BACKGROUND: The prevalence and risk factors for ongoing symptoms following severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) [SCV2]) or influenza infection are not well characterized. We conducted a prospective cohort study of households wherein ≥1 individual was infected with SCV2 or influenza to evaluate prevalence of and factors associated with ongoing symptoms at 90 days. METHODS: Index cases and their household contacts provided baseline health and sociodemographic information and collected daily respiratory specimens for 10 days following enrollment. Participants completed a follow-up survey 90 days after enrollment to characterize ongoing symptoms. RESULTS: We analyzed 1967 participants enrolled between December 2021 and May 2023. The risk of ongoing symptoms did not differ by infection status in SCV2 (SCV2-positive: 15.6%; SCV2-negative: 13.9%; odds ratio [OR]: 1.14; 95% CI: .7-1.69) or influenza (influenza-positive: 8.8%; influenza-negative: 10.0%; OR: .87; 95% CI: .45-1.72) households. However, among study participants with a documented infection, SCV2-positive participants had nearly twice the odds of ongoing symptoms as influenza-positive participants (OR: 1.92; 95% CI: 1.27-2.97). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that SCV2 households have a significantly higher prevalence of ongoing symptoms compared with influenza households (OR: 1.78; 95% CI: 1.28-2.47). Among participants with SCV2 infection, underlying conditions (adjusted OR [aOR]: 2.65; 95% CI: 1.80-3.90) and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-like symptoms (aOR: 2.92; 95% CI: 1.15-7.43) during acute infection increased odds of ongoing symptoms at 90 days, whereas hybrid immunity reduced the odds of ongoing symptoms (aOR: 0.44; 95% CI: .22-.90).

BACKGROUND: In Zambia, the true extent of SARS-CoV-2 infections is unknown because initial surveillance focused on patients with symptoms or severe disease. Antenatal sentinel surveillance had not been used to assess infection trends. The ANC COVID-19 surveillance study sought to determine SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence and COVID-19 vaccine uptake among pregnant women. We provide insight into the study implementation, challenges encountered, best practices, and lessons learned. METHODS: A repeated cross-sectional seroprevalence survey was implemented at 39 health facilities in four districts from September 2021 to September 2022. Pregnant women aged 15-49 years were enrolled at their first antenatal care visits. An electronic questionnaire gathered demographics and other COVID-19 related information from consenting participants. A dried blood sample was collected to detect IgG antibodies using a multiplex bead assay. Seropositive results were categorized as infection, infection and vaccination or infection based on anti-RBD and anti-nucleocapsid test results. Problems and their root causes were identified as they occurred. Practical problem-solving strategies were devised, implemented, and monitored to ensure that goals were accomplished. RESULTS: In the primary analysis, 7% of the 9,221 samples collected from participants were not tested because they were missing. COVID-19 vaccine uptake of 9,111 pregnant women was assessed. Approximately 64% of participants were cumulatively seropositive for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. Seroprevalence increased from 27.8% in September 2021 to 56.6% in July 2022. We observed an increase in vaccine coverage (0.5-27%) over time. Women aged 40-49 years old, without education and with prior COVID-19 infection were associated with higher vaccine uptake. The Delta variant of COVID-19 and the reallocation of health facilities between two partners delayed surveillance activities and increased the cost of implementation (e.g., the purchase of additional calibration and validation kits and DBS cards). Protocol deviations were attributed to the lack of experience in conducting research but, the district RAs repeatedly trained health facility staff to enhance their research knowledge. CONCLUSIONS: Incorporating SARS-CoV-2 surveillance into routine antenatal care is feasible and potentially sustainable when existing health system infrastructure, human resources, and surveillance systems are leveraged. Yet, careful planning is needed to anticipate implementation challenges and ensure high-quality data collection.

The 2015-16 Zika virus epidemic emerged in the Americas and rapidly spread throughout the region and beyond, showing the epidemic potential of this mosquito-borne Orthoflavivirus and its capacity to cause severe congenital malformations and neurological sequelae. WHO declared the Zika virus epidemic a public health emergency of international concern in 2016. Despite this declaration, there are no licensed Zika virus vaccines, therapeutics, or diagnostic tests appropriate for routine antenatal screening. To address this absence of essential tools to detect and mitigate the threat of future Zika virus outbreaks, a group of global experts developed a priority agenda for Zika virus research and development. This Series paper summarises crucial challenges and knowledge gaps and outlines a comprehensive strategy to advance research, surveillance, global capacity, policy, and investment for Zika virus preparedness and response.

In the era of genomic characterization of strains for public health microbiology, whole genome sequencing (WGS)-enabled subtyping of Salmonella provides superior discrimination of strains compared to traditional methods such as serotyping. Nonetheless, serotypes are still very useful; they maintain historical continuity and facilitate clear communication. Genetic determination of serotypes from WGS data is now routine. Genetic determination of rarer serotypes can be problematic due to a lack of sequences for rare antigen types and alleles, a lack of understanding of the genetic basis for some antigens, or some inconsistencies in the White-Kauffmann-Le Minor (WKL) Scheme for Salmonella serotype designation. Here, we present a simplified interpretation of serotypes to address the shortcomings of genetic methods, which will allow the streamlined integration of serotype determination into the WGS workflow. The simplification represents a consensus perspective among major U.S. public health agencies and serves as a WGS-oriented interpretation of the WKL Scheme. We also present SeqSero2S, a bioinformatics tool for WGS-based serotype prediction using the simplified interpretation.IMPORTANCEThe utility of Salmonella serotyping has evolved from a primary subtyping method, where the need for strain discrimination justified its complexity, to a supplemental subtyping scheme and nomenclature convention, where clarity and simplicity in communication have become important for its continued use. Compared to phenotypic methods like serotyping, whole genome sequencing (WGS)-based subtyping methods excel in recognizing natural populations, which avoids grouping together strains from different genetic backgrounds or splitting genetically related strains into different groups. This simplified interpretation of serotypes addresses a shortcoming of the original scheme by combining some serotypes that are known to be genetically related. Our simplified interpretation of the White-Kauffmann-Le Minor (WKL) Scheme facilitates a complete and smooth transition of serotyping's role, especially from the public health perspective that has been shaped by the routine use of WGS.

BACKGROUND: Although many factors are associated with gastroschisis risk, studies have not systematically explored whether they account for its increasing frequency over the past decades or its inverse association with maternal age. We examined whether previously reported risk factors for gastroschisis from the National Birth Defects Prevention Study (NBDPS) explain the association with increasing temporal prevalence or young maternal age. METHODS: Using data from the NBDPS (1997-2011), crude odds ratios (ORs) were calculated for birth years 2005-2011 versus 1997-2004 and maternal age < 25 versus 25+ years. We then adjusted for 16 factors separately with logistic regression (paternal age, interpregnancy interval, parity, alcohol, cigarettes, illicit drugs, oral contraceptives, cold/flu with fever, genitourinary infection, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, diet quality, prepregnancy body mass index, parental race and ethnicity, language spoken at home, years lived in the United States, and household income). RESULTS: The birth year OR (1.28; 95% CI: 1.14, 1.44) was attenuated by 16% after adjustment for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon exposure (OR 1.08; 95 CI: 0.92, 1.26). The young maternal age OR (7.76; 95% CI: 6.71, 8.97) was attenuated by 30% after adjustment for paternal age (OR 5.43; 95% CI: 4.55, 6.48) and separately for interpregnancy interval (OR 5.45; 95% CI: 4.43, 6.69). CONCLUSION: Some evidence suggests that risk factors for gastroschisis account for small amounts of the time trend and maternal age associations. However, it remains unclear what factors underlie the complete calendar time or maternal age associations.

Larval source management (LSM) has a long history of advocacy and successes but is rarely adopted where funds are limited. The World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines on malaria prevention recommend the use of LSM as a supplementary intervention to the core vector control methods (insecticide-treated nets and indoor residual spraying), arguing that its feasibility in many settings can be limited by larval habitats being numerous, transient, and difficult to find or treat. Another key argument is that there is insufficient high-quality evidence for its effectiveness to support wide-scale implementation. However, the stagnation of progress towards malaria elimination demands that we consider additional options to the current emphasis on insecticidal commodities targeting adult mosquitoes inside homes. This letter is the result of a global, crossdisciplinary collaboration comprising: (a) detailed online expert discussions, (b) a narrative review of countries that have eliminated local malaria transmission, and (c) a mathematical modeling exercise using two different approaches. Together, these efforts culminated in seven key recommendations for elevating larval source management as a strategy for controlling malaria and other mosquito-borne diseases in Africa (Box 1). LSM encompasses the use of larvicide (a commodity) as well as various environmental sanitation measures. Together, these efforts lead to the long-term reduction of mosquito populations, which benefits the entire community by controlling both disease vector and nuisance mosquitoes. In this paper, we argue that the heavy reliance on large-scale cluster-randomized controlled trials (CRTs) to generate evidence on epidemiological endpoints restricts the recommendation of approaches to only those interventions that can be measured by functional units and deliver relatively uniform impact and, therefore, are more likely to receive financial support for conducting these trials. The explicit impacts of LSM may be better captured by using alternative evaluation approaches, especially high-quality operational data and a recognition of locally distinct outcomes and tailored strategies. LSM contributions are also evidenced by the widespread use of LSM strategies in nearly all countries that have successfully achieved malaria elimination. Two modelling approaches demonstrate that a multifaceted strategy, which incorporates LSM as a central intervention alongside other vector control methods, can effectively mitigate key biological threats such as insecticide resistance and outdoor biting, leading to substantial reductions in malaria cases in representative African settings. This argument is extended to show that the available evidence is sufficient to establish the link between LSM approaches and reduced disease transmission of mosquito-borne illnesses. What is needed now is a significant boost in the financial resources and public health administration structures necessary to train, employ and deploy local-level workforces tasked with suppressing mosquito populations in scientifically driven and ecologically sensitive ways. In conclusion, having WHO guidelines that recognize LSM as a key intervention to be delivered in multiple contextualized forms would open the door to increased flexibility for funding and aid countries in implementing the strategies that they deem appropriate. Financially supporting the scale-up of LSM with high-quality operations monitoring for vector control in combination with other core tools can facilitate better health. The global health community should reconsider how evidence and funding are used to support LSM initiatives.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to assess how knee savers (KSs) and knee pads (KPs) alleviate risks of knee musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) among roofers during various phases of shingle installation. These phases encompass (1) reaching for shingles, (2) placing shingles, (3) grabbing a nail gun, (4) moving to the first nailing position, (5) nailing shingles, (6) replacing the nail gun, and (7) returning to an upright position. METHODS: In a laboratory setting, nine male participants simulated the shingle installation task on a slope-adjustable roof platform (0°, 15°, and 30° slopes) under four intervention conditions: no intervention (NO); with KPs only (KP); with KSs only (KS); and with both KPs and KSs (BO). Knee flexion, abduction, adduction, and internal/external rotations were measured to assess intervention impact through statistical analysis. RESULTS: Phase 5 (nailing shingles), one of the riskiest phases, saw reduced knee rotations, with BO and KP interventions being the most effective. Phase 6 (replacing the nail gun) exhibited notable reductions in all knee rotations, primarily due to BO intervention. Significant improvements in certain knee angles for other phases were noted, particularly with BO intervention. CONCLUSIONS: BO and KP can lower knee strain by minimizing extreme knee postures and thereby reducing the risk of MSDs during the installation of shingles, especially at critical periods and on steeper slopes. This study highlights the importance of applying focused ergonomic techniques in the roofing sector to improve workers' musculoskeletal health.

INTRODUCTION: We assessed the risk of adverse pregnancy and birth outcomes and birth defects among women living with HIV (WLHIV) on antiretroviral therapy (ART) and HIV-negative women. METHODS: We analyzed data on live births, stillbirths, and spontaneous abortions during 2015-2021 from a hospital-based birth defects surveillance system in Kampala, Uganda. ART regimens were recorded from hospital records and maternal self-reports. Using a log-binomial regression model, we compared the prevalence of 16 major external birth defects and other adverse birth outcomes among WLHIV on ART and HIV-negative women. RESULTS: A total of 203,092 births were included from 196,373 women of which 15,020 (7.6%) were WLHIV on ART. During pregnancy, 15,566 infants were primarily exposed to non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI)-based ART (n=13,614; 87.5%). After adjusting for maternal age, parity, and number of antenatal care (ANC) visits, WLHIV on NNRTI were more likely than HIV-negative women to deliver preterm (adjusted prevalence ratio [aPR]=1.27, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.21,1.32), post-term (aPR=1.23, 95% CI: 1.16,1.32), or small for gestational age infants (aPR=1.35, 95% CI: 1.30,1.40). Spina bifida was more prevalent among infants born to WLHIV on ART periconceptionally compared to HIV-negative women (aPR=2.45, 95% CI 1.27,4.33). The prevalence of the other selected birth defects were similar between infants from WLHIV on ART and HIV-negative women. CONCLUSION: In Uganda, WLHIV on ART were more likely than HIV-negative women to experience selected adverse birth outcomes. Further surveillance of maternal ART exposure, including by drug class and ART regimen, is needed to monitor and prevent adverse birth outcomes in WLHIV.

BACKGROUND: Reports from China describe an increase in the frequency of fetal situs inversus in 2023 after the country's "zero-Covid" policy was lifted, suggesting an association with maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, a report of birth defects surveillance data from Scandinavia observed no sustained increase during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic (2020-2022 vs. 2018-2019). We examined birth defects surveillance data to assess any increase in situs inversus in the U.S. during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. METHODS: We combined data from four population-based birth defects programs in Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, and Atlanta, Georgia, to compare the prevalence of situs inversus among infants and fetuses delivered before (2017-2019) and during (2021-2022) the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. We defined situs inversus as mirror-image transposition of the heart and/or other organs, or primary ciliary dyskinesis with situs inversus, excluding isolated dextrocardia. The programs varied in the pregnancy outcomes included (live births ± non-live births); all included both prenatal and postnatal diagnoses. RESULTS: We identified 294 infants and fetuses with situs inversus (6.8% non-live births). We estimated the combined prevalence per 10,000 live births as 1.72 during the pandemic versus 1.71 before the pandemic (OR = 1.005; 95% CI: 0.778-1.297). The estimated annual prevalence ranged from 1.41 in 2017 to 2.21 in 2019 with no significant trend across the study period (p = 0.39). CONCLUSIONS: We did not observe an increase in situs inversus during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Because information about SARS-CoV-2 infection among individual pregnancies was not available from all programs, we could not assess a specific association with maternal infection.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Many neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) do not give rotavirus vaccines to inpatients due to a theoretical risk of horizontal transmission of vaccine strains. We aimed to determine incidence and clinical significance of vaccine-strain transmission to unvaccinated infants in a NICU that routinely administers pentavalent rotavirus vaccine (RV5). METHODS: This prospective cohort study included all patients admitted to a 100-bed NICU for 1 year. Stool specimens were collected weekly; real-time quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction was used to detect any RV5 strain. Incidence of transmission to unvaccinated infants was calculated assuming each unvaccinated patient's stool contributed 1 patient-day at risk for transmission. Investigations and geospatial analyses were conducted for suspected transmission events. RESULTS: Of 1238 infants admitted, 560 (45%) were premature and 322 (26%) had gastrointestinal pathology. During observation, 226 RV5 doses were administered. Overall, 3448 stool samples were tested, including 2252 from 686 unvaccinated patients. Most (681, 99.3%) unvaccinated patients never tested positive for RV5 strain. Five (<1%) tested RV5 strain positive. The estimated rate of transmission to unvaccinated infants was 5/2252 stools or 2.2/1000 patient-days at risk (95% CI: 0.7-5.2). No gastroenteritis symptoms were identified in transmission cases within 7 days of collection of RV5-positive stool. Of 126 patients for whom the RV5 series was initiated before the discharge date, 55% would have become age-ineligible to start the series if vaccination was allowed only at discharge. CONCLUSIONS: Transmission of RV5 strain was infrequent and without clinical consequences. Benefits of allowing vaccine-induced protection against rotavirus disease in infants through in-NICU RV5 vaccination appear to have outweighed risks from vaccine-strain transmission.

BACKGROUND: The Federal Retail Pharmacy Program (FRPP) integrated pharmacies as partners in the national effort to maximize vaccination during the COVID-19 public health emergency. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to quantify the contribution of pharmacies participating in FRPP to COVID-19 vaccination efforts during December 2020-September 2023 across sociodemographic groups in the United States. METHODS: Data on COVID-19 vaccine doses administered reported to CDC by FRPP and jurisdictional immunization information systems (IIS) of all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories were analyzed to estimate FRPP contributions. RESULTS: Approximately 314.9 million COVID-19 vaccine doses were administered by FRPP throughout this period, constituting 48.9% of all COVID-19 vaccine doses administered. FRPP contributions to COVID-19 vaccination ranged from 12.9% to 56.8% for persons aged 6 months-4 years and 12-17 years, respectively. FRPP made the highest contribution to administering COVID-19 doses to Non-Hispanic Asian (48.7%) and Hispanic/Latino (49.8%) persons. The proportion of COVID-19 doses given by FRPP pharmacies was found to be higher in urban areas (57%) compared with rural areas (45%). CONCLUSION: FRPP administered a substantial proportion of COVID-19 vaccine doses in the United States and provided vaccine access for persons across a wide range of groups. Pharmacies can complement vaccination efforts during public health emergency situations and in routine vaccination programs.

Endurance exercise training (ExT) induces metabolic, structural, and functional adaptations via lipidomic modifications, yet the systematic elucidation of lipidome alterations in response to ExT remains incomplete. As a part of the Molecular Transducers of Physical Activity Consortium (MoTrPAC), we leveraged non-targeted and targeted lipidomics for the systematic discovery of lipid alterations in the brown adipose tissue, heart, hippocampus, kidney, liver, lung, skeletal muscle gastrocnemius, subcutaneous white adipose tissue, and plasma in response to 1, 2, 4 or 8 weeks of ExT in 6-month-old male and female Fischer-344 rats. This study demonstrates that these tissues, each with distinct lipidomic features, underwent dynamic, sexually dimorphic lipid remodeling. Exercise trained animals showed reduced whole-body adiposity and improved cardiorespiratory fitness, along with enhanced utilization of lipid stores and dynamic triacylglycerol remodeling compared to sedentary controls in all tissues except hippocampus. They also showed modifications in phospholipids, lysophospholipids, oxylipins, and ceramides in several tissues. Coordinated changes across tissues reflect systemic tissue communication, with liver-plasma-heart connection potentially playing a key role in systemic lipid metabolism during ExT. These data will improve our understanding of lipid-associated biological processes underlying the health-promoting benefits of ExT.

Using data from the US population-based, multisite Muscular Dystrophy Surveillance, Tracking, and Research Network (MD STARnet), we describe respiratory testing and insufficiency among people with facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) diagnosed during 2008-2016. We calculated frequencies and proportions for selected outpatient respiratory assessments (pulmonary function tests [PFTs], forced vital capacity (FVC), inspiratory/expiratory pressure, and polysomnograms) and abnormal test results. We examined frequencies by disease characteristics (FSHD type, ages of onset, non-ambulatory status, scoliosis, lordosis), obesity, and number of health encounters. Of 170 people with FSHD, 20.0% underwent PFTs during 2008-2016. Polysomnograms were infrequent (14.1%). FVC <80% predicted was recorded for 64.7% of people tested; additional respiratory outcomes were rare (<5%). Frequency of evaluations and respiratory insufficiency were higher among those with known risk factors and longer follow-up. We observed low proportions of respiratory testing among all confirmed cases of FSHD, but relatively high proportions of mild respiratory insufficiency among those tested. The higher proportions of testing among people with conditions that increase risk of respiratory complications suggest targeted monitoring. Broad implementation of the FSHD guidelines recommending all individuals receive baseline respiratory evaluation at diagnosis could identify respiratory insufficiency as a complication of FSHD.

Hurricane Ida, a Category 4 hurricane, made landfall in southern Louisiana in August of 2021, causing widespread wind damage and flooding. The objective of this study was to investigate knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to post-hurricane mold exposure and cleanup among residents and workers in areas of Louisiana affected by Hurricane Ida and assess changes in knowledge, attitudes, and practices that have occurred over the past 16 years since Hurricane Katrina. We conducted in-person interviews with 238 residents and 68 mold-remediation workers in areas in and around New Orleans to ask about their mold cleanup knowledge and practices, personal protective equipment use, and risk perceptions related to mold. Knowledge of recommended safety measures increased since the post-Katrina survey but adherence to recommended safety measures did not. Many residents and some workers reported using insufficient personal protective equipment when cleaning up mold despite awareness of the potential negative health effects of mold exposure.

OBJECTIVES: After respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), human metapneumovirus (hMPV) was the second-ranked pathogen attributed to severe pneumonia in the PERCH study. We sought to characterize hMPV-positive cases in high burden settings, which have limited data, by comparing to RSV-positive and other cases. METHODS: Children aged 1-59 months hospitalized with suspected severe pneumonia and age/season-matched community controls in seven African and Asian countries had nasopharyngeal/oropharyngeal swabs tested by multiplex PCR for 32 respiratory pathogens, among other clinical and lab assessments at admission. Odds ratios adjusted for age and site (aOR) were calculated using logistic regression. Etiologic probability was estimated using Bayesian nested partial latent class analysis. Latent class analysis identified syndromic constellations of clinical characteristics. RESULTS: HMPV was detected more frequently among cases (267/3887, 6.9%) than controls (115/4976, 2.3%), among cases with pneumonia chest X-ray findings (8.5%) than without (5.5%), and among controls with respiratory tract illness (3.8%) than without (1.8%; all p≤0.001). HMPV-positive cases were negatively associated with the detection of other viruses (aOR=0.18), especially RSV (aOR=0.11; all p<0.0001), and positively associated with the detection of bacteria (aORs 1.77, p=0.03). No single clinical syndrome distinguished hMPV-positive from other cases. Among hMPV-positive cases, 65.2% were aged <1 year and 27.5% had pneumonia danger signs; positive predictive value was 74.5%; mortality was 3.9%, similar to RSV-positive (2.4%) and lower than other cases (9.6%). CONCLUSIONS: HMPV-associated severe pediatric pneumonia in high burden settings was predominantly in young infants and clinically indistinguishable from RSV. HMPV-positives had low case fatality, similar to that in RSV-positives.

Common methods to collect data include quantitative, qualitative, and mixed method approaches. Although it is common to complete data collection in-person, the onset of COVID-19 has resulted in the increased use of online modalities. Qualitative research is commonly gathered through individual or focus group interviews. However, best practices outlining strategies when conducting online focus groups and approaches to address issues specific to online research (i.e., scammers) are limited. Due to the growing use of data collection through such means, it is imperative to draw out specific strategies that could regulate data quality and reduce the chances of scamming. The current article addresses this practical gap by providing a synthesis of the available literature on online focus groups that document best practices and suggestions to deal with scammers which is currently missing from the literature. The goal was to provide initial suggestions to improve data quality of online focus groups by examining the available literature that outlines best practices, addresses the issues of scammers, and to provide a concise and comprehensive overview of identified literature The article is organized beginning with a review of the literature. The research is then synthesized including an outline of best practices and strategies to address scammers when engaging in online focus groups. The article closes with a discussion of the significance of the review, limitations, and article summary. Scammers are prevalent in online spaces. Although this article provides a preliminary outline of suggestions from the literature, more research is necessary that provides specific examples of how challenges have been addressed and the impact of including the recommended strategies on the research process and outcomes. © 2024, Ludomedia EN. All rights reserved.

INTRODUCTION: Exposure to unfavorable environmental conditions during pregnancy, such as extreme heat and air pollution, has been linked to increased risk of stillbirth, defined as fetal mortality at or after 20 weeks' gestation, however no studies have examined its association with social vulnerability. We examined associations between county-level stillbirth rates, environmental risk factors for stillbirth, and social vulnerability in the United States. METHODS: This ecologic study linked county-level data from three nationwide datasets on stillbirths (National Vital Statistics System), environmental conditions (North American Land Data Assimilation System and Environmental Protection Agency), and social vulnerability (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry Social Vulnerability Index). Poisson and negative binomial models were fit to the variables and produced rate ratios to estimate associations among stillbirth rates, environmental risk factors, and social vulnerability. RESULTS: Social vulnerability was positively associated withn stillbirth rates, annual average number of extreme heat days, and ambient concentration of particulate matter ≤ 2.5 μm in diameter (PM2.5). The average number of days that ozone and PM2.5 each exceeded regulatory standards were not associated with stillbirth rates or social vulnerability. A positive association between average annual PM2.5 concentration and stillbirth rates was detected; no other significant associations between environmental risk factors and stillbirth rates were observed. DISCUSSION: We found evidence of associations between social vulnerability and stillbirth rates, and between social vulnerability and environmental risk factors for stillbirth at the county level. Further research could inform understanding of how social vulnerability impacts the relationship between environmental exposures and stillbirth risk.

Adolescent mental health and suicide risk remain substantial public health concerns. High pre-COVID rates of poor mental health and suicide-related behaviors have continued to rise, highlighting the need to identify factors that might foster positive mental health outcomes and reduce suicide-related behaviors at population levels. Using CDC's 2023 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, CDC analyzed the prevalence of mental health and suicide risk indicators and their associations with individual-, family-, and school- or community-level protective factors. Prevalence estimates were calculated for each of the mental health and suicide risk indicators by demographic characteristic. Prevalence ratios adjusted for sex, sexual identity, grade, and race and ethnicity were calculated to examine the association between protective factors and mental health and suicide risk indicators. Overall, 39.7% of students experienced persistent feelings of sadness and hopelessness, 28.5% experienced poor mental health, 20.4% seriously considered attempting suicide, and 9.5% had attempted suicide. Mental health and suicide risk indicators differed by sex, sexual identity, grade, and race and ethnicity. All protective factors were associated with lower prevalence of one or more risk indicators. Findings from this report can serve as a foundation for the advancement of research on protective factors and for the development and implementation of programs, practices, and policies that protect and promote mental health and emotional well-being among youth.

Social media has become a pervasive presence in everyday life, including among youths. In 2023, for the first time, CDC's nationally representative Youth Risk Behavior Survey included an item assessing U.S. high school students' frequency of social media use. Data from this survey were used to estimate the prevalence of frequent social media use (i.e., used social media at least several times a day) among high school students and associations between frequent social media use and experiences with bullying victimization, persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness, and suicide risk. All prevalence estimates and measures of association used Taylor series linearization. Prevalence ratios were calculated using logistic regression with predicted marginals. Overall, 77.0% of students reported frequent social media use, with observed differences by sex, sexual identity, and racial and ethnic identity. Frequent social media use was associated with a higher prevalence of bullying victimization at school and electronically, persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness, and some suicide risk among students (considering attempting suicide and having made a suicide plan), both overall and in stratified models. This analysis characterizes the potential harms of frequent social media use for adolescent health among a nationally representative sample of U.S. high school students. Findings might support multisectoral efforts to create safer digital environments for youths, including decision-making about social media policies, practices, and protections.

As part of the response to the highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) virus outbreak in U.S. cattle and poultry and the associated human cases, CDC and partners are monitoring influenza A virus levels and detection of the H5 subtype in wastewater. Among 48 states and the District of Columbia that performed influenza A testing of wastewater during May 12-July 13, 2024, a weekly average of 309 sites in 38 states had sufficient data for analysis, and 11 sites in four states reported high levels of influenza A virus. H5 subtype testing was conducted at 203 sites in 41 states, with H5 detections at 24 sites in nine states. For each detection or high level, CDC and state and local health departments evaluated data from other influenza surveillance systems and partnered with wastewater utilities and agriculture departments to investigate potential sources. Among the four states with high influenza A virus levels detected in wastewater, three states had corresponding evidence of human influenza activity from other influenza surveillance systems. Among the 24 sites with H5 detections, 15 identified animal sources within the sewershed or adjacent county, including eight milk-processing inputs. Data from these early investigations can help health officials optimize the use of wastewater surveillance during the upcoming respiratory illness season.

OBJECTIVES: CA 15-3 and CEA are tumor markers used in routine clinical care for breast cancer and colorectal cancer, among others. Current measurement procedures (MP) for these tumor markers are considered to be insufficiently harmonized. This study investigated the achievable harmonization for CA 15-3 and CEA by using an in silico simulation of external quality assessment (EQA) data from multiple EQA programs using patient-pool based samples. METHODS: CA 15-3 and CEA data from SKML (2021), UK NEQAS (2020-2021) and KEQAS (2020-2021) were used. A harmonization protocol was defined in which MPs that were considered equivalent were used to value assign EQA samples, and recalibration was only required if the MP had a bias of >5 % with value assigned EQA. Harmonization status was assessed by determining the mean level of agreement and residual variation by CV (%). RESULTS: Only MPs from Abbott, Beckman, Roche and Siemens were available in all EQA programs. For CA 15-3, recalibration was proposed for Beckman MP only and for CEA, recalibration was proposed for Siemens MP only. When the harmonization procedures were applied, for CA 15-3 the pre-harmonization mean bias range per MP was reduced from -29.28 to 9.86 %, into -0.09-0.12 % after harmonization. For CEA, the mean bias range per MP was reduced from -23.78 to 2.00 % pre-harmonization to -3.13-1.42 % post-harmonization. CONCLUSIONS: The present study suggests that a significant improvement in the harmonization status of CA 15-3 and CEA may be achieved by recalibration of a limited number of MPs.

This case study describes the design, implementation, and evaluation of an initiative to increase COVID-19 vaccine confidence and uptake among refugee and immigrant women in Clarkston, Georgia. Applying the principles and practices of human-centered design, Mothers x Mothers was co-created by Refugee Women's Network and IDEO.org as a series of gatherings for refugee and immigrant mothers to discuss health issues, beginning with the COVID-19 vaccine. The gatherings included both vaccinated and unvaccinated mothers and used a peer support model, with facilitation focused on creating a trusting environment and supporting mothers to make their own health decisions. The facilitators for Mothers x Mothers gatherings were community health workers (CHWs) recruited and trained by Refugee Women's Network. Notably, these CHWs were active in every phase of the initiative, from design to implementation to evaluation, and the CHWs' professional development was specifically included among the initiative's goals. These elements and others contributed to an effective public health intervention for community members who, for a variety of reasons, did not get sufficient or appropriate COVID-19 vaccine information through other channels. Over the course of 8 Mothers x Mothers gatherings with 7 distinct linguistic/ethnic groups, 75% of the unvaccinated participants decided to get the COVID-19 vaccine and secured a vaccine referral.

BACKGROUND: Ending the HIV Epidemic in the U.S. (EHE) aims to end the HIV epidemic by focusing on 57 jurisdictions most impacted by HIV. METHODS: Using 2021 data from the National HIV Prevention Program Monitoring and Evaluation system, we calculated distributions of CDC-funded HIV tests and HIV testing services outcomes in EHE and non-EHE jurisdictions. We conducted chi-square tests and robust Poisson regression to compare differences in outcomes. RESULTS: Of the 1,753,873 tests conducted, a greater proportion were conducted in EHE (65.7%) versus non-EHE (34.3%) jurisdictions (p<0.001). Greater number of persons newly diagnosed were identified in EHE (n=5,861) versus non-EHE (n=2,329) jurisdictions; newly diagnosed positivity was higher in EHE (0.5%) versus non-EHE (0.4%; PR=1.31, 95% CI: 1.25-1.38) jurisdictions. Among persons newly diagnosed, there were no differences in proportion of linkage to care within 30 days in EHE jurisdictions (77.9%) versus non-EHE jurisdictions (77.1%; PR=1.01, 95% CI: 0.95-1.07). Proportion of persons newly diagnosed interviewed for partner services was lower in EHE (69.0%) versus non-EHE (84.8%; PR=0.81, 95% CI: 0.76-0.87) jurisdictions. CONCLUSION: CDC-funded HIV testing services in EHE jurisdictions conducted more HIV testing and diagnosed more persons. Jurisdictions can further expand HIV testing and related services to continue striving toward EHE goals.

Serum neutralizing antibodies (nAbs) induced by vaccination have been linked to protection against symptomatic and severe coronavirus disease 2019. However, much less is known about the efficacy of nAbs in preventing the acquisition of infection, especially in the context of natural immunity and against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) immune-escape variants. Here we conducted mediation analysis to assess serum nAbs induced by prior SARS-CoV-2 infections as potential correlates of protection against Delta and Omicron infections, in rural and urban household cohorts in South Africa. We find that, in the Delta wave, D614G nAbs mediate 37% (95% confidence interval: 34-40%) of the total protection against infection conferred by prior exposure to SARS-CoV-2, and that protection decreases with waning immunity. In contrast, Omicron BA.1 nAbs mediate 11% (95% confidence interval: 9-12%) of the total protection against Omicron BA.1 or BA.2 infections, due to Omicron's neutralization escape. These findings underscore that correlates of protection mediated through nAbs are variant specific, and that boosting of nAbs against circulating variants might restore or confer immune protection lost due to nAb waning and/or immune escape. However, the majority of immune protection against SARS-CoV-2 conferred by natural infection cannot be fully explained by serum nAbs alone. Measuring these and other immune markers including T cell responses, both in the serum and in other compartments such as the nasal mucosa, may be required to comprehensively understand and predict immune protection against SARS-CoV-2.

BACKGROUND: Primary congenital glaucoma (PCG) affects approximately 1 in 10,000 live born infants in the United States (U.S.). PCG has a autosomal recessive inheritance pattern, and variable expressivity and reduced penetrance have been reported. Likely causal variants in the most commonly mutated gene, CYP1B1, are less prevalent in the U.S., suggesting that alternative genes may contribute to the condition. This study utilized exome sequencing to investigate the genetic architecture of PCG in the U.S. and to identify novel genes and variants. METHODS: We studied 37 family trios where infants had PCG and were part of the National Birth Defects Prevention Study (births 1997-2011), a U.S. multicenter study of birth defects. Samples underwent exome sequencing and sequence reads were aligned to the human reference sample (NCBI build 37/hg19). Variant filtration was conducted under de novo and Mendelian inheritance models using GEMINI. RESULTS: Among candidate variants, CYP1B1 was most represented (five trios, 13.5%). Twelve probands (32%) had potentially pathogenic variants in other genes not previously linked to PCG but important in eye development and/or to underlie Mendelian conditions with potential phenotypic overlap (e.g., CRYBB2, RXRA, GLI2). CONCLUSION: Variation in the genes identified in this population-based study may help to further explain the genetics of PCG.

Underground mine pillars provide natural stability to the mine area, allowing safe operations for workers and machinery. Extensive prior research has been conducted to understand pillar failure mechanics and design safe pillar layouts. However, limited studies (mostly based on empirical field observation and small-scale laboratory tests) have considered pillar-support interactions under monotonic loading conditions for the design of pillar-support systems. This study used a series of large-scale laboratory compression tests on porous limestone blocks to analyze rock and support behavior at a sufficiently large scale (specimens with edge length of 0.5m) for incorporation of actual support elements, with consideration of different w/h ratios. Both unsupported and supported (grouted rebar rockbolt and wire mesh) tests were conducted, and the surface deformations of the specimens were monitored using three-dimensional (3D) digital image correlation (DIC). Rockbolts instrumented with distributed fiber optic strain sensors were used to study rockbolt strain distribution, load mobilization, and localized deformation at different w/h ratios. Both axial and bending strains were observed in the rockbolts, which became more prominent in the post-peak region of the stress-strain curve.

Nipah virus causes highly lethal disease, with case-fatality rates ranging from 40% to 100% in recognised outbreaks. No treatments or licensed vaccines are currently available for the prevention and control of Nipah virus infection. In 2019, WHO published an advanced draft of a research and development roadmap for accelerating development of medical countermeasures, including diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines, to enable effective and timely emergency response to Nipah virus outbreaks. This Personal View provides an update to the WHO roadmap by defining current research priorities for development of Nipah virus medical countermeasures, based primarily on literature published in the last 5 years and consensus opinion of 15 subject matter experts with broad experience in development of medical countermeasures for Nipah virus or experience in the epidemiology, ecology, or public health control of outbreaks of Nipah virus. The research priorities are organised into four main sections: cross-cutting issues (for those that apply to more than one category of medical countermeasures), diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines. The strategic goals and milestones identified in each section focus on key achievements that are needed over the next 6 years to ensure that the necessary tools are available for rapid response to future outbreaks of Nipah virus or related henipaviruses.

Advances in pediatric TB care are promising, the result of decades of advocacy, operational and clinical trials research, and political will by national and local TB programs in high-burden countries. However, implementation challenges remain in linking policy to practice and scaling up innovations for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of TB in children, especially in resource-limited settings. There is both need and opportunity to strengthen clinician confidence in making a TB diagnosis and managing the various manifestations of TB in children, which can facilitate the translation of evidence to action and expand access to new tools and strategies to address TB in this population. This review aims to summarize existing guidance and best practices for clinicians and health care providers in low-resource, TB-endemic settings and identify resources with more detailed and actionable information for decision-making along the clinical cascade to prevent, find, and cure TB in children.

BACKGROUND: Associations between maternal periconceptional exposure to disinfection by-products (DBPs) in drinking water and neural tube defects (NTDs) in offspring are inconclusive, limited in part by exposure misclassification. METHODS: Maternal interview reports of drinking water sources and consumption from the National Birth Defects Prevention Study were linked with DBP concentrations in public water system monitoring data for case children with an NTD and control children delivered during 2000-2005. DBPs analyzed were total trihalomethanes, the five most common haloacetic acids combined, and individual species. Associations were estimated for all NTDs combined and selected subtypes (spina bifida, anencephaly) with maternal periconceptional exposure to DBPs in public water systems and with average daily periconceptional ingestion of DBPs accounting for individual-level consumption and filtration information. Mixed effects logistic regression models with maternal race/ethnicity and educational attainment at delivery as fixed effects and study site as a random intercept were applied. RESULTS: Overall, 111 case and 649 control children were eligible for analyses. Adjusted odds ratios for maternal exposure to DBPs in public water systems ranged from 0.8-1.5 for all NTDs combined, 0.6-2.0 for spina bifida, and 0.7-1.9 for anencephaly; respective ranges for average daily maternal ingestion of DBPs were 0.7-1.1, 0.5-1.5, and 0.6-1.8. Several positive estimates (≥1.2) were observed, but all confidence intervals included the null. CONCLUSIONS: Using community- and individual-level data from a large, US, population-based, case-control study, we observed statistically nonsignificant associations between maternal periconceptional exposure to total and individual DBP species in drinking water and NTDs and subtypes.