Last data update: Jan 27, 2025. (Total: 48650 publications since 2009)
Records 1-30 (of 186 Records) |
Query Trace: Gould P[original query] |
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Reemergence of Oropouche virus in the Americas and risk for spread in the United States and its territories, 2024
Guagliardo SAJ , Connelly CR , Lyons S , Martin SW , Sutter R , Hughes HR , Brault AC , Lambert AJ , Gould CV , Staples JE . Emerg Infect Dis 2024 30 (11) 2241-2249 Oropouche virus has recently caused outbreaks in South America and the Caribbean, expanding into areas to which the virus was previously not endemic. This geographic range expansion, in conjunction with the identification of vertical transmission and reports of deaths, has raised concerns about the broader threat this virus represents to the Americas. We review information on Oropouche virus, factors influencing its spread, transmission risk in the United States, and current status of public health response tools. On the basis of available data, the risk for sustained local transmission in the continental United States is considered low because of differences in vector ecology and in human-vector interactions when compared with Oropouche virus-endemic areas. However, more information is needed about the drivers for the current outbreak to clarify the risk for further expansion of this virus. Timely detection and control of this emerging pathogen should be prioritized to mitigate disease burden and stop its spread. |
Oropouche virus disease among U.S. travelers - United States, 2024
Morrison A , White JL , Hughes HR , Guagliardo SAJ , Velez JO , Fitzpatrick KA , Davis EH , Stanek D , Kopp E , Dumoulin P , Locksmith T , Heberlein L , Zimler R , Lassen J , Bestard C , Rico E , Mejia-Echeverri A , Edwards-Taylor KA , Holt D , Halphen D , Peters K , Adams C , Nichols AM , Ciota AT , Dupuis AP 2nd , Backenson PB , Lehman JA , Lyons S , Padda H , Connelly RC , Tong VT , Martin SW , Lambert AJ , Brault AC , Blackmore C , Staples JE , Gould CV . MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2024 73 (35) 769-773 Beginning in late 2023, Oropouche virus was identified as the cause of large outbreaks in Amazon regions with known endemic transmission and in new areas in South America and the Caribbean. The virus is spread to humans by infected biting midges and some mosquito species. Although infection typically causes a self-limited febrile illness, reports of two deaths in patients with Oropouche virus infection and vertical transmission associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes have raised concerns about the threat of this virus to human health. In addition to approximately 8,000 locally acquired cases in the Americas, travel-associated Oropouche virus disease cases have recently been identified in European travelers returning from Cuba and Brazil. As of August 16, 2024, a total of 21 Oropouche virus disease cases were identified among U.S. travelers returning from Cuba. Most patients initially experienced fever, myalgia, and headache, often with other symptoms including arthralgia, diarrhea, nausea or vomiting, and rash. At least three patients had recurrent symptoms after the initial illness, a common characteristic of Oropouche virus disease. Clinicians and public health jurisdictions should be aware of the occurrence of Oropouche virus disease in U.S. travelers and request testing for suspected cases. Travelers should prevent insect bites when traveling, and pregnant persons should consider deferring travel to areas experiencing outbreaks of Oropouche virus disease. |
West Nile Virus and other nationally notifiable arboviral diseases - United States, 2022
Sutter RA , Lyons S , Gould CV , Staples JE , Lindsey NP . MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2024 73 (21) 484-488 |
Tick bite risk factors and prevention measures in an area with emerging Powassan virus disease
Wilson N , Vahey GM , McDonald E , Fitzpatrick K , Lehman J , Clark S , Lindell K , Pastula DM , Perez S , Rhodes H , Gould CV , Staples JE , Martin SW , Cervantes K . Public Health Chall 2023 2 (4) BACKGROUND: In the United States (U.S.), Powassan virus is primarily transmitted to humans by the black-legged tick (Ixodes scapularis). Rarely, infections can present as severe neuroinvasive disease. In 2019, four neuroinvasive disease cases were reported in Sussex County, New Jersey, U.S. We administered a survey to county residents to better understand tick bite risk factors and the performance of personal prevention measures. METHODS: A survey was administered in October 2019 to adult residents of randomly selected households. Questions focused on tick bite prevention and risk factors. Crude and adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals were calculated for various outcomes. RESULTS: Of 274 participants, 25% were previously diagnosed with a tick-borne disease, and 42% reported finding an attached tick in 2019. Yardwork and gardening (OR = 7.38) and spending >50 hours outdoors per week (OR = 8.15) were associated with finding an attached tick. Finding an attached tick was inversely associated with the number of prevention measures used, indicating that a layered approach could reduce the risk of tick bites. Those who performed post-outdoor activity prevention measures (e.g., tick checks) were less likely to have a tick attached compared to finding a crawling tick. CONCLUSION: Compliance with prevention recommendations was low, despite a high prevalence of reported tick bites and significant outdoor exposures. Older adults and persons who spend significant time outdoors or engage in yardwork or gardening were at the highest risk of tick bites. Additional research is needed to further understand the barriers to tick bite prevention. |
Potential sexual transmission of antifungal-resistant trichophyton indotineae
Spivack S , Gold JAW , Lockhart SR , Anand P , Quilter LAS , Smith DJ , Bowen B , Gould JM , Eltokhy A , Gamal A , Retuerto M , McCormick TS , Ghannoum MA . Emerg Infect Dis 2024 30 (4) 807-809 We describe a case of tinea genitalis in an immunocompetent woman in Pennsylvania, USA. Infection was caused by Trichophyton indotineae potentially acquired through sexual contact. The fungus was resistant to terbinafine (first-line antifungal) but improved with itraconazole. Clinicians should be aware of T. indotineae as a potential cause of antifungal-resistant genital lesions. |
Correction and Republication: Symptoms of Depression, Anxiety, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, and Suicidal Ideation Among State, Tribal, Local, and Territorial Public Health Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic - United States, March-April 2021
Bryant-Genevier J , Rao CY , Lopes-Cardozo B , Kone A , Rose C , Thomas I , Orquiola D , Lynfield R , Shah D , Freeman L , Becker S , Williams A , Gould DW , Tiesman H , Lloyd G , Hill L , Byrkit R . MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 12/28/2021 70 (48) 1679 On July 2, 2021, MMWR published “Symptoms of Depression, Anxiety, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, and Suicidal Ideation Among State, Tribal, Local, and Territorial Public Health Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic — United States, March–April 2021” (1). On October 12, 2021, the authors informed MMWR that some data were inaccurate because 420 incomplete participant responses were incorrectly assigned scores for depression. This error resulted in a change in overall depression prevalence from 32.0% to 30.8%, and other similar changes in stratified prevalences of depression, prevalence ratios of depression, and the overall proportion of respondents who reported at least one mental health condition. The authors have corrected the MMWR report by excluding the 420 records from the depression analysis and confirmed that the interpretation and the conclusions of the original report were not affected by these corrections. MMWR has republished the report (2), which includes the original report with clearly marked corrections in supplementary materials. |
Avian influenza A(H5) virus circulation in live bird markets in Vietnam, 2017-2022
Nguyen DT , Sumner KM , Nguyen TTM , Phan MQ , Hoang TM , Vo CD , Nguyen TD , Nguyen PT , Yang G , Jang Y , Jones J , Olsen SJ , Gould PL , Nguyen LV , Davis CT . Influenza Other Respir Viruses 2023 17 (12) e13245 ![]() BACKGROUND: Highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5) human infections are a global concern, with many A(H5) human cases detected in Vietnam, including a case in October 2022. Using avian influenza virus surveillance from March 2017-September 2022, we described the percent of pooled samples that were positive for avian influenza A, A(H5), A(H5N1), A(H5N6), and A(H5N8) viruses in live bird markets (LBMs) in Vietnam. METHODS: Monthly at each LBM, 30 poultry oropharyngeal swab specimens and five environmental samples were collected. Samples were pooled in groups of five and tested for influenza A, A(H5), A(H5N1), A(H5N6), and A(H5N8) viruses by real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. Trends in the percent of pooled samples that were positive for avian influenza were summarized by LBM characteristics and time and compared with the number of passively detected avian influenza outbreaks using Spearman's rank correlation. RESULTS: A total of 25,774 pooled samples were collected through active surveillance at 167 LBMs in 24 provinces; 36.9% of pooled samples were positive for influenza A, 3.6% A(H5), 1.9% A(H5N1), 1.1% A(H5N6), and 0.2% A(H5N8). Influenza A(H5) viruses were identified January-December and at least once in 91.7% of sampled provinces. In 246 A(H5) outbreaks in poultry; 20.3% were influenza A(H5N1), 60.2% A(H5N6), and 19.5% A(H5N8); outbreaks did not correlate with active surveillance. CONCLUSIONS: In Vietnam, influenza A(H5) viruses were detected by active surveillance in LBMs year-round and in most provinces sampled. In addition to outbreak reporting, active surveillance for A(H5) viruses in settings with high potential for animal-to-human spillover can provide situational awareness. |
Reported global avian influenza detections among humans and animals during 2013-2022: Comprehensive review and analysis of available surveillance data
Szablewski CM , Iwamoto C , Olsen SJ , Greene CM , Duca LM , Davis CT , Coggeshall KC , Davis WW , Emukule GO , Gould PL , Fry AM , Wentworth DE , Dugan VG , Kile JC , Azziz-Baumgartner E . JMIR Public Health Surveill 2023 9 e46383 BACKGROUND: Avian influenza (AI) virus detections occurred frequently in 2022 and continue to pose a health, economic, and food security risk. The most recent global analysis of official reports of animal outbreaks and human infections with all reportable AI viruses was published almost a decade ago. Increased or renewed reports of AI viruses, especially high pathogenicity H5N8 and H5N1 in birds and H5N1, H5N8, and H5N6 in humans globally, have established the need for a comprehensive review of current global AI virus surveillance data to assess the pandemic risk of AI viruses. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to provide an analysis of global AI animal outbreak and human case surveillance information from the last decade by describing the circulating virus subtypes, regions and temporal trends in reporting, and country characteristics associated with AI virus outbreak reporting in animals; surveillance and reporting gaps for animals and humans are identified. METHODS: We analyzed AI virus infection reports among animals and humans submitted to animal and public health authorities from January 2013 to June 2022 and compared them with reports from January 2005 to December 2012. A multivariable regression analysis was used to evaluate associations between variables of interest and reported AI virus animal outbreaks. RESULTS: From 2013 to 2022, 52.2% (95/182) of World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) Member Countries identified 34 AI virus subtypes during 21,249 outbreaks. The most frequently reported subtypes were high pathogenicity AI H5N1 (10,079/21,249, 47.43%) and H5N8 (6722/21,249, 31.63%). A total of 10 high pathogenicity AI and 6 low pathogenicity AI virus subtypes were reported to the WOAH for the first time during 2013-2022. AI outbreaks in animals occurred in 26 more Member Countries than reported in the previous 8 years. Decreasing World Bank income classification was significantly associated with decreases in reported AI outbreaks (P<.001-.02). Between January 2013 and June 2022, 17/194 (8.8%) World Health Organization (WHO) Member States reported 2000 human AI virus infections of 10 virus subtypes. H7N9 (1568/2000, 78.40%) and H5N1 (254/2000, 12.70%) viruses accounted for the most human infections. As many as 8 of these 17 Member States did not report a human case prior to 2013. Of 1953 human cases with available information, 74.81% (n=1461) had a known animal exposure before onset of illness. The median time from illness onset to the notification posted on the WHO event information site was 15 days (IQR 9-30 days; mean 24 days). Seasonality patterns of animal outbreaks and human infections with AI viruses were very similar, occurred year-round, and peaked during November through May. CONCLUSIONS: Our analysis suggests that AI outbreaks are more frequently reported and geographically widespread than in the past. Global surveillance gaps include inconsistent reporting from all regions and human infection reporting delays. Continued monitoring for AI virus outbreaks in animals and human infections with AI viruses is crucial for pandemic preparedness. |
Transmission of yellow fever vaccine virus through blood transfusion and organ transplantation in the USA in 2021: Report of an investigation
Gould CV , Free RJ , Bhatnagar J , Soto RA , Royer TL , Maley WR , Moss S , Berk MA , Craig-Shapiro R , Kodiyanplakkal RPL , Westblade LF , Muthukumar T , Puius YA , Raina A , Hadi A , Gyure KA , Trief D , Pereira M , Kuehnert MJ , Ballen V , Kessler DA , Dailey K , Omura C , Doan T , Miller S , Wilson MR , Lehman JA , Ritter JM , Lee E , Silva-Flannery L , Reagan-Steiner S , Velez JO , Laven JJ , Fitzpatrick KA , Panella A , Davis EH , Hughes HR , Brault AC , St George K , Dean AB , Ackelsberg J , Basavaraju SV , Chiu CY , Staples JE . Lancet Microbe 2023 4 (9) e711-e721 ![]() ![]() BACKGROUND: In 2021, four patients who had received solid organ transplants in the USA developed encephalitis beginning 2-6 weeks after transplantation from a common organ donor. We describe an investigation into the cause of encephalitis in these patients. METHODS: From Nov 7, 2021, to Feb 24, 2022, we conducted a public health investigation involving 15 agencies and medical centres in the USA. We tested various specimens (blood, cerebrospinal fluid, intraocular fluid, serum, and tissues) from the organ donor and recipients by serology, RT-PCR, immunohistochemistry, metagenomic next-generation sequencing, and host gene expression, and conducted a traceback of blood transfusions received by the organ donor. FINDINGS: We identified one read from yellow fever virus in cerebrospinal fluid from the recipient of a kidney using metagenomic next-generation sequencing. Recent infection with yellow fever virus was confirmed in all four organ recipients by identification of yellow fever virus RNA consistent with the 17D vaccine strain in brain tissue from one recipient and seroconversion after transplantation in three recipients. Two patients recovered and two patients had no neurological recovery and died. 3 days before organ procurement, the organ donor received a blood transfusion from a donor who had received a yellow fever vaccine 6 days before blood donation. INTERPRETATION: This investigation substantiates the use of metagenomic next-generation sequencing for the broad-based detection of rare or unexpected pathogens. Health-care workers providing vaccinations should inform patients of the need to defer blood donation for at least 2 weeks after receiving a yellow fever vaccine. Despite mitigation strategies and safety interventions, a low risk of transfusion-transmitted infections remains. FUNDING: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, and the CDC Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity Cooperative Agreement for Infectious Diseases. |
Rapid Evolution of Knockdown Resistance Haplotypes in Response to Pyrethroid Selection in Aedes aegypti (preprint)
Baltzegar J , Vella M , Gunning C , Vasquez G , Astete H , Stell F , Fisher M , Scott TW , Lenhart A , Lloyd AL , Morrison A , Gould F . bioRxiv 2021 2021.04.02.438212 This study describes the evolution of knockdown resistance (kdr) haplotypes in Aedes aegypti in response to pyrethroid insecticide use over the course of 18 years in Iquitos, Peru. Based on the duration and intensiveness of sampling (∼10,000 samples), this is the most thorough study of kdr population genetics in Ae. aegypti to date within a city. We provide evidence for the direct connection between programmatic citywide pyrethroid spraying and the increase in frequency of specific kdr haplotypes by identifying two evolutionary events in the population. The relatively high selection coefficients, even under infrequent insecticide pressure, emphasizes how quickly populations can evolve. The observed rapid increase in frequency of resistance alleles might have been aided by the incomplete dominance of resistance-conferring alleles over corresponding susceptibility alleles. In addition to dramatic temporal shifts, spatial suppression experiments reveal that genetic heterogeneity existed not only at the citywide scale, but also on a very fine scale within the city.Competing Interest StatementThe authors have declared no competing interest. |
Symptoms of Depression, Anxiety, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, and Suicidal Ideation Among State, Tribal, Local, and Territorial Public Health Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic - United States, March-April 2021.
Bryant-Genevier J , Rao CY , Lopes-Cardozo B , Kone A , Rose C , Thomas I , Orquiola D , Lynfield R , Shah D , Freeman L , Becker S , Williams A , Gould DW , Tiesman H , Lloyd G , Hill L , Byrkit R . MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2021 70 (48) 1680-1685 Increases in mental health conditions have been documented among the general population and health care workers since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic (1-3). Public health workers might be at similar risk for negative mental health consequences because of the prolonged demand for responding to the pandemic and for implementing an unprecedented vaccination campaign. The extent of mental health conditions among public health workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, however, is uncertain. A 2014 survey estimated that there were nearly 250,000 state and local public health workers in the United States (4). To evaluate mental health conditions among these workers, a nonprobability-based online survey was conducted during March 29-April 16, 2021, to assess symptoms of depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and suicidal ideation among public health workers in state, tribal, local, and territorial public health departments. Among 26,174 respondents, 52.8% reported symptoms of at least one mental health condition in the preceding 2 weeks, including depression (30.8%), anxiety (30.3%), PTSD (36.8%), or suicidal ideation (8.4%). The highest prevalence of symptoms of a mental health condition was among respondents aged ≤29 years (range = 13.6%-47.4%) and transgender or nonbinary persons (i.e., those who identified as neither male nor female) of all ages (range = 30.4%-65.5%). Public health workers who reported being unable to take time off from work were more likely to report adverse mental health symptoms. Severity of symptoms increased with increasing weekly work hours and percentage of work time dedicated to COVID-19 response activities. Implementing prevention and control practices that eliminate, reduce, and manage factors that cause or contribute to public health workers' poor mental health might improve mental health outcomes during emergencies. |
Combating West Nile virus disease - time to revisit vaccination
Gould CV , Staples JE , Huang CY , Brault AC , Nett RJ . N Engl J Med 2023 388 (18) 1633-1636 ![]() It is time to revisit the need for human West Nile virus (WNV) vaccines. Since its initial detection in the United States in 1999, WNV has become the leading cause of domestic arthropod-borne viral (arboviral) disease. Spread by infected culex-species mosquitoes, WNV has caused more than 55,000 reported cases of human disease, more than 27,000 of them neuroinvasive, and 2600 deaths between 1999 and 2021, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). WNV is also an ongoing public health threat in many areas of the world; the largest recorded outbreak in Europe occurred in 2018. |
Increase in Colorado tick fever virus disease cases and effect of COVID-19 pandemic on behaviors and testing practices, Montana, 2020
Soto RA , Baldry E , Vahey GM , Lehman J , Silver M , Panella A , Brault AC , Hughes HR , Fitzpatrick KA , Velez J , Biggerstaff BJ , Wolff B , Randolph J , Ruth LJ , Staples JE , Gould CV . Emerg Infect Dis 2023 29 (3) 561-568 In 2020, Montana, USA, reported a large increase in Colorado tick fever (CTF) cases. To investigate potential causes of the increase, we conducted a case-control study of Montana residents who tested positive or negative for CTF during 2020, assessed healthcare providers' CTF awareness and testing practices, and reviewed CTF testing methods. Case-patients reported more time recreating outdoors on weekends, and all reported finding a tick on themselves before illness. No consistent changes were identified in provider practices. Previously, only CTF serologic testing was used in Montana. In 2020, because of SARS-CoV-2 testing needs, the state laboratory sent specimens for CTF testing to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, where more sensitive molecular methods are used. This change in testing probably increased the number of CTF cases detected. Molecular testing is optimal for CTF diagnosis during acute illness. Tick bite prevention measures should continue to be advised for persons doing outdoor activities. |
Leveraging International Influenza Surveillance Systems and programs during the COVID-19 pandemic
Marcenac P , McCarron M , Davis W , Igboh LS , Mott JA , Lafond KE , Zhou W , Sorrells M , Charles MD , Gould P , Arriola CS , Veguilla V , Guthrie E , Dugan VG , Kondor R , Gogstad E , Uyeki TM , Olsen SJ , Emukule GO , Saha S , Greene C , Bresee JS , Barnes J , Wentworth DE , Fry AM , Jernigan DB , Azziz-Baumgartner E . Emerg Infect Dis 2022 28 (13) S26-s33 A network of global respiratory disease surveillance systems and partnerships has been built over decades as a direct response to the persistent threat of seasonal, zoonotic, and pandemic influenza. These efforts have been spearheaded by the World Health Organization, country ministries of health, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nongovernmental organizations, academic groups, and others. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention worked closely with ministries of health in partner countries and the World Health Organization to leverage influenza surveillance systems and programs to respond to SARS-CoV-2 transmission. Countries used existing surveillance systems for severe acute respiratory infection and influenza-like illness, respiratory virus laboratory resources, pandemic influenza preparedness plans, and ongoing population-based influenza studies to track, study, and respond to SARS-CoV-2 infections. The incorporation of COVID-19 surveillance into existing influenza sentinel surveillance systems can support continued global surveillance for respiratory viruses with pandemic potential. |
Systematic sequencing of imported cases leads to detection of SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.529 (Omicron) variant in central Viet Nam.
Do Thai Hung , Nguyen Bao Trieu , Do Thi Thu Thuy , Olmsted A , Trinh Hoang Long , Nguyen Duc Duy , Huynh Kim Mai , Bui Thi Thu Hien , Nguyen van Van , Tran van Kiem , Vo Thi Thuy Trang , Nguyen Truong Duy , Ton That Thanh , Huynh van Dong , Gould PL , Moore MR . Western Pac Surveill Response J 2022 13 (4) 1-4 ![]() As authorities braced for the arrival of the Omicron variant of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), infrastructure investments and government directives prompted action in central Viet Nam to establish capacity for genomic surveillance sequencing. From 17 November 2021 to 7 January 2022, the Pasteur Institute in Nha Trang sequenced 162 specimens from 98 150 confirmed SARS-CoV-2 cases in the region collected from 8 November to 31 December 2021. Of these, all 127 domestic cases were identified as the B.1.617.2 (Delta) variant, whereas 92% (32/35) of imported cases were identified as the B.1.1.529 (Omicron) variant, all among international flight passengers. Patients were successfully isolated, enabling health-care workers to prepare for additional cases. Most (78%) of the 32 Omicron cases were fully vaccinated, suggesting continued importance of public health and social measures to control the spread of new variants. |
Outbreak of Burkholderia stabilis infections associated with contaminated nonsterile, multiuse ultrasound gel - 10 states, May-September 2021
Hudson MJ , Park SC , Mathers A , Parikh H , Glowicz J , Dar D , Nabili M , LiPuma JJ , Bumford A , Pettengill MA , Sterner MRJr , Paoline J , Tressler S , Peritz T , Gould J , Hutter SR , Moulton-Meissner H , Perkins KM . MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2022 71 (48) 1517-1521 In July 2021, the Virginia Department of Health notified CDC of a cluster of eight invasive infections with Burkholderia stabilis, a bacterium in the Burkholderia cepacia complex (BCC), among hospitalized patients at hospital A. Most patients had undergone ultrasound-guided procedures during their admission. Culture of MediChoice M500812 nonsterile ultrasound gel used in hospital A revealed contamination of unopened product with B. stabilis that matched the whole genome sequencing (WGS) of B. stabilis strains found among patients. CDC and hospital A, in collaboration with partner health care facilities, state and local health departments, and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), identified 119 B. stabilis infections in 10 U.S. states, leading to the national recall of all ultrasound gel products produced by Eco-Med Pharmaceutical (Eco-Med), the manufacturer of MediChoice M500812. Additional investigation of health care facility practices revealed frequent use of nonsterile ultrasound gel to assist with visualization in preparation for or during invasive, percutaneous procedures (e.g., intravenous catheter insertion). This practice could have allowed introduction of contaminated ultrasound gel into sterile body sites when gel and associated viable bacteria were not completely removed from skin, leading to invasive infections. This outbreak highlights the importance of appropriate use of ultrasound gel within health care settings to help prevent patient infections, including the use of only sterile, single-use ultrasound gel for ultrasonography when subsequent percutaneous procedures might be performed. |
Association of 7 million+ tweets featuring suicide-related content with daily calls to the Suicide Prevention Lifeline and with suicides, United States, 2016-2018
Niederkrotenthaler T , Tran US , Baginski H , Sinyor M , Strauss MJ , Sumner SA , Voracek M , Till B , Murphy S , Gonzalez F , Gould M , Garcia D , Draper J , Metzler H . Aust N Z J Psychiatry 2022 48674221126649 ![]() OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess associations of various content areas of Twitter posts with help-seeking from the US National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (Lifeline) and with suicides. METHODS: We retrieved 7,150,610 suicide-related tweets geolocated to the United States and posted between 1 January 2016 and 31 December 2018. Using a specially devised machine-learning approach, we categorized posts into content about prevention, suicide awareness, personal suicidal ideation without coping, personal coping and recovery, suicide cases and other. We then applied seasonal autoregressive integrated moving average analyses to assess associations of tweet categories with daily calls to the US National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (Lifeline) and suicides on the same day. We hypothesized that coping-related and prevention-related tweets are associated with greater help-seeking and potentially fewer suicides. RESULTS: The percentage of posts per category was 15.4% (standard deviation: 7.6%) for awareness, 13.8% (standard deviation: 9.4%) for prevention, 12.3% (standard deviation: 9.1%) for suicide cases, 2.4% (standard deviation: 2.1%) for suicidal ideation without coping and 0.8% (standard deviation: 1.7%) for coping posts. Tweets about prevention were positively associated with Lifeline calls (B=1.94, SE=0.73, p=0.008) and negatively associated with suicides (B=-0.11, standard error=0.05, p=0.038). Total number of tweets were negatively associated with calls (B=-0.01, standard error =0.0003, p=0.007) and positively associated with suicide, (B=6.410(-5), standard error =2.610(-5), p=0.015). CONCLUSION: This is the first large-scale study to suggest that daily volume of specific suicide-prevention-related social media content on Twitter corresponds to higher daily levels of help-seeking behaviour and lower daily number of suicide deaths. PREREGISTRATION: As Predicted, #66922, 26 May 2021. |
Psychological and physical intimate partner violence, measured by the New York City Community Health Survey - New York City, 2018
Alroy KA , Wang A , Sanderson M , Gould LH , Stayton C . J Fam Violence 2022 1-12 PURPOSE: Intimate partner violence (IPV) can damage long-term physical and mental health, yet IPV prevalence in New York City (NYC) is unknown. We described prevalence and health correlates of psychological and physical IPV in NYC. METHOD: The 2018 NYC Community Health Survey, a representative telephone survey among adult residents, asked about lifetime psychological or physical IPV experiences. We estimated age-adjusted physical and psychological prevalence, stratified by demographic variables, and created log-linear multivariable models with 95% CIs to measure the association of each IPV type with health conditions and behaviors. RESULTS: Overall, 10,076 surveys were completed. We excluded responses with missing IPV values. Of 9,945 adults, 16.7% reported ever having experienced psychological IPV; higher prevalence among females (18.6%; CI:17.0-20.2) than males (14.5%; CI:13.1-16.2). Prevalence of not getting needed mental health treatment (PR: 4.5; CI:3.3-6.1) and current depression (PR:2.6 CI:2.1-3.1) was higher among adults who had ever experienced psychological IPV, compared with those who had not. Of 9,964 adults, 9.8% reported ever having experienced physical IPV; higher prevalence among females (12.4%; CI:11.1-13.8) than males (6.8%; CI:5.8-8.0). Prevalence of not getting needed mental health treatment (PR:3.9, CI:2.8-5.4) and current depression (PR:2.6, CI:2.1-3.2) was higher among adults who had ever experienced physical IPV, compared with those who had not. CONCLUSIONS: One in six (16.7%) and one in 10 (9.8%) NYC adults reported ever experiencing psychological IPV and ever experiencing physical IPV, respectively. Key implications suggest that IPV potentially underlies public health priority health conditions and behaviors. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10896-022-00442-1. |
Orthopoxvirus Testing Challenges for Persons in Populations at Low Risk or Without Known Epidemiologic Link to Monkeypox - United States, 2022.
Minhaj FS , Petras JK , Brown JA , Mangla AT , Russo K , Willut C , Lee M , Beverley J , Harold R , Milroy L , Pope B , Gould E , Beeler C , Schneider J , Mostafa HH , Godfred-Cato S , Click ES , Borah BF , Galang RR , Cash-Goldwasser S , Wong JM , McCormick DW , Yu PA , Shelus V , Carpenter A , Schatzman S , Lowe D , Townsend MB , Davidson W , Wynn NT , Satheshkumar PS , O'Connor SM , O'Laughlin K , Rao AK , McCollum AM , Negrón ME , Hutson CL , Salzer JS . MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2022 71 (36) 1155-1158 ![]() Since May 2022, approximately 20,000 cases of monkeypox have been identified in the United States, part of a global outbreak occurring in approximately 90 countries and currently affecting primarily gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM) (1). Monkeypox virus (MPXV) spreads from person to person through close, prolonged contact; a small number of cases have occurred in populations who are not MSM (e.g., women and children), and testing is recommended for persons who meet the suspected case definition* (1). CDC previously developed five real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays for detection of orthopoxviruses from lesion specimens (2,3). CDC was granted 510(k) clearance for the nonvariola-orthopoxvirus (NVO)-specific PCR assay by the Food and Drug Administration. This assay was implemented within the Laboratory Response Network (LRN) in the early 2000s and became critical for early detection of MPXV and implementation of public health action in previous travel-associated cases as well as during the current outbreak (4-7). PCR assays (NVO and other Orthopoxvirus laboratory developed tests [LDT]) represent the primary tool for monkeypox diagnosis. These tests are highly sensitive, and cross-contamination from other MPXV specimens being processed, tested, or both alongside negative specimens can occasionally lead to false-positive results. This report describes three patients who had atypical rashes and no epidemiologic link to a monkeypox case or known risk factors; these persons received diagnoses of monkeypox based on late cycle threshold (Ct) values ≥34, which were false-positive test results. The initial diagnoses were followed by administration of antiviral treatment (i.e., tecovirimat) and JYNNEOS vaccine postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) to patients' close contacts. After receiving subsequent testing, none of the three patients was confirmed to have monkeypox. Knowledge gained from these and other cases resulted in changes to CDC guidance. When testing for monkeypox in specimens from patients without an epidemiologic link or risk factors or who do not meet clinical criteria (or where these are unknown), laboratory scientists should reextract and retest specimens with late Ct values (based on this report, Ct ≥34 is recommended) (8). CDC can be consulted for complex cases including those that appear atypical or questionable cases and can perform additional viral species- and clade-specific PCR testing and antiorthopoxvirus serologic testing. |
Fatal fungicide-associated triazole-resistant aspergillus fumigatus infection, Pennsylvania, USA
Bradley K , Le-Mahajan A , Morris B , Peritz T , Chiller T , Forsberg K , Nunnally NS , Lockhart SR , Gold JAW , Gould JM . Emerg Infect Dis 2022 28 (9) 1904-1905 We report a fatal infection in a 65-year-old immunocompromised male patient caused by pan-triazole-resistant Aspergillus fumigatus containing a TR(34)/L98H genetic mutation linked to agricultural fungicide use. Clinical and environmental surveillance of triazole-resistant A. fumigatus is needed in the United States to prevent spread and guide healthcare and agricultural practices. |
Severe arboviral neuroinvasive disease in patients on rituximab therapy: A review
Kapadia RK , Staples JE , Gill CM , Fischer M , Khan E , Laven JJ , Panella A , Velez JO , Hughes HR , Brault A , Pastula DM , Gould CV . Clin Infect Dis 2022 76 (6) 1142-1148 With increasing use of rituximab and other B-cell depleting monoclonal antibodies for multiple indications, infectious complications are being recognized. We summarize clinical findings of patients on rituximab with arboviral diseases identified through literature review or consultation with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. We identified 21 patients on recent rituximab therapy who were diagnosed with an arboviral disease caused by West Nile, tick-borne encephalitis, eastern equine encephalitis, Cache Valley, Jamestown Canyon, and Powassan viruses. All reported patients had neuroinvasive disease. The diagnosis of arboviral infection required molecular testing in 20 (95%) patients. Median illness duration was 36 days (range, 12 days-1 year) and 15/19 (79%) patients died from their illness. Patients on rituximab with arboviral disease can have a severe or prolonged course with an absence of serologic response. Patients should be counseled about mosquito and tick bite prevention when receiving rituximab and other B-cell depleting therapies. |
Transfusion-Transmitted Cache Valley Virus Infection in a Kidney Transplant Recipient with Meningoencephalitis.
Al-Heeti O , Wu EL , Ison MG , Saluja RK , Ramsey G , Matkovic E , Ha K , Hall S , Banach B , Wilson MR , Miller S , Chiu CY , McCabe M , Bari C , Zimler RA , Babiker H , Freeman D , Popovitch J , Annambhotla P , Lehman JA , Fitzpatrick K , Velez JO , Davis EH , Hughes HR , Panella A , Brault A , Erin Staples J , Gould CV , Tanna S . Clin Infect Dis 2022 76 (3) e1320-e1327 ![]() ![]() BACKGROUND: Cache Valley virus (CVV) is a mosquito-borne virus that is a rare cause of disease in humans. In the Fall of 2020, a patient developed encephalitis six weeks following kidney transplantation and receipt of multiple blood transfusions. METHODS: After ruling out more common etiologies, metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was performed. We reviewed the medical histories of the index kidney recipient, organ donor, and recipients of other organs from the same donor and conducted a blood traceback investigation to evaluate blood transfusion as a possible source of infection in the kidney recipient. We tested patient specimens by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT), cell culture, and whole genome sequencing. RESULTS: CVV was detected in CSF from the index patient by mNGS, and this result was confirmed by RT-PCR, viral culture, and additional whole genome sequencing. The organ donor and other organ recipients had no evidence of infection with CVV by molecular or serologic testing. Neutralizing antibodies against CVV were detected in serum from a donor of red blood cells received by the index patient immediately prior to transplant. CVV neutralizing antibodies were also detected in serum from a patient who received the co-component plasma from the same blood donation. CONCLUSION: Our investigation demonstrates probable CVV transmission through blood transfusion. Clinicians should consider arboviral infections in unexplained meningoencephalitis after blood transfusion or organ transplantation. The use of mNGS testing might facilitate detection of rare, unexpected infections, particularly in immunocompromised patients. |
Listeria monocytogenes Illness and Deaths Associated With Ongoing Contamination of a Multi-Regional Brand of Ice Cream Products, United States, 2010-2015.
Conrad AR , Tubach S , Cantu V , Webb LM , Stroika S , Moris S , Davis M , Hunt DC , Bradley KK , Kucerova Z , Strain E , Doyle M , Fields A , Neil KP , Gould LH , Jackson KA , Wise ME , Griffin PM , Jackson BR . Clin Infect Dis 2022 76 (1) 89-95 ![]() ![]() BACKGROUND: Frozen foods have rarely been linked to Listeria monocytogenes illness. We describe an outbreak investigation prompted both by hospital clustering of illnesses and product testing. METHODS: We identified outbreak-associated listeriosis cases using whole-genome sequencing (WGS), product testing results, and epidemiologic linkage to cases in the same Kansas hospital. We reviewed hospital medical and dietary records, product invoices, and molecular subtyping results. Federal and state officials tested product and environmental samples for L. monocytogenes. RESULTS: Kansas officials were investigating five cases of listeriosis at a single hospital when, simultaneously, unrelated sampling for a study in South Carolina identified L. monocytogenes in Company A ice cream products made in Texas. Isolates from four patients and Company A products were closely related by WGS, and the four patients with known exposures had consumed milkshakes made with Company A ice cream while hospitalized. Further testing identified L. monocytogenes in ice cream produced in a second Company A production facility in Oklahoma; these isolates were closely related by WGS to those from five patients in three other states. These ten illnesses, involving three deaths, occurred from 2010 through 2015. Company A ultimately recalled all products. CONCLUSION: In this U.S. outbreak of listeriosis linked to a widely distributed brand of ice cream, WGS and product sampling helped link cases spanning five years to two production facilities, indicating longstanding contamination. Comprehensive sanitation controls and environmental and product testing for L. monocytogenes, with regulatory oversight, should be implemented for ice cream production. |
Widespread interspecific phylogenetic tree incongruence between mosquito-borne and insect-specific flaviviruses at hotspots originally identified in Zika virus.
Gaunt Michael W, Pettersson John H-O, Kuno Goro, Gaunt Bill, de Lamballerie Xavier, Gould Ernest A. Virus evolution 2022 8(1) veac027 . Virus evolution 2022 8(1) veac027 ![]() ![]() Gaunt Michael W, Pettersson John H-O, Kuno Goro, Gaunt Bill, de Lamballerie Xavier, Gould Ernest A. Virus evolution 2022 8(1) veac027 |
Seroprevalence of Powassan virus infection in an area experiencing a cluster of disease cases: Sussex County, New Jersey, 2019
Vahey GM , Wilson N , McDonald E , Fitzpatrick K , Lehman J , Clark S , Lindell K , Pastula DM , Perez S , Rhodes H , Gould CV , Staples JE , Cervantes K , Martin SW . Open Forum Infect Dis 2022 9 (3) ofac023 In 2019, a geographically focal cluster of 3 Powassan virus neuroinvasive disease cases occurred in New Jersey. We conducted a serosurvey of 273 adult area residents and estimated that immunoglobulin M seroprevalence was 0.31% (95% confidence interval [CI], .04%-1.00%) and 23% (95% CI, 7%-100%) of infections result in neuroinvasive disease. |
West Nile virus transmission by solid organ transplantation and considerations for organ donor screening practices, United States
Soto RA , McDonald E , Annambhotla P , Velez JO , Laven J , Panella AJ , Machesky KD , White JL , Hyun J , Freuck E , Habel J , Oh D , Levi M , Hasz R , Eidbo E , Staples JE , Basavaraju SV , Gould CV . Emerg Infect Dis 2022 28 (2) 403-406 West Nile virus (WNV) is the most common domestic arbovirus in the United States. During 2018, WNV was transmitted through solid organ transplantation to 2 recipients who had neuroinvasive disease develop. Because of increased illness and death in transplant recipients, organ procurement organizations should consider screening during region-specific WNV transmission months. |
Association of Logic's hip hop song "1-800-273-8255" with Lifeline calls and suicides in the United States: interrupted time series analysis
Niederkrotenthaler T , Tran US , Gould M , Sinyor M , Sumner S , Strauss MJ , Voracek M , Till B , Murphy S , Gonzalez F , Spittal MJ , Draper J . BMJ 2021 375 e067726 OBJECTIVE: To assess changes in daily call volumes to the US National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and in suicides during periods of wide scale public attention to the song "1-800-273-8255" by American hip hop artist Logic. DESIGN: Time series analysis. SETTING: United States, 1 January 2010 to 31 December 2018. PARTICIPANTS: Total US population. Lifeline calls and suicide data were obtained from Lifeline and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Daily Lifeline calls and suicide data before and after the release of the song. Twitter posts were used to estimate the amount and duration of attention the song received. Seasonal autoregressive integrated moving average time series models were fitted to the pre-release period to estimate Lifeline calls and suicides. Models were fitted to the full time series with dummy variables for periods of strong attention to the song. RESULTS: In the 34 day period after the three events with the strongest public attention (the song's release, the MTV Video Music Awards 2017, and Grammy Awards 2018), Lifeline received an excess of 9915 calls (95% confidence interval 6594 to 13 236), an increase of 6.9% (95% confidence interval 4.6% to 9.2%, P<0.001) over the expected number. A corresponding model for suicides indicated a reduction over the same period of 245 suicides (95% confidence interval 36 to 453) or 5.5% (95% confidence interval 0.8% to 10.1%, P=0.02) below the expected number of suicides. CONCLUSIONS: Logic's song "1-800-273-8255" was associated with a large increase in calls to Lifeline. A reduction in suicides was observed in the periods with the most social media discourse about the song. |
Adapting Survey Data Collection to Respond to the COVID-19 Pandemic: Experiences From a Local Health Department.
Seligson AL , Alroy KA , Sanderson M , Maleki AN , Fernandez S , Aviles A , Dumas SE , Perlman SE , Peebles K , Norman CC , Gwynn RC , Gould LH . Am J Public Health 2021 111 (12) 2176-2185 The New York City (NYC) Department of Health and Mental Hygiene ("Health Department") conducts routine surveys to describe the health of NYC residents. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Health Department adjusted existing surveys and developed new ones to improve our understanding of the impact of the pandemic on physical health, mental health, and social determinants of health and to incorporate more explicit measures of racial inequities. The longstanding Community Health Survey was adapted in 2020 to ask questions about COVID-19 and recruit respondents for a population-based severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) serosurvey. A new survey panel, Healthy NYC, was launched in June 2020 and is being used to collect data on COVID-19, mental health, and social determinants of health. In addition, 7 Health Opinion Polls were conducted from March 2020 through March 2021 to learn about COVID-19-related knowledge, attitudes, and opinions, including vaccine intentions. We describe the contributions that survey data have made to the emergency response in NYC in ways that address COVID-19 and the profound inequities of the pandemic. (Am J Public Health. 2021;111(12):2176-2185. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2021.306515). |
Environmental sampling for SARS-CoV-2 at a reference laboratory and provincial hospital in central Viet Nam, 2020.
Đỗ TH , Nguyễn VT , Đinh TH , Lê XH , Nguyễn QC , Lê VQ , Nguyễn BT , Nguyễn NBN , Nguyễn TNP , Huỳnh KM , Trịnh HL , Lê TKT , Diệp TD , Đỗ TTT , Bùi HTT , Finlay AM , Nguyễn QV , Gould PL . Western Pac Surveill Response J 2021 12 (3) 47-55 OBJECTIVE: To determine whether environmental surface contamination with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) occurred at a provincial hospital in Viet Nam that admitted patients with novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and at the regional reference laboratory responsible for confirmatory testing for SARS-CoV-2 in 2020. METHODS: Environmental samples were collected from patient and staff areas at the hospital and various operational and staff areas at the laboratory. Specimens from frequently touched surfaces in all rooms were collected using a moistened swab rubbed over a 25 cm(2) area for each surface. The swabs were immediately transported to the laboratory for testing by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Throat specimens were collected from staff at both locations and were also tested for SARS-CoV-2 using real-time RT-PCR. RESULTS: During the sampling period, the laboratory tested 6607 respiratory specimens for SARS-CoV-2 from patients within the region, and the hospital admitted 9 COVID-19 cases. Regular cleaning was conducted at both sites in accordance with infection prevention and control (IPC) practices. All 750 environmental samples (300 laboratory and 450 hospital) and 30 staff specimens were negative for SARS-CoV-2. DISCUSSION: IPC measures at the facilities may have contributed to the negative results from the environmental samples. Other possible explanations include sampling late in a patient's hospital stay when virus load was lower, having insufficient contact time with a surface or using insufficiently moist collection swabs. Further environmental sampling studies of SARS-CoV-2 should consider including testing for the environmental presence of viruses within laboratory settings, targeting the collection of samples to early in the course of a patient's illness and including sampling of confirmed positive control surfaces, while maintaining appropriate biosafety measures. |
Tick-borne encephalitis among US travellers, 2010-20
Hills SL , Broussard KR , Broyhill JC , Shastry LG , Cossaboom CM , White JL , Machesky KD , Kosoy O , Girone K , Klena JD , Backenson BP , Gould CV , Lind L , Hieronimus A , Gaines DN , Wong SJ , Choi MJ , Laven JJ , Staples JE , Fischer M . J Travel Med 2021 29 (2) BACKGROUND: Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is an arboviral disease that is focally endemic in parts of Europe and Asia. TBE cases among US travellers are rare, with previous reports of only six cases among civilian travellers through 2009 and nine military-related cases through 2020. A TBE vaccine was licenced in the USA in August 2021. Understanding TBE epidemiology and risks among US travellers can help with the counselling of travellers going to TBE-endemic areas. METHODS: Diagnostic testing for TBE in the USA is typically performed at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) because no commercial testing is available. Diagnostic testing for TBE at CDC since 2010 was reviewed. For individuals with evidence of TBE virus infection, information was gathered on demographics, clinical presentations and risk factors for infection. RESULTS: From 2010-20, six patients with TBE were identified. Cases occurred among both paediatric and adult travellers and all were male. Patients were diagnosed with meningitis (n = 2) or encephalitis (n = 4); none died. Cases had travelled to various countries in Europe or Russia. Three cases reported visiting friends or relatives. Activities reported included hiking, camping, trail running, or working outdoors, and two cases had a recognized tick bite. CONCLUSIONS: TBE cases among US travellers are uncommon, with these six cases being the only known TBE cases among civilian travellers during this 11-year period. Nonetheless, given potential disease severity, pre-travel counselling for travellers to TBE-endemic areas should include information on measures to reduce the risk for TBE and other tick-borne diseases, including possible TBE vaccine use if a traveller's itinerary puts them at higher risk for infection. Clinicians should consider the diagnosis of TBE in a patient with a neurologic or febrile illness recently returned from a TBE-endemic country, particularly if a tick bite or possible tick exposure is reported. |
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