MyMedR

Displaying publications 1 - 20 of 60 in total

Abstract:

Sort:

Malaysia culls pigs as Nipah virus strikes again

Ahmad K

Lancet, 2000 Jul 15;356(9225):230.
PMID: 10963210
Matched MeSH terms: Disease Outbreaks/prevention & control
Fulltext Outbreak of vaccine-preventable diseases in Muslim majority countries

Ahmed A, Lee KS, Bukhsh A, Al-Worafi YM, Sarker MMR, Ming LC, et al.

J Infect Public Health, 2017 10 04;11(2):153-155.
PMID: 28988775 DOI: 10.1016/j.jiph.2017.09.007

The increase in Muslim parents' refusal and hesitancy to accept childhood vaccination was identified as one of the contributing factors in the increase of vaccine-preventable diseases cases in countries such as Afghanistan, Malaysia and Pakistan. The spread of inaccurate and irresponsible information by the anti-vaccination movement may inflict more harm than good on Muslim communities. To curb this issue, health authorities in Pakistan and Malaysia have resorted to imposing strict punishments on parents who refuse to allow their children to be vaccinated. Information addressing religious concerns such as the halal issue must be made priority and communicated well to the general public, encouraging not only the acceptance of vaccinations but motivating communities to play an active role in promoting vaccination. Local government of the affected region need to work towards creating awareness among Muslim parents that vaccinations are a preventative public health strategy that has been practised and acknowledged by many doctors of all faiths.

Matched MeSH terms: Disease Outbreaks/prevention & control*
Fulltext Nipah virus, an emerging zoonotic disease causing fatal encephalitis

Alam AM

Clin Med (Lond), 2022 Jul;22(4):348-352.
PMID: 35760448 DOI: 10.7861/clinmed.2022-0166

Nipah virus is an acute febrile illness that can cause fatal encephalitis. It is an emerging zoonotic paramyxovirus endemic to south-east Asia and the western Pacific, and can be transmitted by its primary reservoir of fruit bats, through intermediate animal vectors and by human-to-human spread. Outbreaks of Nipah virus encephalitis have occurred in Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, India and Bangladesh, with the most recent outbreak occurring in Kerala, India in late 2021. Extremely high case fatality rates have been reported from these outbreaks, and to date no vaccines or therapeutic management options are available. Combining this with its propensity to present non-specifically, Nipah virus encephalitis presents a challenging diagnosis that should not be missed in patients returning from endemic regions. Raising awareness of the epidemiology, clinical presentation and risk factors of contracting Nipah virus is vital to recognise and manage potential outbreaks of this disease in the UK.

Matched MeSH terms: Disease Outbreaks/prevention & control
Fulltext The forgotten sub-regional COVID-19 response layer. The case of the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region

Ali Maher O, Elamein Boshara MA, Pichierri G, Cegolon L, Panu Napodano CM, Murgia P, et al.

J Infect Dev Ctries, 2021 04 30;15(4):478-479.
PMID: 33956646 DOI: 10.3855/jidc.14057

The response to the COVID-19 pandemic have been driven by epidemiology, health system characteristics and control measures in form of social/physical distancing. Guidance, information and best practices have been characterized by territorial thinking with concentration on national health system and social contexts. Information was to a large extent provided from global entities such as the World Health Organization (WHO), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and others. This bipolar response mechanism came to the detriment of regional and sub-regional levels. The development of the global pandemic was evaluated in terms of the performance of single countries without trying to reflect on possible regional or sub-regional results of similar characteristics in health system and social contexts. To have a clearer view of the issue of sub-regional similarities, we examined the WHO, Eastern Mediterranean Region. When examining the development of confirmed cases for countries in the region, we identified four different sub-groups similar in the development of the pandemic and the social distancing measure implemented. Despite the complicated situation, these groups gave space for thinking outside the box of traditional outbreaks or pandemic response. We think that this sub-regional approach could be very effective in addressing more characteristics and not geographically based analysis. Furthermore, this can be an area of additional conceptual approaches, modelling and concrete platforms for information and lessons learned exchange.

Matched MeSH terms: Disease Outbreaks/prevention & control
Fulltext Nipah virus: A review on epidemiological characteristics and outbreaks to inform public health decision making

Ambat AS, Zubair SM, Prasad N, Pundir P, Rajwar E, Patil DS, et al.

J Infect Public Health, 2019 02 23;12(5):634-639.
PMID: 30808593 DOI: 10.1016/j.jiph.2019.02.013

The objectives of this review were to understand the epidemiology and outbreak of NiV infection and to discuss the preventive and control measures across different regions. We searched PubMed and Scopus for relevant articles from January 1999 to July 2018 and identified 927 articles which were screened for titles, abstracts and full texts by two review authors independently. The screening process resulted in 44 articles which were used to extract relevant information. Information on epidemiology of NiV, outbreaks in Malaysia, Singapore, Bangladesh, India and Philippines, including diagnosis, prevention, treatment, vaccines, control, surveillance and economic burden due to NiV were discussed. Interdisciplinary and multi sectoral approach is vital in preventing the emergence of NiV. It is necessary to undertake rigorous research for developing vaccines and medicines to prevent and treat NiV.

Matched MeSH terms: Disease Outbreaks/prevention & control*
Fulltext COVID-19 clusters in Malaysia: characteristics, detection methods and modes of early transmission

Ang ZY, Balqis-Ali NZ, Jailani AS, Kong YL, Sharif SM, Fun WH

Western Pac Surveill Response J, 2023;14(4):1-11.
PMID: 38230253 DOI: 10.5365/wpsar.2023.14.4.1058

OBJECTIVE: Effective prevention and control measures are essential to contain outbreaks of infectious diseases, such as coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Understanding the characteristics of case clusters can contribute to determining which prevention and control measures are needed. This study describes the characteristics of COVID-19 case clusters in Malaysia, the method used to detect a cluster's index case and the mode of early transmission, using the seven cluster categories applied in Malaysia.
METHODS: This cross-sectional study collected publicly available data on COVID-19 clusters occurring in Malaysia from 1 March 2020 to 31 May 2021. The characteristics of cases were described by category, and their associations with several outcomes were analysed. Descriptive analyses were performed to explore the method used to detect the index case and the mode of early transmission, according to cluster category.
RESULTS: A total of 2188 clusters were identified. The workplace cluster category had the largest proportion of clusters (51.5%, 1126/2188 clusters), while the custodial settings category had the largest median cluster size (178 cases per cluster) and longest median duration of cluster (51 days). The high-risk groups category had the highest mortality. There were significant differences in cluster size, duration and rate of detection across the categories. Targeted screening was most commonly used to detect index cases, especially in custodial settings, and in imported and workplace clusters. Household-social and social-workplace contacts were the most common modes of early transmission across most categories.
DISCUSSION: Targeted screening might effectively reduce the size and duration of COVID-19 clusters. Measures to prevent and control COVID-19 outbreaks should be continually adjusted based on ongoing assessments of the unique context of each cluster.

Matched MeSH terms: Disease Outbreaks/prevention & control
Fulltext Vaccines alone are no silver bullets: a modeling study on the impact of efficient contact tracing on COVID-19 infection and transmission in Malaysia

Baha Raja D, Abdul Taib NA, Teo AKJ, Jayaraj VJ, Ting CY

Int Health, 2023 Jan 03;15(1):37-46.
PMID: 35265998 DOI: 10.1093/inthealth/ihac005

BACKGROUND: The computer simulation presented in this study aimed to investigate the effect of contact tracing on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) transmission and infection in the context of rising vaccination rates.
METHODS: This study proposed a deterministic, compartmental model with contact tracing and vaccination components. We defined contact tracing effectiveness as the proportion of contacts of a positive case that was successfully traced and the vaccination rate as the proportion of daily doses administered per population in Malaysia. Sensitivity analyses on the untraced and infectious populations were conducted.
RESULTS: At a vaccination rate of 1.4%, contact tracing with an effectiveness of 70% could delay the peak of untraced asymptomatic cases by 17 d and reduce it by 70% compared with 30% contact tracing effectiveness. A similar trend was observed for symptomatic cases when a similar experiment setting was used. We also performed sensitivity analyses by using different combinations of contact tracing effectiveness and vaccination rates. In all scenarios, the effect of contact tracing on COVID-19 incidence persisted for both asymptomatic and symptomatic cases.
CONCLUSIONS: While vaccines are progressively rolled out, efficient contact tracing must be rapidly implemented concurrently to reach, find, test, isolate and support the affected populations to bring COVID-19 under control.

Matched MeSH terms: Disease Outbreaks/prevention & control
The re-emerging of orf virus infection: A call for surveillance, vaccination and effective control measures

Bala JA, Balakrishnan KN, Abdullah AA, Mohamed R, Haron AW, Jesse FFA, et al.

Microb Pathog, 2018 Jul;120:55-63.
PMID: 29709684 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2018.04.057

Orf disease is known to be enzootic among small ruminants in Asia, Africa, and some other parts of the world. The disease caused by orf virus is highly contagious among small ruminant species. Unfortunately, it has been neglected for decades because of the general belief that it only causes a self-limiting disease. On the other hand, in the past it has been reported to cause huge cumulative financial losses in livestock farming. Orf disease is characterized by localized proliferative and persistent skin nodule lesions that can be classified into three forms: generalized, labial and mammary or genitals. It can manifest as benign or malignant types. The later type of orf can remain persistent, often fatal and usually causes a serious outbreak among small ruminant population. Morbidity and mortality rates of orf are higher especially in newly infected kids and lambs. Application of antibiotics together with antipyretic and/or analgesic is highly recommended as a supportive disease management strategy for prevention of subsequent secondary microbial invasion. The presence of various exotic orf virus strains of different origin has been reported in many countries mostly due to poorly controlled cross-border virus transmission. There have been several efforts to develop orf virus vaccines and it was with variable success. The use of conventional vaccines to control orf is a debatable topic due to the concern of short term immunity development. Following re-infection in previously vaccinated animals, it is uncommon to observe the farms involved to experience rapid virus spread and disease outbreak. Meanwhile, cases of zoonosis from infected animals to animal handler are not uncommon. Despite failures to contain the spread of orf virus by the use of conventional vaccines, vaccination of animals with live orf virus is still considered as one of the best choice. The review herein described pertinent issues with regard to the development and use of potential effective vaccines as a control measure against orf virus infection.

Matched MeSH terms: Disease Outbreaks/prevention & control*
How federal health-care policies interface with urban and rural areas: a comparison of three systems

Baracskay D

Glob Public Health, 2012;7(4):317-36.
PMID: 22043815 DOI: 10.1080/17441692.2011.621962

Global public health policies span national borders and affect multitudes of people. The spread of infectious disease has neither political nor economic boundaries, and when elevated to a status of pandemic proportions, immediate action is required. In federal systems of government, the national level leads the policy formation and implementation process, but also collaborates with supranational organisations as part of the global health network. Likewise, the national level of government cooperates with sub-national governments located in both urban and rural areas. Rural areas, particularly in less developed countries, tend to have higher poverty rates and lack the benefits of proper medical facilities, communication modes and technology to prevent the spread of disease. From the perspective of epidemiological surveillance and intervention, this article will examine federal health policies in three federal systems: Australia, Malaysia and the USA. Using the theoretical foundations of collaborative federalism, this article specifically examines how collaborative arrangements and interactions among governmental and non-governmental actors help to address the inherent discrepancies that exist between policy implementation and reactions to outbreaks in urban and rural areas. This is considered in the context of the recent H1N1 influenza pandemic, which spread significantly across the globe in 2009 and is now in what has been termed the 'post-pandemic era'.

Matched MeSH terms: Disease Outbreaks/prevention & control
The resistance of meat chickens vaccinated by aerosol with a live V4 Newcastle disease virus vaccine in the field to challenge with a velogenic Newcastle disease virus

Bell IG, Nicholls PJ, Norman C, Ideris A, Cross GM

Aust. Vet. J., 1991 Mar;68(3):97-101.
PMID: 2043098

Meat chickens housed on a commercial broiler farm in Australia were vaccinated once at 10 to 11 days-of-age by aerosol with live V4 Newcastle disease virus (NDV) vaccine. Groups of vaccinated and unvaccinated birds were flown to Malaysia, where they were challenged with a virulent strain of NDV. Survival rates in vaccinated chickens challenged 7, 14, 21 or 31 d after vaccination were 0.47, 0.77, 0.97 and 0.92, respectively. All unvaccinated chickens died due to Newcastle disease (ND) following challenge. Chickens in Australia and Malaysia were bled and the serums tested for haemagglutination-inhibiting (HI) antibody to NDV. Many vaccinated birds with no detectable antibody, and all birds with a log2 titre of 2 or greater, survived challenge. The results showed that this V4 vaccine induced protective immunity in a significant proportion of chickens within 7 d of mass aerosol vaccination. This early immunity occurred in the absence of detectable circulating HI antibody. Non-HI antibody mediated immunity continued to provide protection up to 31 d after vaccination. Almost all vaccinated birds were protected within 3 w of vaccination. It is concluded that the V4 vaccine is efficacious and could be useful during an outbreak of virulent ND in Australia.

Matched MeSH terms: Disease Outbreaks/prevention & control
IMP-4-producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa in a French patient repatriated from Malaysia: impact of early detection and control measures

Bert F, Vanjak D, Leflon-Guibout V, Mrejen S, Delpierre S, Redondo A, et al.

Clin Infect Dis, 2007 Mar 1;44(5):764-5.
PMID: 17278079
Matched MeSH terms: Disease Outbreaks/prevention & control
Progress in public health in the Year of the Goat

Binns C, Low WY

Asia Pac J Public Health, 2015 Mar;27(2):121-2.
PMID: 25834268 DOI: 10.1177/1010539515576167
Matched MeSH terms: Disease Outbreaks/prevention & control
Fulltext Detection and Control of Fungal Outbreaks

Caceres DH, Mohd Tap R, Alastruey-Izquierdo A, Hagen F

Mycopathologia, 2020 10;185(5):741-745.
PMID: 33037965 DOI: 10.1007/s11046-020-00494-1
Matched MeSH terms: Disease Outbreaks/prevention & control*
An influenza B outbreak during the 2007/2008 winter among appropriately immunized elderly people living in a nursing home

Camilloni B, Neri M, Lepri E, Basileo M, Sigismondi N, Puzelli S, et al.

Vaccine, 2010 Nov 3;28(47):7536-41.
PMID: 20846530 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2010.08.064

The study evaluated the immunogenicity and efficacy of a trivalent subunit MF59-adjuvanted influenza vaccine (A/Wisconsin/67/05 (H3N2), A/Solomon Islands/3/06 (H1N1) and B/Malaysia/2506/04) in preventing serologically diagnosed infections in a group of 67 institutionalized elderly volunteers during 2007/2008 winter, characterized by co-circulation of drifted A/H3N2, A/H1N1 and B influenza viruses. Influenza vaccination induced a significant increase in the amounts of hemagglutination inhibiting antibodies, both against the vaccine and the epidemic drifted strains. However, vaccination did not prevent the circulation of the new drifted influenza B virus (B/Florida/4/06-like), belonging to the B/Yamagata/16/88-lineage, antigenically and genetically distinct from B/Victoria/2/87-lineage viruses from which the vaccine B strain was derived.

Matched MeSH terms: Disease Outbreaks/prevention & control*
An avian-only Filippov model incorporating culling of both susceptible and infected birds in combating avian influenza

Chong NS, Dionne B, Smith R

J Math Biol, 2016 09;73(3):751-84.
PMID: 26865385 DOI: 10.1007/s00285-016-0971-y

Depopulation of birds has always been an effective method not only to control the transmission of avian influenza in bird populations but also to eliminate influenza viruses. We introduce a Filippov avian-only model with culling of susceptible and/or infected birds. For each susceptible threshold level [Formula: see text], we derive the phase portrait for the dynamical system as we vary the infected threshold level [Formula: see text], focusing on the existence of endemic states; the endemic states are represented by real equilibria, pseudoequilibria and pseudo-attractors. We show generically that all solutions of this model will approach one of the endemic states. Our results suggest that the spread of avian influenza in bird populations is tolerable if the trajectories converge to the equilibrium point that lies in the region below the threshold level [Formula: see text] or if they converge to one of the pseudoequilibria or a pseudo-attractor on the surface of discontinuity. However, we have to cull birds whenever the solution of this model converges to an equilibrium point that lies in the region above the threshold level [Formula: see text] in order to control the outbreak. Hence a good threshold policy is required to combat bird flu successfully and to prevent overkilling birds.

Matched MeSH terms: Disease Outbreaks/prevention & control*
Fulltext Risk factors, prevention and communication strategy during Nipah virus outbreak in Malaysia

Chua KB

Malays J Pathol, 2010 Dec;32(2):75-80.
PMID: 21329177 MyJurnal

An outbreak of acute febrile encephalitis affecting pig-farm workers and owners was recognized in peninsular Malaysia as early as September 1998. The outbreak was initially thought to be due to Japanese encephalitis (JE) virus and thus very intensive prevention, control and communication strategies directed at JE virus were undertaken by the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Agriculture of Malaysia. There was an immediate change in the prevention, control and communication strategies with focus and strategies on infected pigs as the source of infections for humans and other animals following the discovery of Nipah virus. Information and understanding the risks of Nipah virus infections and modes of transmission strengthened the directions of prevention, control and communication strategies. A number of epidemiological surveillances and field investigations which were broadly divided into 3 groups covering human health sector, animal health sector and reservoir hosts were carried out as forms of risk assessment to determine and assess the factors and degree of risk of infections by the virus. Data showed that there was significant association between Nipah virus infection and performing activities involving close contact with pigs, such as processing of piglets, administering injection or medication to pigs, assisting in the birth of piglets, assisting in pig breeding, and handling of dead pigs in the affected farms. A complex process of anthropogenic driven deforestation, climatic changes brought on by El Niño-related drought, forest fire and severe haze, and ecological factors of mixed agro-pig farming practices and design of pig-sties led to the spillovers of the virus from its wildlife reservoir into pig population.

Matched MeSH terms: Disease Outbreaks/prevention & control*
Fulltext Pandemic threat of avian influenza

Chua KB

Med J Malaysia, 2005 Oct;60(4):401-3.
PMID: 16570698
Matched MeSH terms: Disease Outbreaks/prevention & control*
Fulltext Cost analysis of measles in refugees arriving at Los Angeles International Airport from Malaysia

Coleman MS, Burke HM, Welstead BL, Mitchell T, Taylor EM, Shapovalov D, et al.

Hum Vaccin Immunother, 2017 05 04;13(5):1084-1090.
PMID: 28068211 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2016.1271518

Background On August 24, 2011, 31 US-bound refugees from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (KL) arrived in Los Angeles. One of them was diagnosed with measles post-arrival. He exposed others during a flight, and persons in the community while disembarking and seeking medical care. As a result, 9 cases of measles were identified. Methods We estimated costs of response to this outbreak and conducted a comparative cost analysis examining what might have happened had all US-bound refugees been vaccinated before leaving Malaysia. Results State-by-state costs differed and variously included vaccination, hospitalization, medical visits, and contact tracing with costs ranging from $621 to $35,115. The total of domestic and IOM Malaysia reported costs for US-bound refugees were $137,505 [range: $134,531 - $142,777 from a sensitivity analysis]. Had all US-bound refugees been vaccinated while in Malaysia, it would have cost approximately $19,646 and could have prevented 8 measles cases. Conclusion A vaccination program for US-bound refugees, supporting a complete vaccination for US-bound refugees, could improve refugees' health, reduce importations of vaccine-preventable diseases in the United States, and avert measles response activities and costs.

Matched MeSH terms: Disease Outbreaks/prevention & control
Fulltext A molecular barcode to inform the geographical origin and transmission dynamics of Plasmodium vivax malaria

Diez Benavente E, Campos M, Phelan J, Nolder D, Dombrowski JG, Marinho CRF, et al.

PLoS Genet, 2020 02;16(2):e1008576.
PMID: 32053607 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1008576

Although Plasmodium vivax parasites are the predominant cause of malaria outside of sub-Saharan Africa, they not always prioritised by elimination programmes. P. vivax is resilient and poses challenges through its ability to re-emerge from dormancy in the human liver. With observed growing drug-resistance and the increasing reports of life-threatening infections, new tools to inform elimination efforts are needed. In order to halt transmission, we need to better understand the dynamics of transmission, the movement of parasites, and the reservoirs of infection in order to design targeted interventions. The use of molecular genetics and epidemiology for tracking and studying malaria parasite populations has been applied successfully in P. falciparum species and here we sought to develop a molecular genetic tool for P. vivax. By assembling the largest set of P. vivax whole genome sequences (n = 433) spanning 17 countries, and applying a machine learning approach, we created a 71 SNP barcode with high predictive ability to identify geographic origin (91.4%). Further, due to the inclusion of markers for within population variability, the barcode may also distinguish local transmission networks. By using P. vivax data from a low-transmission setting in Malaysia, we demonstrate the potential ability to infer outbreak events. By characterising the barcoding SNP genotypes in P. vivax DNA sourced from UK travellers (n = 132) to ten malaria endemic countries predominantly not used in the barcode construction, we correctly predicted the geographic region of infection origin. Overall, the 71 SNP barcode outperforms previously published genotyping methods and when rolled-out within new portable platforms, is likely to be an invaluable tool for informing targeted interventions towards elimination of this resilient human malaria.

Matched MeSH terms: Disease Outbreaks/prevention & control*
Fulltext A novel data-driven methodology for influenza outbreak detection and prediction

Du L, Pang Y

Sci Rep, 2021 06 24;11(1):13275.
PMID: 34168200 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-92484-6

Influenza is an infectious disease that leads to an estimated 5 million cases of severe illness and 650,000 respiratory deaths worldwide each year. The early detection and prediction of influenza outbreaks are crucial for efficient resource planning to save patient's lives and healthcare costs. We propose a new data-driven methodology for influenza outbreak detection and prediction at very local levels. A doctor's diagnostic dataset of influenza-like illness from more than 3000 clinics in Malaysia is used in this study because these diagnostic data are reliable and can be captured promptly. A new region index (RI) of the influenza outbreak is proposed based on the diagnostic dataset. By analysing the anomalies in the weekly RI value, potential outbreaks are identified using statistical methods. An ensemble learning method is developed to predict potential influenza outbreaks. Cross-validation is conducted to optimize the hyperparameters of the ensemble model. A testing data set is used to provide an unbiased evaluation of the model. The proposed methodology is shown to be sensitive and accurate at influenza outbreak prediction, with average of 75% recall, 74% precision, and 83% accuracy scores across five regions in Malaysia. The results are also validated by Google Flu Trends data, news reports, and surveillance data released by World Health Organization.

Matched MeSH terms: Disease Outbreaks/prevention & control*

Filters

Please provide feedback to Administrator (afdal@afpm.org.my)

External Links