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The WHO African region is characterised by the largest infectious disease burden in the world. We conducted a retrospective descriptive analysis using records of all infectious disease outbreaks formally reported to the WHO in 2018 by Member States of the African region. We analysed the spatio-temporal distribution, the notification delay as well as the morbidity and mortality associated with these outbreaks. In 2018, 96 new disease outbreaks were reported across 36 of the 47 Member States. The most commonly reported disease outbreak was cholera which accounted for 20.8% (n = 20) of all events, followed by measles (n = 11, 11.5%) and Yellow fever (n = 7, 7.3%). About a quarter of the outbreaks (n = 23) were reported following signals detected through media monitoring conducted at the WHO regional office for Africa. The median delay between the disease onset and WHO notification was 16 days (range: 0–184). A total of 107 167 people were directly affected including 1221 deaths (mean case fatality ratio (CFR): 1.14% (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.07%–1.20%)). The highest CFR was observed for diseases targeted for eradication or elimination: 3.45% (95% CI 0.89%–10.45%). The African region remains prone to outbreaks of infectious diseases. It is therefore critical that Member States improve their capacities to rapidly detect, report and respond to public health events.

This study aimed at determining the role of proximity to specific types of green spaces (GSes) as well as their spatial location in the relationship with the most morbid cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and diabetes. We measured the accessibility to various types of GS and used a cross-sectional approach at census Dissemination Area (DA) levels in the Montreal and Quebec City metropolitan zones for the period 2006–2011. Poisson and negative binomial regression models were fitted to quantify the relationship between distances to specific types of GS and CVD morbidity as well as some risk factors (diabetes and hypertension) while controlling for several social and environmental confounders. GSes that have sports facilities showed a significant relationship to cerebrovascular diseases: the most distant population had an 11% higher prevalence rate ratio (PRR) compared to the nearest, as well as higher diabetes risk (PRR 9%) than the nearest. However, the overall model performance and the understanding of the role of GSes with sport facilities may be substantially achieved with lifestyle factors. Significantly higher prevalence of diabetes and cerebrovascular diseases as well as lower access to GSes equipped with sports facilities were found in suburban areas. GSes can advantageously be used to prevent some CVDs and their risk factors, but there may be a need to reconsider their types and location.

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Common Ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia) is a plant that constitutes an important and growing public health concern worldwide as it is probably expanding with climate change, which brings forward the need for improved mapping tools. Our final purpose is to operationalize the use of optical remote sensing for the automated mapping and surveillance of Ambrosia artemisiifolia. Analyses considering the probable spectral instability originating from the variability of the urban landscape and from that of sensors characteristics were developed. Worldview 2, Rapid Eye and SPOT 4 HRVIR sensors were used together with geolocalized surveys of Common Ragweed in Montréal and Valleyfield (Quebec, Canada). Images were standardized and various derivatives variables such as multiple vegetation indexes were created. Spectral confusion, statistical analyses, object-oriented technology and Fuzzy-logic functions were used to develop predictive risks maps of Common Ragweed potential presence. The results showed that the green bands (510-590 nm) of higher spatial resolutions sensors had a higher potential to cope with spectral confusions and changing landscape characteristics and to predict the likelihood of Ambrosia artemisiifolia presence with a recurrent stability. The good agreement between observed and predicted ragweed revealed an important potential for the operationalization of this method.

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