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  1. Um Min Allah N, Arshad S, Mahmood H, Abbas H
    Asia Pac Psychiatry, 2020 Dec;12(4):e12409.
    PMID: 32767510 DOI: 10.1111/appy.12409
    Matched MeSH terms: Disease Outbreaks*
  2. Mohamad Yusof NY, Mohd Zulkefli NA, Ismail S, Abd Rashid MF
    MyJurnal
    Introduction: Outbreak of vaccine preventable disease still persists despite good coverage of immunization in Malaysia. Health literacy on childhood immunization is one of essential factor for the outbreak to happen. Thus, this study determined the predictors of health literacy on childhood immunization among antenatal mother in Seremban, Negeri Sembilan.
    Methodology: A cross sectional study was conducted among 424 antenatal women using a cluster sampling approach. Antenatal women who were Malaysian and not illiterate were chosen in this study. A selfadministered, validated and pretested questionnaire was used to collect data on sociodemographic, socio economic, awareness on immunization, utilization of health care services and health literacy on childhood immunization. The data was analyzed using SPSS version 22.0. Chi Square test was used in bivariate analysis and multiple logistic regression was used to determine the predictors of inadequate health literacy on childhood immunization.
    Result: Out of 362 respondents, 81.2% were inadequate health literacy. The predictors were maternal education (AOR= 2.608, 95% CI 1.477-4.604), parity (AOR= 1.067, 95% CI 1.103-3.876), residential area (AOR= 2.344, 95% CI 1.184-4.641) and utilization of government hospital (AOR= 2.344, 95% CI 1.184-4.641).
    Conclusion: Accessibility of health education with regard to immunization need to be strengthen among primigravida, low education and those staying in rural area. In addition, health education also needs to emphasize on the individual that is employed and low economic status with underutilization of government hospital. A simplified education material with interesting pictures and using visual aids help illiterate people for better understanding.
    Study site: Klinik Kesihatan, Seremban district, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia
    Matched MeSH terms: Disease Outbreaks
  3. Abdul Khaiyom JH
    Malays J Med Sci, 2020 Jul;27(4):147-153.
    PMID: 32863754 MyJurnal DOI: 10.21315/mjms2020.27.4.14
    COVID-19 and the Movement Control Order (MCO) may trigger a 'next wave' of mental health problems. However, the relationship is not linear. Human psychology also has an impact on the outbreak. Thus, proper strategies to manage human psychology, especially mental health, is very important to break the vicious cycle. This article aims to discuss ways to manage mental health using cognitive-behavioural approaches, mindfulness and spirituality. Specific cognitive-behavioural and mindfulness strategies are listed and suggestions to return to the foundation of human existence are discussed. By practising the cognitive-behavioural, mindfulness, and spirituality strategies described, we may enhance our acceptance, optimism and commitment to prepare for a 'new or renewed normal'.
    Matched MeSH terms: Disease Outbreaks
  4. Zawiah M, Al-Ashwal FY, Saeed RM, Kubas M, Saeed S, Khan AH, et al.
    Front Public Health, 2020;8:419.
    PMID: 32850608 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2020.00419
    Background: In the past decade, Yemen has witnessed several disasters that resulted in a crumbled healthcare system. With the declaration of COVID-19 a global pandemic, and later the appearance of first confirmed cases in Yemen, there is an urgent need to assess the preparedness of healthcare facilities (HCFs) and their capacities to tackle a looming COVID-19 outbreak. Herein, we present an assessment of the current state of preparedness and capabilities of HCFs in Yemen to prevent and manage the COVID-19 outbreak. Methods: An online survey for HCFs was developed, validated, and distributed. The questionnaire is divided into five main sections: (1) Demographic variables for participants. (2) HCFs capabilities for COVID-19 outbreak. (3) Support received to face the emergence and spread of COVID-19. (4). Current practices of infection prevention and control measures in the HCFs. The last section focused on the recommendations to ensure effective and timely response to this outbreak in Yemen. Descriptive analysis was used to analyze data using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS), version 23. Results: Responses were received from healthcare workers (HCWs) from 18 out of 22 governorates in Yemen. Out of the 296 HCWs who participated in the study, the vast majority (93.9%) believed that the healthcare system in Yemen does not have the resources and capabilities to face and manage a COVID-19 outbreak. Approximately 82.4% of participants rated the general preparedness level of their HCFs as very poor or poor. More specifically, the majority of HCWs rated their HCFs as very poor or poor in term of availability of the following: an adequate number of mechanical ventilators (88.8%), diagnostic devices (88.2%), ICU rooms and beds (81.4%), and isolation rooms (79.7%). Conclusions: The healthcare facilities in Yemen are unprepared and lack the most basic resources and capabilities to cope with or tackle a COVID-19 outbreak. With the current state of a fragile healthcare system, a widespread outbreak of COVID-19 in Yemen could result in devastating consequences. There is an urgent need to provide support to the healthcare workers and HCFs that are on the frontline against COVID-19.
    Matched MeSH terms: Disease Outbreaks
  5. Law KB, M Peariasamy K, Mohd Ibrahim H, Abdullah NH
    Sci Rep, 2021 10 18;11(1):20574.
    PMID: 34663839 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-00013-2
    The conventional susceptible-infectious-recovered (SIR) model tends to magnify the transmission dynamics of infectious diseases, and thus the estimated total infections and immunized population may be higher than the threshold required for infection control and eradication. The study developed a new SIR framework that allows the transmission rate of infectious diseases to decline along with the reduced risk of contact infection to overcome the limitations of the conventional SIR model. Two new SIR models were formulated to mimic the declining transmission rate of infectious diseases at different stages of transmission. Model A utilized the declining transmission rate along with the reduced risk of contact infection following infection, while Model B incorporated the declining transmission rate following recovery. Both new models and the conventional SIR model were then used to simulate an infectious disease with a basic reproduction number (r0) of 3.0 and a herd immunity threshold (HIT) of 0.667 with and without vaccination. Outcomes of simulations were assessed at the time when the total immunized population reached the level predicted by the HIT, and at the end of simulations. Further, all three models were used to simulate the transmission dynamics of seasonal influenza in the United States and disease burdens were projected and compared with estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. For the simulated infectious disease, in the initial phase of the outbreak, all three models performed expectedly when the sizes of infectious and recovered populations were relatively small. As the infectious population increased, the conventional SIR model appeared to overestimate the infections even when the HIT was achieved in all scenarios with and without vaccination. For the same scenario, Model A appeared to attain the level predicted by the HIT and in comparison, Model B projected the infectious disease to be controlled at the level predicted by the HIT only at high vaccination rates. For infectious diseases with high r0, and at low vaccination rates, the level at which the infectious disease was controlled cannot be accurately predicted by the current theorem. Transmission dynamics of infectious diseases with herd immunity can be accurately modelled by allowing the transmission rate of infectious diseases to decline along with the reduction of contact infection risk after recovery or vaccination. Model B provides a credible framework for modelling infectious diseases with herd immunity in a randomly mixed population.
    Matched MeSH terms: Disease Outbreaks
  6. Wan Mohamed Noor WN, Sandhu SS, Ahmad Mahir HM, Kurup D, Rusli N, Saat Z, et al.
    Malays J Med Sci, 2014 Nov-Dec;21(6):3-8.
    PMID: 25897276 MyJurnal
    The current Ebola outbreak, which is the first to affect West African countries, has been declared to have met the conditions for a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) by the World Health Organization (WHO). Thus, the Ministry of Health (MOH) of Malaysia has taken steps to strengthen and enhanced the five core components of preparedness and response to mitigate the outbreak. The National Crisis Preparedness and Response Centre (CPRC) commands, controls and coordinates the preparedness and response plans for disasters, outbreaks, crises and emergencies (DOCE) related to health in a centralised way. Through standardised case definition and mandatory notification of Ebola by public and private practitioners, surveillance of Ebola is made possible. Government hospitals and laboratories have been identified to manage and diagnose Ebola virus infections, and medical staff members have been trained to handle an Ebola outbreak, with emphasis on strict infection prevention and control practices. Monitoring of the points of entry, focusing on travellers and students visiting or coming from West African countries is made possible by interagency collaborations. To alleviate the public's anxiety, effective risk communications are being delivered through various channels. With experience in past outbreak control, the MOH's preparedness and response plans are in place to abate an Ebola outbreak.
    Matched MeSH terms: Disease Outbreaks
  7. Abrams S
    PMID: 12294443
    Matched MeSH terms: Disease Outbreaks*
  8. Sam IC, Abu Bakar S
    Med J Malaysia, 2009 Jun;64(2):105-7.
    PMID: 20058566
    In recent years, zoonotic RNA viruses such as Nipah, SARS coronavirus, avian influenza (H5N1) and Chikungunya have emerged with global impact. The latest has now been designated by World Health Organization (WHO) as pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus. It was first reported as an outbreak in Mexico in April, and has now caused the first influenza pandemic since 1968. By July 11, 2009, there were 105,304 confirmed cases and 463 deaths in 143 countries, including 627 cases in Malaysia1 . The rapid spread of the disease has been matched by the speed of dissemination of information and protocols, co-ordinated by WHO. The experiences of SARS and H5N1 have been enormously beneficial in preparing the world for a pandemic.
    Matched MeSH terms: Disease Outbreaks*
  9. Lani R, Thariq IM, Suhaimi NS, Hassandarvish P, Abu Bakar S
    Hum Vaccin Immunother, 2024 Dec 31;20(1):2306675.
    PMID: 38263674 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2024.2306675
    Arboviruses are a significant threat to global public health, with outbreaks occurring worldwide. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) play a crucial role in the innate immune response against these viruses by recognizing pathogen-associated molecular patterns and initiating an inflammatory response. Significantly, TLRs commonly implicated in the immune response against viral infections include TLR2, TLR4, TLR6, TLR3, TLR7, and TLR8; limiting or allowing them to replicate and spread within the host. Modulating TLRs has emerged as a promising approach to combat arbovirus infections. This review summarizes recent advances in TLR modulation as a therapeutic target in arbovirus infections. Studies have shown that the activation of TLRs can enhance the immune response against arbovirus infections, leading to increased viral clearance and protection against disease. Conversely, inhibition of TLRs can reduce the excessive inflammation and tissue damage associated with arbovirus infection. Modulating TLRs represents a potential therapeutic strategy to combat arbovirus infections.
    Matched MeSH terms: Disease Outbreaks
  10. 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: Disease Outbreaks
  11. Teoh BT, Sam SS, Tan KK, Johari J, Shu MH, Danlami MB, et al.
    BMC Evol. Biol., 2013;13:213.
    PMID: 24073945 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2148-13-213
    Recurring dengue outbreaks occur in cyclical pattern in most endemic countries. The recurrences of dengue virus (DENV) infection predispose the population to increased risk of contracting the severe forms of dengue. Understanding the DENV evolutionary mechanism underlying the recurring dengue outbreaks has important implications for epidemic prediction and disease control.
    Matched MeSH terms: Disease Outbreaks*
  12. Sam SS, Omar SF, Teoh BT, Abd-Jamil J, AbuBakar S
    PLoS Negl Trop Dis, 2013;7(5):e2194.
    PMID: 23658849 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0002194
    Dengue is a mosquito-borne viral disease endemic in many countries in the tropics and sub-tropics. The disease affects mainly children, but in recent years it is becoming more of an adult disease. Malaysia experienced a large dengue outbreak in 2006 to 2007, involving mostly adults, with a high number of deaths.
    Matched MeSH terms: Disease Outbreaks*
  13. Chan YF, AbuBakar S
    Virol J, 2005;2:74.
    PMID: 16122396
    At least three different EV-71 subgenotypes were identified from an outbreak in Malaysia in 1998. The subgenotypes C2 and B4 were associated with the severe and fatal infections, whereas the B3 virus was associated with mild to subclinical infections. The B3 virus genome sequences had >= 85% similarity at the 3' end to CV-A16. This offers opportunities to examine if there are characteristic similarities and differences in virulence between CV-A16, EV-71 B3 and EV-71 B4 and to determine if the presence of the CV-A16-liked genes in EV-71 B3 would also confer the virus with a CV-A16-liked neurovirulence in mice model infection.
    Matched MeSH terms: Disease Outbreaks
  14. Tan KK, Sy AK, Tandoc AO, Khoo JJ, Sulaiman S, Chang LY, et al.
    Sci Rep, 2015 Jul 23;5:12279.
    PMID: 26201250 DOI: 10.1038/srep12279
    Outbreaks involving the Asian genotype Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) caused over one million infections in the Americas recently. The outbreak was preceded by a major nationwide outbreak in the Philippines. We examined the phylogenetic and phylogeographic relationships of representative CHIKV isolates obtained from the 2012 Philippines outbreak with other CHIKV isolates collected globally. Asian CHIKV isolated from the Philippines, China, Micronesia and Caribbean regions were found closely related, herein denoted as Cosmopolitan Asian CHIKV (CACV). Three adaptive amino acid substitutions in nsP3 (D483N), E1 (P397L) and E3 (Q19R) were identified among CACV. Acquisition of the nsP3-483N mutation in Compostela Valley followed by E1-397L/E3-19R in Laguna preceded the nationwide spread in the Philippines. The China isolates possessed two of the amino acid substitutions, nsP3-D483N and E1-P397L whereas the Micronesian and Caribbean CHIKV inherited all the three amino acid substitutions. The unique amino acid substitutions observed among the isolates suggest multiple independent virus dissemination events. The possible biological importance of the specific genetic signatures associated with the rapid global of the virus is not known and warrant future in-depth study and epidemiological follow-up. Molecular evidence, however, supports the Philippines outbreak as the possible origin of the CACV.
    Matched MeSH terms: Disease Outbreaks/statistics & numerical data
  15. Sam IC, Kümmerer BM, Chan YF, Roques P, Drosten C, AbuBakar S
    Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis, 2015 Apr;15(4):223-30.
    PMID: 25897809 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2014.1680
    Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is an Aedes-borne alphavirus, historically found in Africa and Asia, where it caused sporadic outbreaks. In 2004, CHIKV reemerged in East Africa and spread globally to cause epidemics, including, for the first time, autochthonous transmission in Europe, the Middle East, and Oceania. The epidemic strains were of the East/Central/South African genotype. Strains of the Asian genotype of CHIKV continued to cause outbreaks in Asia and spread to Oceania and, in 2013, to the Americas. Acute disease, mainly comprising fever, rash, and arthralgia, was previously regarded as self-limiting; however, there is growing evidence of severe but rare manifestations, such as neurological disease. Furthermore, CHIKV appears to cause a significant burden of long-term morbidity due to persistent arthralgia. Diagnostic assays have advanced greatly in recent years, although there remains a need for simple, accurate, and affordable tests for the developing countries where CHIKV is most prevalent. This review focuses on recent important work on the epidemiology, clinical disease and diagnostics of CHIKV.
    Matched MeSH terms: Disease Outbreaks*
  16. Tan KK, Zulkifle NI, Abd-Jamil J, Sulaiman S, Yaacob CN, Azizan NS, et al.
    Infect Genet Evol, 2017 Oct;54:271-275.
    PMID: 28698156 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2017.07.008
    Dengue is hyperendemic in most of Southeast Asia. In this region, all four dengue virus serotypes are persistently present. Major dengue outbreak cycle occurs in a cyclical pattern involving the different dengue virus serotypes. In Malaysia, since the 1980s, the major outbreak cycles have involved dengue virus type 3 (DENV3), dengue virus type 1 (DENV1) and dengue virus type 2 (DENV2), occurring in that order (DENV3/DENV1/DENV2). Only limited information on the DENV3 cycles, however, have been described. In the current study, we examined the major outbreak cycle involving DENV3 using data from 1985 to 2016. We examined the genetic diversity of DENV3 isolates obtained during the period when DENV3 was the dominant serotype and during the inter-dominant transmission period. Results obtained suggest that the typical DENV3/DENV1/DENV2 cyclical outbreak cycle in Malaysia has recently been disrupted. The last recorded major outbreak cycle involving DENV3 occurred in 2002, and the expected major outbreak cycle involving DENV3 in 2006-2012 did not materialize. DENV genome analyses revealed that DENV3 genotype II (DENV3/II) was the predominant DENV3 genotype (67%-100%) recovered between 1987 and 2002. DENV3 genotype I (DENV3/I) emerged in 2002 followed by the introduction of DENV3 genotype III (DENV3/III) in 2008. These newly emerged DENV3 genotypes replaced DENV3/II, but there was no major upsurge of DENV3 cases that accompanied the emergence of these viruses. DENV3 remained in the background of DENV1 and DENV2 until now. Virus genome sequence analysis suggested that intrinsic differences within the different dengue virus genotypes could have influenced the transmission efficiency of DENV3. Further studies and continuous monitoring of the virus are needed for better understanding of the DENV transmission dynamics in hyperendemic regions.
    Matched MeSH terms: Disease Outbreaks*
  17. Nellis S, Loong SK, Abd-Jamil J, Fauzi R, AbuBakar S
    Geospat Health, 2021 11 03;16(2).
    PMID: 34730321 DOI: 10.4081/gh.2021.1008
    Dengue is a complex disease with an increasing number of infections worldwide. This study aimed to analyse spatiotemporal dengue outbreaks using geospatial techniques and examine the effects of the weather on dengue outbreaks in the Klang Valley area, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Daily weather variables including rainfall, temperature (maximum and minimum) and wind speed were acquired together with the daily reported dengue cases data from 2001 to 2011 and converted into geospatial format to identify whether there was a specific pattern of the dengue outbreaks. The association between these variables and dengue outbreaks was assessed using Spearman's correlation. The result showed that dengue outbreaks consistently occurred in the study area during a 11-year study period. And that the strongest outbreaks frequently occurred in two high-rise apartment buildings located in Kuala Lumpur City centre. The results also show significant negative correlations between maximum temperature and minimum temperature on dengue outbreaks around the study area as well as in the area of the high-rise apartment buildings in Kuala Lumpur City centre.
    Matched MeSH terms: Disease Outbreaks
  18. Khor CS, Teoh BT, Sam SS, Khoo HY, Azizan NS, CheMatSeri A, et al.
    J Infect Dev Ctries, 2023 Jan 31;17(1):118-124.
    PMID: 36795935 DOI: 10.3855/jidc.16613
    INTRODUCTION: Chikungunya fever is a mosquito-borne viral disease that usually presents with prominent arthralgia. An outbreak of chikungunya fever was reported in Tanjung Sepat, Malaysia in 2019. The outbreak was limited in size with a low number of cases being reported. The present study sought to determine the possible variables that could have affected the transmission of the infection.

    METHODOLOGY: A cross-sectional study involving 149 healthy adult volunteers from Tanjung Sepat was performed soon after the outbreak had subsided. All the participants donated blood samples and completed the questionnaires. Laboratory detection of anti-CHIKV IgM and IgG antibodies was performed using enzyme-linked immunoassays (ELISA). Risk factors associated with chikungunya seropositivity were determined using logistic regression.

    RESULTS: The majority (72.5%, n = 108) of the study participants tested positive for CHIKV antibodies. Only 8.3% (n = 9) of the participants out of all the seropositive volunteers had an asymptomatic infection. Participants who resided with a febrile (p < 0.05, Exp(B) = 2.2, confidence interval [CI] 1.3-3.6) or a CHIKV-diagnosed person (p < 0.05, Exp(B) = 2.1, CI 1.2-3.6) in the same household were found likely to be tested positive for CHIKV antibodies.

    CONCLUSIONS: Findings from the study support that asymptomatic CHIKV infections and indoor transmission occurred during the outbreak. Hence, widespread community testing and indoor use of mosquito repellent are among the possible measures that can be implemented to reduce CHIKV transmission during an outbreak.

    Matched MeSH terms: Disease Outbreaks
  19. Chan YF, AbuBaker S
    Emerg Infect Dis, 2004 Aug;10(8):1468-70.
    PMID: 15496251
    Hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) is a common illness of infants and young children <10 years of age. It is characterized by fever, ulcers in the oral cavity, and rashes with blisters that appear on the palm and sole. The most common causal agents of HFMD are coxsackievirus A16 (CV-A16) and human enterovirus 71 (HEV71), but other enteroviruses, including CV-A5 and CV-A10, can also cause it. When caused by CV-A16 infection, it is usually a mild disease, and patients normally recover without requiring any special medical attention.
    Matched MeSH terms: Disease Outbreaks
  20. Sam IC, Chan YF, Chan SY, Loong SK, Chin HK, Hooi PS, et al.
    J Clin Virol, 2009 Oct;46(2):180-3.
    PMID: 19683467 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcv.2009.07.016
    BACKGROUND: Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) of the Central/East African genotype has caused large outbreaks worldwide in recent years. In Malaysia, limited CHIKV outbreaks of the endemic Asian and imported Central/East African genotypes were reported in 1998 and 2006. Since April 2008, an unprecedented nationwide outbreak has affected Malaysia.
    OBJECTIVE: To study the molecular epidemiology of the current Malaysian CHIKV outbreak, and to evaluate cross-neutralisation activity of serum from infected patients against isolates of Asian and Central/East African genotypes.
    STUDY DESIGN: Serum samples were collected from 83 patients presenting in 2008, and tested with PCR for the E1 gene, virus isolation, and for IgM. Phylogenetic analysis was performed on partial E1 gene sequences of 837bp length. Convalescent serum from the current outbreak and Bagan Panchor outbreak (Asian genotype, 2006) were tested for cross-neutralising activity against representative strains from each outbreak.
    RESULTS: CHIKV was confirmed in 34 patients (41.0%). The current outbreak strain has the A226V mutation in the E1 structural protein, and grouped with Central/East African isolates from recent global outbreaks. Serum cross-neutralisation activity against both Central/East African and Asian genotypes was observed at titres from 40 to 1280.
    CONCLUSIONS: The CHIKV strain causing the largest Malaysian outbreak is of the Central/East African genotype. The presence of the A226V mutation, which enhances transmissibility of CHIKV by Aedes albopictus, may explain the extensive spread especially in rural areas. Serum cross-neutralisation of different genotypes may aid potential vaccines and limit the effect of future outbreaks.
    Matched MeSH terms: Disease Outbreaks*
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