Last data update: May 06, 2024. (Total: 46732 publications since 2009)
Records 1-7 (of 7 Records) |
Query Trace: Cranford H[original query] |
---|
New York State, New York City, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands' Health Department experiences promoting health equity during the initial COVID-19 Omicron variant period, 2021-2022
Cox H , Gebru Y , Horter L , Palomeque FS , Myers K , Stowell D , Easterling T , de Noguera NS , Medina-Forrester A , Bravo J , Pérez S , Chaparro J , Ekpo LP , Cranford H , Santibañez S , Valencia D . Health Secur 2023 21 S25-S34 In this case study, we aim to understand how health departments in 5 US jurisdictions addressed health inequities and implemented strategies to reach populations disproportionately affected by COVID-19 during the initial Omicron variant period. We used qualitative methods to examine health department experiences during the initial Omicron surge, from November 2021 to April 2022, assessing successful interventions, barriers, and lessons learned from efforts to promote health equity. Our findings indicate that government leadership supported prioritizing health equity from the beginning of the pandemic, seeing it as a need and vital part of the response framework. All jurisdictions acknowledged the historical trauma and distrust of the government. Health departments found that collaborating and communicating with trusted community leaders helped mitigate public distrust. Having partnerships, resources, and infrastructure in place before the pandemic facilitated the establishment of equity-focused COVID-19 response activities. Finally, misinformation about COVID-19 was a challenge for all jurisdictions. Addressing the needs of diverse populations involves community-informed decisionmaking, diversity of thought, and delivery measures that are tailored to the community. It is imperative to expand efforts to reduce and eliminate health inequities to ensure that individuals and communities recover equitably from the effects of COVID-19. |
Seroprevalence, distribution, and risk factors for human leptospirosis in the United States Virgin Islands
Artus A , Schafer IJ , Cossaboom CM , Haberling DL , Galloway R , Sutherland G , Browne AS , Roth JJr , France V , Cranford HM , Kines KJ , Pompey J , Ellis BR , Walke H , Ellis EM . PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2022 16 (11) e0010880 BACKGROUND: The first documented human leptospirosis cases in the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) occurred following 2017 Hurricanes Irma and Maria. We conducted a representative serosurvey in USVI to estimate the seroprevalence and distribution of human leptospirosis and evaluate local risk factors associated with seropositivity. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: A stratified, two-stage cluster sampling design was used and consisted of three island strata and random selection of census blocks and then households. All eligible members of selected households were invited to participate (≥5 years old, resided in USVI ≥6 months and ≥6 months/year). Household and individual-level questionnaires were completed, and serum collected from each enrolled individual. Microscopic agglutination test serology was conducted, and bivariate and logistic regression analyses completed to identify risk factors for seropositivity. In March 2019, 1,161 individuals were enrolled from 918 households in St. Croix, St. Thomas, and St. John. The territory-wide weighted seroprevalence was 4.0% (95% CI:2.3-5.7). Characteristics/exposures independently associated with seropositivity using logistic regression included contact with cows (OR: 39.5; 95% CI: 9.0-172.7), seeing rodents/rodent evidence or contact with rodents (OR: 2.6; 95% CI: 1.1-5.9), and increasing age (OR: 1.02; 95% CI: 1.002-1.04); full or partial Caucasian/White race was negatively correlated with seropositivity (OR: 0.02, 95% CI: 0.04-0.7). Bivariate analysis showed self-reported jaundice since the 2017 hurricanes (pRR: 5.7; 95% CI: 1.0-33.4) was associated with seropositivity and using a cover/lid on cisterns/rainwater collection containers (pRR: 0.3; 95% CI: 0.08-0.8) was protective against seropositivity. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Leptospirosis seropositivity of 4% across USVI demonstrates an important human disease that was previously unrecognized and emphasizes the importance of continued leptospirosis surveillance and investigation. Local risk factors identified may help guide future human and animal leptospirosis studies in USVI, strengthen leptospirosis public health surveillance and treatment timeliness, and inform targeted education, prevention, and control efforts. |
Microbial characterization, factors contributing to contamination, and household use of cistern water, U.S. Virgin Islands
Rao Gouthami , Kahler Amy , Voth-Gaeddert Lee E , Cranford Hannah , Libbey Stephen , Galloway Renee , Molinari Noelle-Angelique , Ellis Esther M , Yoder Jonathan S , Mattioli Mia C , Ellis Brett R . ACS ES T Water 2022 2 (12) 2634-2644 Households in the United States Virgin Islands (USVI) heavily rely on roof-harvested rainwater stored in cisterns for their daily activities. However, there are insufficient data on cistern water microbiological and physicochemical characteristics to inform appropriate cistern water management. Cistern and kitchen tap water samples were collected from 399 geographically representative households across St. Croix, St. Thomas, and St. John and an administered survey captured household site and cistern characteristics and water use behaviors. Water samples were analyzed for Escherichia coli by culture, and a subset of cistern water samples (N = 47) were analyzed for Salmonella, Naegleria fowleri, pathogenic Leptospira, Cryptosporidium, Giardia, and human-specific fecal contamination using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Associations between E. coli cistern contamination and cistern and site characteristics were evaluated to better understand possible mechanisms of contamination. E. coli was detected in 80% of cistern water samples and in 58% of kitchen tap samples. For the subset of samples tested by PCR, at least one of the pathogens was detected in 66% of cisterns. Our results suggest that covering overflow pipes with screens, decreasing animal presence at the household, and preventing animals or insects from entering the cisterns can decrease the likelihood of E. coli contamination in USVI cistern water. |
Assessing rodents as carriers of pathogenic Leptospira species in the U.S. Virgin Islands and their risk to animal and public health.
Hamond C , Browne AS , deWilde LH , Hornsby RL , LeCount K , Anderson T , Stuber T , Cranford HM , Browne SK , Blanchard G , Horner D , Taylor ML , Evans M , Angeli NF , Roth J , Bisgard KM , Salzer JS , Schafer IJ , Ellis BR , Alt DP , Schlater L , Nally JE , Ellis EM . Sci Rep 2022 12 (1) 1132 Leptospirosis is a global zoonotic disease caused by pathogenic bacteria of the genus Leptospira. We sought to determine if rodents in U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) are carriers of Leptospira. In total, 140 rodents were sampled, including 112 Mus musculus and 28 Rattus rattus. A positive carrier status was identified for 64/140 (45.7%); 49 (35.0%) were positive by dark-field microscopy, 60 (42.9%) by culture, 63 (45.0%) by fluorescent antibody testing, and 61 (43.6%) by real-time polymerase chain reaction (rtPCR). Molecular typing indicated that 48 isolates were L. borgpetersenii and 3 were L. kirschneri; the remaining nine comprised mixed species. In the single culture-negative sample that was rtPCR positive, genotyping directly from the kidney identified L. interrogans. Serotyping of L. borgpetersenii isolates identified serogroup Ballum and L. kirschneri isolates as serogroup Icterohaemorrhagiae. These results demonstrate that rodents are significant Leptospira carriers and adds to understanding the ecoepidemiology of leptospirosis in USVI. |
Mongooses (Urva auropunctata) as reservoir hosts of Leptospira species in the United States Virgin Islands, 2019-2020.
Cranford HM , Browne AS , LeCount K , Anderson T , Hamond C , Schlater L , Stuber T , Burke-France VJ , Taylor M , Harrison CJ , Matias KY , Medley A , Rossow J , Wiese N , Jankelunas L , de Wilde L , Mehalick M , Blanchard GL , Garcia KR , McKinley AS , Lombard CD , Angeli NF , Horner D , Kelley T , Worthington DJ , Valiulis J , Bradford B , Berentsen A , Salzer JS , Galloway R , Schafer IJ , Bisgard K , Roth J , Ellis BR , Ellis EM , Nally JE . PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2021 15 (11) e0009859 During 2019-2020, the Virgin Islands Department of Health investigated potential animal reservoirs of Leptospira spp., the bacteria that cause leptospirosis. In this cross-sectional study, we investigated Leptospira spp. exposure and carriage in the small Indian mongoose (Urva auropunctata, syn: Herpestes auropunctatus), an invasive animal species. This study was conducted across the three main islands of the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI), which are St. Croix, St. Thomas, and St. John. We used the microscopic agglutination test (MAT), fluorescent antibody test (FAT), real-time polymerase chain reaction (lipl32 rt-PCR), and bacterial culture to evaluate serum and kidney specimens and compared the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of these laboratory methods. Mongooses (n = 274) were live-trapped at 31 field sites in ten regions across USVI and humanely euthanized for Leptospira spp. testing. Bacterial isolates were sequenced and evaluated for species and phylogenetic analysis using the ppk gene. Anti-Leptospira spp. antibodies were detected in 34% (87/256) of mongooses. Reactions were observed with the following serogroups: Sejroe, Icterohaemorrhagiae, Pyrogenes, Mini, Cynopteri, Australis, Hebdomadis, Autumnalis, Mankarso, Pomona, and Ballum. Of the kidney specimens examined, 5.8% (16/270) were FAT-positive, 10% (27/274) were culture-positive, and 12.4% (34/274) were positive by rt-PCR. Of the Leptospira spp. isolated from mongooses, 25 were L. borgpetersenii, one was L. interrogans, and one was L. kirschneri. Positive predictive values of FAT and rt-PCR testing for predicting successful isolation of Leptospira by culture were 88% and 65%, respectively. The isolation and identification of Leptospira spp. in mongooses highlights the potential role of mongooses as a wildlife reservoir of leptospirosis; mongooses could be a source of Leptospira spp. infections for other wildlife, domestic animals, and humans. |
Determination of freedom-from-rabies for small Indian mongoose populations in the United States Virgin Islands, 2019-2020
Browne AS , Cranford HM , Morgan CN , Ellison JA , Berentsen A , Wiese N , Medley A , Rossow J , Jankelunas L , McKinley AS , Lombard CD , Angeli NF , Kelley T , Valiulus J , Bradford B , Burke-France VJ , Harrison CJ , Guendel I , Taylor M , Blanchard GL , Doty JB , Worthington DJ , Horner D , Garcia KR , Roth J , Ellis BR , Bisgard KM , Wallace R , Ellis EM . PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2021 15 (7) e0009536 Mongooses, a nonnative species, are a known reservoir of rabies virus in the Caribbean region. A cross-sectional study of mongooses at 41 field sites on the US Virgin Islands of St. Croix, St. John, and St. Thomas captured 312 mongooses (32% capture rate). We determined the absence of rabies virus by antigen testing and rabies virus exposure by antibody testing in mongoose populations on all three islands. USVI is the first Caribbean state to determine freedom-from-rabies for its mongoose populations with a scientifically-led robust cross-sectional study. Ongoing surveillance activities will determine if other domestic and wildlife populations in USVI are rabies-free. |
COVID-19 in Correctional and Detention Facilities - United States, February-April 2020.
Wallace M , Hagan L , Curran KG , Williams SP , Handanagic S , Bjork A , Davidson SL , Lawrence RT , McLaughlin J , Butterfield M , James AE , Patil N , Lucas K , Hutchinson J , Sosa L , Jara A , Griffin P , Simonson S , Brown CM , Smoyer S , Weinberg M , Pattee B , Howell M , Donahue M , Hesham S , Shelley E , Philips G , Selvage D , Staley EM , Lee A , Mannell M , McCotter O , Villalobos R , Bell L , Diedhiou A , Ortbahn D , Clayton JL , Sanders K , Cranford H , Barbeau B , McCombs KG , Holsinger C , Kwit NA , Pringle JC , Kariko S , Strick L , Allord M , Tillman C , Morrison A , Rowe D , Marlow M . MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2020 69 (19) 587-590 An estimated 2.1 million U.S. adults are housed within approximately 5,000 correctional and detention facilities(dagger) on any given day (1). Many facilities face significant challenges in controlling the spread of highly infectious pathogens such as SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Such challenges include crowded dormitories, shared lavatories, limited medical and isolation resources, daily entry and exit of staff members and visitors, continual introduction of newly incarcerated or detained persons, and transport of incarcerated or detained persons in multiperson vehicles for court-related, medical, or security reasons (2,3). During April 22-28, 2020, aggregate data on COVID-19 cases were reported to CDC by 37 of 54 state and territorial health department jurisdictions. Thirty-two (86%) jurisdictions reported at least one laboratory-confirmed case from a total of 420 correctional and detention facilities. Among these facilities, COVID-19 was diagnosed in 4,893 incarcerated or detained persons and 2,778 facility staff members, resulting in 88 deaths in incarcerated or detained persons and 15 deaths among staff members. Prompt identification of COVID-19 cases and consistent application of prevention measures, such as symptom screening and quarantine, are critical to protecting incarcerated and detained persons and staff members. |
- Page last reviewed:Feb 1, 2024
- Page last updated:May 06, 2024
- Content source:
- Powered by CDC PHGKB Infrastructure