Globalization has altered the way we live our lives and earn a livelihood. Consequently, trade and travel have been recognized as significant determinants of the spread of disease. Additionally, rise in urbanization and the closer integration of the world economy has facilitated global interconnectedness. Therefore, globalization has emerged as an essential mechanism of disease transmission . This paper aims to examine the potential impacts of COVID-19 on globalization and global health in terms of mobility, trade, travel, and countries most impacted. The effect of globalization was operationalized in terms of mobility, economy, and healthcare systems. The mobility of individuals and its magnitude was assessed using airline and seaport trade data and travel information. The economic impact was measured based on the workforce, event cancellations, food and agriculture, academic institutions, and supply chain. The healthcare capacity was assessed by consideration of healthcare systems indicators and preparedness of countries. Utilizing a technique for order of preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) we calculated a pandemic vulnerability index (PVI) creating a quantitative measure of the potential global health. The pandemic has placed an unprecedented burden on the world's economy, healthcare, and globalization through the travel, events cancellation, employment workforce, food chain, academia, and healthcare capacity. Based on PVI results, certain countries are more vulnerable than others. In Africa, more vulnerable countries include South Africa and Egypt; in Europe, they are Russia, Germany, and Italy; in Asia and Oceania, they are India, Iran, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey; and for the Americas, they are Brazil, USA, Chile, Mexico, and Peru. The impact on mobility, economy, and healthcare systems has only started to manifest. The findings of this study may help in the planning and implementation of strategies at the country level to help ease this emerging burden.

Objectives-Cross-sectional studies suggest that Helicobacter pylori may be transmitted between siblings. The present study aimed to estimate the effect of a Helicobacter pylori infected sibling on the establishment of a persistent Helicobacter pylori infection.Methods-The authors used data collected from a Texas-Mexico border population from 1998-2005 (the "Pasitos Cohort Study"). Starting at age 6-months, Helicobacter pylori and factors thought to be associated with Helicobacter pylori were ascertained every six month for participants and their younger siblings. Hazard ratios were estimated from proportional hazards regression models with household dependent modeling. Results-PersistentHelicobacter pylori infection in older siblings always preceded persistent infection in younger siblings. After controlling for mother's Helicobacter pylori status, breastfeeding, antibiotic use and socioeconomic factors, a strong effect was estimated for persistent Helicobacter pylori infection in an older sibling on persistent infection in a younger sibling [Hazard Ratio (HR): 7.6, 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 1.6, 37], especially when the difference in the age of the siblings was less than or equal to 3 years (HR: 16, 95% CI: 2.5, 112). The funder played no role in designing this study and the authors are not aware of any preference for particular results that either the funder or investigators have. None of the authors have a financial interest in the results of this study, but those who have authored previous publications from this cohort study acknowledge an often overlooked conflict of interest arising from an investment in previous work. In particular, they have an incentive to demonstrate the value of the methods and core findings of the Pasitos Cohort Study, which some commentators have challenged in the past, and this analysis contributes to doing so. However, no particular result from this analysis would tend to do that better than any other result, and so there is no incentive to favor particular results. Conclusions-These results suggest that when siblings are close in age, the older sibling may be an important source of Helicobacter pylori transmission for younger siblings.

In 2014, a fatal infection with Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 occurred in a neonate after a water birth. The death highlighted the need for infection control education, client awareness, and standardization of cleaning procedures in Texas midwife facilities.

During the 2012 outbreak of West Nile virus in the United States, approximately one third of the cases were in Texas. Of those, about half occurred in northern Texas. Models based on infected blood donors and persons with neuroinvasive disease showed, respectively, that ≈0.72% and 1.98% of persons in northern Texas became infected.

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