established in all cases by a combination of immunohistochemistry (IHC) and serology. Routine histological stains, IHC, and electron microscopy were used to examine autopsy tissues. The main histopathological findings included a systemic vasculitis with extensive thrombosis and parenchymal necrosis, particularly in the central nervous system. Endothelial cell damage, necrosis, and syncytial giant cell formation were seen in affected vessels. Characteristic viral inclusions were seen by light and electron microscopy. IHC analysis showed widespread presence of Nipah virus antigens in endothelial and smooth muscle cells of blood vessels. Abundant viral antigens were also seen in various parenchymal cells, particularly in neurons. Infection of endothelial cells and neurons as well as vasculitis and thrombosis seem to be critical to the pathogenesis of this new human disease.
    Matched MeSH terms: Communicable Diseases, Emerging/diagnosis; Communicable Diseases, Emerging/epidemiology; Communicable Diseases, Emerging/pathology*; Communicable Diseases, Emerging/virology
  12. Fulltext A golden hamster model for human acute Nipah virus infection
    Wong KT, Grosjean I, Brisson C, Blanquier B, Fevre-Montange M, Bernard A, et al.
    Am J Pathol, 2003 Nov;163(5):2127-37.
    PMID: 14578210 DOI: 10.1016/S0002-9440(10)63569-9
    A predominantly pig-to-human zoonotic infection caused by the novel Nipah virus emerged recently to cause severe morbidity and mortality in both animals and man. Human autopsy studies showed the pathogenesis to be related to systemic vasculitis that led to widespread thrombotic occlusion and microinfarction in most major organs especially in the central nervous system. There was also evidence of extravascular parenchymal infection, particularly near damaged vessels (Wong KT, Shieh WJ, Kumar S, Norain K, Abdullah W, Guarner J, Goldsmith CS, Chua KB, Lam SK, Tan CT, Goh KJ, Chong HT, Jusoh R, Rollin PE, Ksiazek TG, Zaki SR, Nipah Virus Pathology Working Group: Nipah virus infection: Pathology and pathogenesis of an emerging paramyxoviral zoonosis. Am J Pathol 2002, 161:2153-2167). We describe here a golden hamster (Mesocricetus auratus) model that appears to reproduce the pathology and pathogenesis of acute human Nipah infection. Hamsters infected by intranasal or intraperitoneal routes died within 9 to 29 days or 5 to 9 days, respectively. Pathological lesions were most severe and extensive in the hamster brain. Vasculitis, thrombosis, and more rarely, multinucleated endothelial syncytia, were found in blood vessels of multiple organs. Viral antigen and RNA were localized in both vascular and extravascular tissues including neurons, lung, kidney, and spleen, as demonstrated by immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization, respectively. Paramyxoviral-type nucleocapsids were identified in neurons and in vessel walls. At the terminal stage of infection, virus and/or viral RNA could be recovered from most solid organs and urine, but not from serum. The golden hamster is proposed as a suitable model for further studies including pathogenesis studies, anti-viral drug testing, and vaccine development against acute Nipah infection.
    Matched MeSH terms: Communicable Diseases, Emerging/mortality; Communicable Diseases, Emerging/pathology; Communicable Diseases, Emerging/virology
  13. [Emerging parasitic diseases]
    Weibel Galluzzo C, Wagner N, Michel Y, Jackson Y, Chappuis F
    Rev Med Suisse, 2014 May 7;10(429):1008-13.
    PMID: 24908745
    Travels, migration and circulation of goods facilitate the emergence of new infectious diseases often unrecognized outside endemic areas. Most of emerging infections are of viral origin. Muscular Sarcocystis infection, an acute illness acquired during short trips to Malaysia, and Chagas disease, a chronic illness with long incubation period found among Latin American migrants, are two very different examples of emerging parasitic diseases. The former requires a preventive approach for travelers going to Malaysia and must be brought forth when they return with fever, myalgia and eosinophilia, while the latter requires a proactive attitude to screen Latin American migrant populations that may face difficulties in accessing care.
    Matched MeSH terms: Communicable Diseases, Emerging/diagnosis*; Communicable Diseases, Emerging/parasitology*
  14. The 2019 report of The Lancet Countdown on health and climate change: ensuring that the health of a child born today is not defined by a changing climate
    Watts N, Amann M, Arnell N, Ayeb-Karlsson S, Belesova K, Boykoff M, et al.
    Lancet, 2019 11 16;394(10211):1836-1878.
    PMID: 31733928 DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(19)32596-6
    Matched MeSH terms: Communicable Diseases/epidemiology
  15. Radiology and disease patterns in Malaysia
    Wastie ML
    Trop Geogr Med, 1975 Mar;27(1):17-24.
    PMID: 1138449
    The organisation of the radiological services in Malaysia is described and those diseases in which radiology plays an important part in diagnosis are discussed. As radiology embraces all specialities a pattern of diseases emerges which is different from that seen in the West. The control of infectious diseases, the general improvement in health care and the more sophisticated radiological investigations now available mean that in future radiology will play a much more important part in diagnosis and management of patients.
    Matched MeSH terms: Communicable Diseases/radiography
  16. Fulltext The communication of artificial intelligence and deep learning in computer tomography image recognition of epidemic pulmonary infectious diseases
    Wang W, Zhao X, Jia Y, Xu J
    PLoS One, 2024;19(2):e0297578.
    PMID: 38319912 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0297578
    The objectives are to improve the diagnostic efficiency and accuracy of epidemic pulmonary infectious diseases and to study the application of artificial intelligence (AI) in pulmonary infectious disease diagnosis and public health management. The computer tomography (CT) images of 200 patients with pulmonary infectious disease are collected and input into the AI-assisted diagnosis software based on the deep learning (DL) model, "UAI, pulmonary infectious disease intelligent auxiliary analysis system", for lesion detection. By analyzing the principles of convolutional neural networks (CNN) in deep learning (DL), the study selects the AlexNet model for the recognition and classification of pulmonary infection CT images. The software automatically detects the pneumonia lesions, marks them in batches, and calculates the lesion volume. The result shows that the CT manifestations of the patients are mainly involved in multiple lobes and density, the most common shadow is the ground-glass opacity. The detection rate of the manual method is 95.30%, the misdetection rate is 0.20% and missed diagnosis rate is 4.50%; the detection rate of the DL-based AI-assisted lesion method is 99.76%, the misdetection rate is 0.08%, and the missed diagnosis rate is 0.08%. Therefore, the proposed model can effectively identify pulmonary infectious disease lesions and provide relevant data information to objectively diagnose pulmonary infectious disease and manage public health.
    Matched MeSH terms: Communicable Diseases*
  17. Fulltext A returning migrant worker with avian influenza A (H7N9) virus infection in Guizhou, China: a case report
    Wang D, Tang G, Huang Y, Yu C, Li S, Zhuang L, et al.
    J Med Case Rep, 2015;9:109.
    PMID: 25962780 DOI: 10.1186/s13256-015-0580-1
    Human infection with avian influenza A (H7N9) virus was first reported on March, 2013 in the Yangtze River Delta region of China. The majority of human cases were detected in mainland China; other regions out of mainland China reported imported human cases, including Hong Kong SAR, Taiwan (the Republic of China) and Malaysia, due to human transportation. Here, we report the first human case of H7N9 infection imported into Guizhou Province during the Spring Festival travel season in January 2014.
    Matched MeSH terms: Communicable Diseases, Emerging/epidemiology
  18. Fulltext The association of birth order and sociodemographic factors with caries experience among adolescents in Tumpat
    Wan Salina, W.S., Nizam, A., Naing, L.
    Archives of Orofacial Sciences, 2007;2(1):45-50.
    MyJurnal
    Sociodemographic factors have received considerable attention in the literature with regards its relationship with caries. However, the related information among children ages 12-17 is fairly limited. Birth order has been consistently found to be associated with diseases hypothesized to have an infectious aetiology but only few studies have examined its relationship with dental caries. The aims of this study were to determine the association of birth order and the sociodemographic background of subjects with caries and high caries experience among 16-year-old schoolchildren in Tumpat district, Kelantan. This was a case-control study. A total of 1087 16-year-old schoolchildren were examined intraorally for their caries status. They were categorized into three groups namely caries free (DMFS=0) mild caries (DMFS= 1-7) and high caries (DMFS ≥8) group based on DMFS score. Cases were the caries group and the controls were the caries free group. In each group, 163 subjects were selected by using simple random sampling. A questionnaire was used to obtain personal information of the subjects, birthweight and sociodemographic background. Analysis involved was ordinal logistic regression. The factor that was found to have association with caries and high caries experience determined using multiple ordinal logistic regression analysis was educational level of parents (OR=1.55, 95% CI: 1.06; 2.28). This study showed that birth order was not a significant factor associated with caries experience. Among the sociodemographic factors, only parent’s educational level was found to be associated with caries and high caries experience.
    Matched MeSH terms: Communicable Diseases
  19. Fulltext Reverse Transcriptase PCR detection of Hepatitis A virus (HAV) in cultured and wild shellfish from the Peninsular of Malaysia
    Wan Norhana, M. N., Masazurah A. R.
    International Food Research Journal, 2011;18(1):411-415.
    MyJurnal
    Hepatitis A is a liver infection caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV). Outbreaks of hepatitis A have been linked to the consumption of both raw and cooked shellfish. These outbreaks could induce a public confidence problem over shellfish safety and may result in important economic losses for the seafood industry. The work presented in this study investigated the presence of HAV in shellfish from Peninsular Malaysia. A total of 365 of cultured and wild shellfish from 36 sampling locations located throughout Peninsular Malaysia were examined using a commercial nucleic acid extraction and reverse transcription -polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) kit. HAV was not detected in almost all of the shellfish samples xamined. Only one cockle sample from Changkat, Seberang Perai was positive for HAV. The results suggest the absence of HAV or very low amount of HAV viral particles in most of the shellfish examined.
    Matched MeSH terms: Communicable Diseases
  20. The hazards of importing diseases of animals
    WELLS CW
    Med J Malaya, 1956 Sep;11(1):71-5.
    PMID: 13399544
    Matched MeSH terms: Communicable Diseases/transmission*
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