METHODS AND FINDINGS: We recruited 280 adults from 27 post-outbreak villages in the state of Terengganu, east coast of Malaysia. Measures of health promotion and educational intervention activities and types of communication during outbreak, level of dengue knowledge, level and strength of self-efficacy and dengue preventive behaviour were obtained via face-to-face interviews and questionnaires. A structural equation model was tested and fitted the data well (χ(2) = 71.659, df = 40, p = 0.002, RMSEA = 0.053, CFI = 0.973, TLI = 0.963). Mass media, local contact and direct information-giving sessions significantly predicted level of knowledge of dengue. Level and strength of self-efficacy fully mediated the relationship between knowledge of dengue and dengue preventive behaviours. Strength of self-efficacy acted as partial mediator in the relationship between knowledge of dengue and dengue preventive behaviours.
CONCLUSIONS: To control and prevent dengue outbreaks by behavioural measures, health promotion and educational interventions during outbreaks should now focus on those approaches that are most likely to increase the level and strength of self-efficacy.
METHODS: The study was undertaken in five Latin American (Brazil, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Peru) and five in Asian countries (Indonesia, Malaysia, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Vietnam). A mixed-methods approach was used which included document analysis, key informant interviews, focus-group discussions, secondary data analysis and consensus building by an international dengue expert meeting organised by the World Health Organization, Special Program for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (WHO-TDR).
RESULTS: Country information on dengue is based on compulsory notification and reporting ("passive surveillance"), with laboratory confirmation (in all participating Latin American countries and some Asian countries) or by using a clinical syndromic definition. Seven countries additionally had sentinel sites with active dengue reporting, some also had virological surveillance. Six had agreed a formal definition of a dengue outbreak separate to seasonal variation in case numbers. Countries collected data on a range of warning signs that may identify outbreaks early, but none had developed a systematic approach to identifying and responding to the early stages of an outbreak. Outbreak response plans varied in quality, particularly regarding the early response. The surge capacity of hospitals with recent dengue outbreaks varied; those that could mobilise additional staff, beds, laboratory support and resources coped best in comparison to those improvising a coping strategy during the outbreak. Hospital outbreak management plans were present in 9/22 participating hospitals in Latin-America and 8/20 participating hospitals in Asia.
CONCLUSIONS: Considerable variation between countries was observed with regard to surveillance, outbreak detection, and response. Through discussion at the expert meeting, suggestions were made for the development of a more standardised approach in the form of a model contingency plan, with agreed outbreak definitions and country-specific risk assessment schemes to initiate early response activities according to the outbreak phase. This would also allow greater cross-country sharing of ideas.
METHODS: The water samples evaluated in this study were collected from four recreational forest rivers, Sungai Congkak, Sungai Lopo, Hulu Perdik, and Gunung Nuang. The samples were subjected to next-generation sequencing (NGS) for the 16S rRNA and in-depth metagenomic analysis of the bacterial communities.
RESULTS: The water samples recorded various bacterial diversity. The samples from the Hulu Perdik and Sungai Lopo downstream sampling sites had a more significant diversity, followed by Sungai Congkak. Conversely, the upstream samples from Gunung Nuang exhibited the lowest bacterial diversity. Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Acidobacteria were the dominant phyla detected in downstream areas. Potential pathogenic bacteria belonging to the genera Burkholderiales and Serratia were also identified, raising concerns about co-infection possibilities. Nevertheless, Leptospira pathogenic bacteria were absent from all sites, which is attributable to its limited persistence. The bacteria might also be washed to other locations, contributing to the reduced environmental bacterial load.
CONCLUSION: The present study established the presence of pathogenic bacteria in the river ecosystems assessed. The findings offer valuable insights for designing strategies for preventing pathogenic bacteria environmental contamination and managing leptospirosis co-infections with other human diseases. Furthermore, closely monitoring water sample compositions with diverse approaches, including sentinel programs, wastewater-based epidemiology, and clinical surveillance, enables disease transmission and outbreak early detections. The data also provides valuable information for suitable treatments and long-term strategies for combating infectious diseases.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted to analyse surveillance data from 2015 to 2023 to examine the epidemiological characteristics of rabies in Malaysia. Data from multiple sources were used, and descriptive statistics, incidence rates, and reproductive numbers were calculated. QGIS software was used to map the distribution of rabies cases, and statistical methods were employed to evaluate associations between rabies incidence, vaccination coverage, and risk factors. We further explored the effectiveness of vaccination campaigns and public health interventions in reducing rabies transmission.
RESULTS: Our findings revealed 995 confirmed rabies cases in animals. Sarawak reported the highest proportion of rabies cases at 97.99 %, showing a significant correlation between location and rabies cases (p
OBJECTIVE: Guided by the risk information seeking and processing (RISP) model, this study proposes a modified RISP model to comprehensively analyze information-seeking intentions through the lens of risk communication.
METHODS: To empirically validate the proposed research model, we conducted an online cross-sectional survey with 2,604 Chinese citizens aged 18 years and older. Structural equation modeling (SEM) and ordinary least squares regression analysis were employed to analyze the survey data.
RESULTS: Our findings revealed that during ILI crises, Chinese individuals experienced a spectrum of emotions; as perceived risk increased, negative emotions intensified while positive emotions decreased. Increased negative emotions correlated with a greater sense of information insufficiency, whereas heightened positive emotions correlated with a reduced perception of it. Consequently, Chinese individuals facing information deficiencies were more inclined to seek information from diverse sources, including interpersonal sources, traditional media, search engines, and social media. Moreover, statistical analysis indicated that stronger beliefs in channel complementary strengthened the relationship between information insufficiency and information-seeking intention across multiple channels (access to medical expertise belief, tailorability belief, convenience belief, anonymity belief).
CONCLUSION: This study outlines a pathway for advancing the RISP model and offers practical strategies for effective risk communication to mitigate risks and enhance public perception and behavior. It also discusses implications for health communication, promotion, and behavior change.