Western Pacific Surveillance and Response最新文献

{"title":"Science in action for safer food: World Food Safety Day 2025.","authors":"Jessica Kayamori Lopes, Syed Moazzem Hossain, Simone Moraes Raszl","doi":"10.5365/wpsar.2025.16.2.1249","DOIUrl":"10.5365/wpsar.2025.16.2.1249","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":31512,"journal":{"name":"Western Pacific Surveillance and Response","volume":"16 2","pages":"1-2"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12149729/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144267487","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Exercise Crystal: simulations that drive National \u2028IHR Focal Point capacity-strengthening.","authors":"Laura Goddard, Qiu Yi Khut, Gina Samaan","doi":"10.5365/wpsar.2025.16.2.1240","DOIUrl":"10.5365/wpsar.2025.16.2.1240","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The International Health Regulations (2005; IHR) require States Parties to designate a National IHR Focal Point (NFP; i.e. a national centre) to ensure timely communications with the World Health Organization (WHO) about all events that may constitute a public health emergency of international concern and, following recent amendments, to designate a National IHR Authority to coordinate IHR (2005) implementation within the Parties. Since 2008, the WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific has been running an annual simulation exercise, known as the IHR Exercise Crystal, to test and strengthen NFP functionality. This study analyses NFP performance during the IHR Exercise Crystal over a 16-year period (2008-2024, excluding 2009) to inform Member States' planning for NFP capacity-strengthening in the context of the recent IHR (2005) amendments. Data collected about NFP performance during these exercises were analysed using descriptive statistics across six key NFP performance indicators. Key findings show that the proportion of NFPs that are accessible via e-mail is consistently high (mean: 99%), but there is suboptimal NFP accessibility via telephone (mean: 64%). The proportion of NFPs participating in tele- and videoconferencing during the exercise improved over time (mean: 73%), as did the proportions of NFPs notifying WHO of simulated events (mean: 80%) and contributing information to the Event Information Site for NFPs (mean: 77%). The proportion engaging in multisectoral communication remained variable, with no clear trend (mean: 73%). These results demonstrate that significant progress has been made in strengthening NFP functionality, but there are opportunities for further improvement, particularly in the areas of telephone accessibility and multisectoral coordination. It is critical that States Parties continue strengthening and testing NFP functionality through simulation exercises and other capacity-building activities to ensure effective IHR (2005) implementation. Furthermore, States Parties should develop, test and maintain up-to-date standard operating procedures to support the clear demarcation of roles and responsibilities between the NFP and the National IHR Authority.</p>","PeriodicalId":31512,"journal":{"name":"Western Pacific Surveillance and Response","volume":"16 2","pages":"1-8"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12149732/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144267485","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Experience conducting COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness studies in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan and the Philippines: lessons for future epidemics and potential pandemics.","authors":"Takeshi Arashiro, Regina Pascua Berba, Joy Potenciano Calayo, Rontgene Solante, Shuichi Suzuki, Jinho Shin, Motoi Suzuki, Martin Hibberd, Koya Ariyoshi, Chris Smith","doi":"10.5365/wpsar.2025.16.2.1157","DOIUrl":"10.5365/wpsar.2025.16.2.1157","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Problem: </strong>Once COVID-19 vaccines were rolled out, there was a need to monitor real-world vaccine effectiveness to accumulate evidence to inform policy and risk communication. This was especially true in Japan and the Philippines, given historical issues that affected vaccine confidence.</p><p><strong>Context: </strong>Neither country had public health surveillance that could be enhanced to evaluate vaccine effectiveness or readily available national vaccination databases.</p><p><strong>Action: </strong>Study groups were established in multiple health-care facilities in each country to assess vaccine effectiveness against both symptomatic infection and severe disease.</p><p><strong>Outcome: </strong>In Japan, multiple study reports were published in Japanese on the web site of the National Institute of Infectious Diseases and presented at the national government's advisory board. Nationwide media coverage facilitated transparency and increased the confidence of the government and the public in the vaccination programme. In the Philippines, the launch of the study was delayed so as to align the research plan with the interests of various stakeholders and to obtain institutional review board approval. Ultimately, the studies were successfully initiated and completed.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>There were four main challenges in conducting our studies: finding health-care facilities for data collection; obtaining exposure (vaccination) data; identifying epidemiological biases and confounders; and informing policy and risk communication in a timely manner. Preparedness during inter-emergency/epidemic/pandemic periods to rapidly evaluate relevant interventions such as vaccination is critical and should include the following considerations: (1) the establishment and maintenance of prospective data collection platforms, ideally under public health surveillance (if not, clinical research networks or linked databases); (2) uniform and practical protocols considering biases and confounders; and (3) communication with stakeholders including institutional review boards.</p>","PeriodicalId":31512,"journal":{"name":"Western Pacific Surveillance and Response","volume":"16 2","pages":"1-8"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12149736/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144267486","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"X`Equipping Pacific emergency medical teams for self-sufficient health emergency response in remote and resource-limited island settings.","authors":"Pierre-Yves Beauchemin, Erin E Noste, Jan-Erik Larsen, Sean T Casey","doi":"10.5365/wpsar.2023.14.6.1032","DOIUrl":"10.5365/wpsar.2023.14.6.1032","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Problem: </strong>Pacific island countries and areas represent some of the most disaster-vulnerable locations in the world, facing a range of natural and infectious hazards along with incredibly challenging logistics and limited human resource pools.</p><p><strong>Context: </strong>The World Health Organization supports the development of emergency medical teams across the Western Pacific Region. Since 2021, one aspect of this support has been supplying health emergency response equipment called cache kits for these unique island contexts. This report describes the process of designing and implementing standardized cache kits for these teams.</p><p><strong>Action: </strong>Emergency medical team cache kits were designed and sourced using a semi-structured six-step approach: 1) problem identification and review of existing literature; 2) targeted key informant interviews and stakeholder consultations; 3) the alignment of cache with the goals and objectives of the teams' operations; 4) creation of the kits; 5) local and international procurement of selected items; and 6) monitoring of the delivery of cache to destination countries.</p><p><strong>Outcome: </strong>The Organization procured specialized cache kits for 12 teams across the Pacific subregion. They comprise portable, durable, lightweight equipment that enables teams to deliver high-quality emergency medical care in remote and resource-limited island contexts.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>The Organization's centralized procurement of the cache kits in the Pacific aimed to facilitate nationally led health emergency responses, enhance team interoperability in the subregion, and ensure access to high-quality equipment in resource-constrained locations. The model established in the Pacific could serve as a blueprint for national emergency medical teams in low- and middle-income countries globally.</p>","PeriodicalId":31512,"journal":{"name":"Western Pacific Surveillance and Response","volume":"14 6 Spec Edition","pages":"1-11"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12163310/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144303090","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Lessons learned from the public health response to chemical pollution in Tebrau River, Johor, Malaysia, 2024.","authors":"Mohd Faiz Ibrahim, Nurazimah Mohd Aris, Afiqah Syamimi Masrani, Noor Adillah Dawad, Md Faizul Abd Razak, Haidar Rizal Toha, Mohd Anwar Shahrir Ahmad, Jeyanthini Sathasivam","doi":"10.5365/wpsar.2025.16.2.1235","DOIUrl":"10.5365/wpsar.2025.16.2.1235","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Problem: </strong>In September 2024, an illegal toxic waste dumping incident along the Tebrau River in Johor State, Malaysia, raised widespread health concerns in Johor Bahru and Kulai districts. The pollution released a strong, unpleasant odour, resulting in acute symptoms among exposed individuals, including sore throat, dizziness and coughing.</p><p><strong>Context: </strong>The Tebrau River is a vital waterway supporting urban populations in Johor. This was not the first chemical pollution event in the region, as previous incidents, including the Kim Kim River crisis in 2019, highlighted the region's vulnerability to such events. The involvement of multiple districts and agencies during the response presented challenges in coordination and data sharing.</p><p><strong>Action: </strong>The Johor Bahru District Health Office promptly deployed a rapid assessment team to assess the affected areas and implement both active and passive case detection. Community engagement targeted vulnerable populations, such as schoolchildren, to minimize exposure risks. Additional dumping sites identified along the Tebrau River prompted expanded surveillance and a state-level response to coordinate efforts across districts and all health-care facilities.</p><p><strong>Outcome: </strong>A total of 484 individuals were exposed to the pollution, 334 of whom developed symptoms related to chemical exposure. Timely public health actions consisted of actions to mitigate the impact. Health facilities were placed on high alert and community trust was maintained through proactive engagement. However, gaps in cross-district coordination and challenges accessing environmental data underscored areas for improvement.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>This incident highlighted the importance of rapid assessment, cross-sector collaboration, community engagement and integrated data systems. It also showed that effective public health action is possible despite environmental data limitations. The strengthening of communication, standardized protocols and real-time data sharing will be critical to improving future chemical pollution events.</p>","PeriodicalId":31512,"journal":{"name":"Western Pacific Surveillance and Response","volume":"16 2","pages":"1-7"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12163309/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144303091","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Western Pacific regional engagement \u2028in the Emergency Medical Team Global Meeting 2024.","authors":"Erin Noste, Anthony Cook, Jan-Erik Larsen, Pierre-Yves Beauchemin, Vannda Kab, Dulamragchaa Buyanbaatar, Eystein Grusd, Sabrina Angela Tayo, Sean T Casey","doi":"10.5365/wpsar.2025.16.2.1261","DOIUrl":"10.5365/wpsar.2025.16.2.1261","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":31512,"journal":{"name":"Western Pacific Surveillance and Response","volume":"16 2","pages":"1-5"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12149731/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144267488","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Enhanced case finding and self-isolation measures in the early phase of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron transmission, Osaka, Japan, December 2021-January 2022.","authors":"Miho Kobayashi, Kensaku Kakimoto, Yuichiro Yahata, Yusuke Kobayashi, Hitomi Nagai, Chisato Tanikake, Kazumi Fukumura, Keiko Date, Hiromi Murata, Sae Kitagawa, Yuki Yoshida, Yui Kamoda, Miho Akazaki, Masaaki Tanabe, Chika Shirai, Tomoe Shimada, Taro Kamigaki, Tsuyoshi Sekizuka, Makoto Kuroda, Tomimasa Sunagawa","doi":"10.5365/wpsar.2025.16.2.1129","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5365/wpsar.2025.16.2.1129","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variant B.1.1.529 (Omicron) was first detected in Japan in November 2021. In Osaka, public health centres subsequently increased active case finding and encouraged self-isolation. This study investigated the effectiveness of these countermeasures.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Cases targeted for analysis were persons who had neither recently travelled abroad nor had contact with foreign tourists but tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 between 24 November 2021 and 4 January 2022 and were suspected or confirmed to have the Omicron variant. We performed a descriptive analysis and calculated the reproduction number (<i>R</i>) for each generation using the branching process method. Genomic sequencing data were analysed to plot a haplotype network.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 251 cases were analysed. The median age was 30 years, and 46% (115/251) were in their 20s or younger. The first Omicron case in Osaka was detected on 21 December 2021. Local public health centres conducted health monitoring and contact tracing. We analysed <i>R</i>, using information from six clusters, including 42 pairs with a clear relationship between the case and the infected contact (infector-infectee pairs); the clusters had 19, 21 and 2 cases in each subsequent generation. The basic <i>R</i> (<i>t</i> = 0) was estimated to be 3.2, and subsequent generations (<i>t</i> = 1, 2) of <i>R</i> decreased to 1.1 and 0.1, respectively. The haplotype network showed that these cases constituted a monophyletic group with others detected around Osaka, indicating that these case-related clusters had been contained and were not involved in the nationwide Omicron waves.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>Active case finding and self-isolation were found to be effective in limiting the spread of an emerging novel variant.</p>","PeriodicalId":31512,"journal":{"name":"Western Pacific Surveillance and Response","volume":"16 2","pages":"1-10"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12050606/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144030218","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Detection and characterization of novel respiratory viruses among native ducks (<i>Anas luzonica</i>) in Central Luzon, the Philippines.","authors":"Milagros R Mananggit, Joely T Ongtangco, Xandre D Baccay, Ronnie Domingo, Mary Elizabeth Miranda, Romeo Gundran, Dan Drexel Dela Cruz, Frank Yk Wong, S Gabrielle Cody, Laura A Pulscher, Emily R Robie, Emily S Bailey, Gregory C Gray","doi":"10.5365/wpsar.2025.16.2.1124","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5365/wpsar.2025.16.2.1124","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>This cross-sectional, prospective surveillance study sought to determine the prevalence of novel respiratory viruses among domestic ducks in Central Luzon that are known to have frequent contact with wild avian species. Such contact may lead to novel virus spillover events that may harm domestic poultry as well as humans.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>From March 2019 to January 2020, cross-sectional and prospective surveillance for viruses among domestic ducks (<i>Anas luzonica</i>) was conducted by periodically collecting oropharyngeal swabs from ducks on 54 farms across three municipalities within Central Luzon (Region III). A flock of 30 sentinel domestic ducks was also sampled four times after being confined in the Candaba swamp. The resultant 1740 swab samples were pooled (5 samples/pool, 348 pools) by site and screened with molecular assays for respiratory viruses from multiple viral families.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Two farms yielded samples positive for avian influenza virus in Candaba, where adolescent ducks are known to freely mix with wild birds as they graze in rice fields. Overall, the prevalence of avian influenza virus was 2.3% (8/348 pools). Sequencing revealed three pools with highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N6, one with low pathogenicity H5N8, and one with H5 with an unspecified neuraminidase. All the pooled specimens tested were negative for influenza C, adenoviruses, coronaviruses and enteroviruses.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>Although this study had several limitations, it found supportive evidence that domestic ducks are acquiring avian influenza viruses from wild bird species. These findings underscore recommendations that duck farmers should seek to prevent domestic ducks from mixing with wild avian species.</p>","PeriodicalId":31512,"journal":{"name":"Western Pacific Surveillance and Response","volume":"16 2","pages":"1-6"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12050608/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144053069","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Whole-genome sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 from residual viral RNA present on positive rapid antigen test kits for genomic surveillance.","authors":"Mohd Ishtiaq Anasir, Khayri Kamel, Nor Malizza G Adypatti, Mohammad Syafiq Jamaluddin, Farah Amira Ahmad, Siti Nurhidayah Norhisham, Muhammad Zulfazli Mohamad Sukri, Nur Rafiqah Rosli, Siti Norazrina Saif, Nurul Izzati Basarudin, Mohamad Azzam-Sayuti, Akmal Hayat Abdul Karim, Mahirah Kamil Puat, Ravindran Thayan, Rozainanee Mohd Zain","doi":"10.5365/wpsar.2025.16.1.1140","DOIUrl":"10.5365/wpsar.2025.16.1.1140","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":31512,"journal":{"name":"Western Pacific Surveillance and Response","volume":"16 1","pages":"1-6"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11957951/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143764855","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Satellite communications in health emergencies: no longer a luxury.","authors":"Pierre-Yves Beauchemin, Eystein Grusd, Erin E Noste, Anthony Cook, Jan-Erik Larsen, Aristides Poblete Alonzo, Misheel Enkhdalai, Sean T Casey","doi":"10.5365/wpsar.2025.16.1.1217","DOIUrl":"10.5365/wpsar.2025.16.1.1217","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":31512,"journal":{"name":"Western Pacific Surveillance and Response","volume":"16 1","pages":"1-2"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11946833/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143731924","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}