Aim Human infections from highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 are associated with significant morbidity and mortality internationally. This study aimed to use routinely available data to examine key strategies to prevent H5N1 transmission to humans during outbreaks in poultry in residents in Cavan, Louth, Meath and Monaghan. Study design Cross-sectional based study. Methods Data were obtained from Health Protection Team (HPT) in the Department of Public Health (DPH), HSE North-East and Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine (DAFM). Data entry and analyses were conducted using Microsoft Excel 2016. Results The public health response focussed on contact tracing, monitoring, and follow-up for household, farm-workers, and DAFM staff exposed on the affected farms. A total of 157 contact episodes were identified. Contacts received advice about active monitoring from their last exposure. A total of 111 (80%) were recommended chemoprophylaxis for exposure to HPAI H5N1. During the active monitoring period, two contacts developed acute respiratory symptoms, and parainfluenza 3 and rhino/enterovirus were identified in these individuals respectively. Conclusions The findings of this study, using routinely gathered data, highlighted that collaboration between public health and DAFM at regional and national level was key to rapid response to these outbreaks of HPAI in domesticated poultry. In addition, the public health response was successful in preventing H5N1 transmission from domesticated birds to humans. Key messages • HPAI H5N1 virus infections transmissions from poultry to humans is low. • Effective public health measures are crucial to further mitigate the risks to an absolute minimum.
Warthin's tumours are the second most common benign tumours of the parotid gland. The authors report the case of a 40-year-old man of Afro-Caribbean decent who presented with a painless mass at the angle of the right mandible. It was an incidental finding while shaving and was not associated with any symptoms. Arrangements were made for him to undergo an ear, nose and throat (ENT) evaluation. Axial contrast-enhanced CT of head and neck region revealed a well-defined cystic lesion. Fine-needle aspiration cytology was inconclusive. Right superficial partial parotidectomy was performed to remove the lesion. Histological examination confirmed a diagnosis of a Warthin's tumour.
Exposure to air pollution is a known risk factor for asthma exacerbations, emergency attendances and hospitalisations. In Europe, the main source of air pollution is the transport industry, and so the COVID-19 transport restrictions provided an opportunity to examine if reduction in traffic had a demonstrable impact on ambient air quality and asthma-related admissions. Routinely collected data was used to conduct a retrospective population cohort study. The Environmental Protection Agency provided daily nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and particulate matter (PM) concentrations for Dublin, and all asthma-related admissions were collected from the Hospital In-Patient Enquiry system. The two years prior to the pandemic were compared with the period of transport restrictions (from March 2020). During the period of restrictions, there was a significant reduction in the mean number of daily asthma admissions (2.8 v 4.5 admissions p < 0.001). There was also a significant decrease in mean daily concentrations in two pollutants: NO2 (16.7 v 24.0µg/m3 p < 0.001) and PM2.5 (7.8 v 8.9µg/m3 p = 0.002). Only NO2 had a statistically significant correlation with asthma admissions (r = 0.132 p < 0.001). Transport restrictions introduced to mitigate against COVID-19 led to improvements in air quality, as seen by the reductions in pollutant concentrations. Previously described associations between pollutants and asthma, would suggest that these improvements in air quality contributed to the reduction in asthma admissions. Whereas the primary source of NO2 is transport emissions, PM is made up of particles from multiple sources, which likely explains the lack of correlation between asthma admissions and PM. Public Health need to advocate for transport policies which can improve air quality, and as a result, public health. Key messages
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.