Anh L Innes, Andres Martinez, Gia Linh Hoang, Thi Bich Phuong Nguyen, Viet Hien Vu, Tuan Ho Thanh Luu, Thi Thu Trang Le, Victoria Lebrun, Van Chinh Trieu, Nghi Do Bao Tran, Nhi Dinh, Huy Minh Pham, Van Luong Dinh, Binh Hoa Nguyen, Thi Thanh Huyen Truong, Van Cu Nguyen, Viet Nhung Nguyen, Thu Hien Mai
{"title":"Active case finding to detect symptomatic and subclinical pulmonary tuberculosis disease: implementation of computer-aided detection for chest radiography in Viet Nam.","authors":"Anh L Innes, Andres Martinez, Gia Linh Hoang, Thi Bich Phuong Nguyen, Viet Hien Vu, Tuan Ho Thanh Luu, Thi Thu Trang Le, Victoria Lebrun, Van Chinh Trieu, Nghi Do Bao Tran, Nhi Dinh, Huy Minh Pham, Van Luong Dinh, Binh Hoa Nguyen, Thi Thanh Huyen Truong, Van Cu Nguyen, Viet Nhung Nguyen, Thu Hien Mai","doi":"10.5365/wpsar.2024.15.4.1118","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5365/wpsar.2024.15.4.1118","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>In Viet Nam, tuberculosis (TB) prevalence surveys revealed that approximately 98% of individuals with pulmonary TB have TB-presumptive abnormalities on chest radiographs, while 32% have no TB symptoms. This prompted the adoption of the \"Double X\" strategy, which combines chest radiographs and computer-aided detection with GeneXpert testing to screen for and diagnose TB among vulnerable populations. The aim of this study was to describe demographic, clinical and radiographic characteristics of symptomatic and asymptomatic Double X participants and to assess multilabel radiographic abnormalities on chest radiographs, interpreted by computer-aided detection software, as a possible tool for detecting TB-presumptive abnormalities, particularly for subclinical TB.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Double X participants with TB-presumptive chest radiographs and/or TB symptoms and known risks were referred for confirmatory GeneXpert testing. The demographic and clinical characteristics of all Double X participants and the subset with confirmed TB were summarized. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression modelling was used to evaluate associations between participant characteristics and subclinical TB and between computer-aided detection multilabel radiographic abnormalities and TB.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>From 2020 to 2022, 96 631 participants received chest radiographs, with 67 881 (70.2%) reporting no TB symptoms. Among 1144 individuals with Xpert-confirmed TB, 51.0% were subclinical. Subclinical TB prevalence was higher in older age groups, non-smokers, those previously treated for TB and the northern region. Among 11 computer-aided detection multilabel radiographic abnormalities, fibrosis was associated with higher odds of subclinical TB.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>In Viet Nam, Double X community case finding detected pulmonary TB, including subclinical TB. Computer-aided detection software may have the potential to identify subclinical TB on chest radiographs by classifying multilabel radiographic abnormalities, but further research is needed.</p>","PeriodicalId":31512,"journal":{"name":"Western Pacific Surveillance and Response","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11473474/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142476418","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}
Natasha Mamea, Atoa Glenn Fatupaito, Md Anuar Bin Abd Samad, Ridzuan Bin Dato' Mohd Isa, Gaafar Uherbelau, Esther Muña, Shalimar Abdullah, Masniza Mustaffa
{"title":"The Emergency Medical Team Initiative in the Western Pacific Region.","authors":"Natasha Mamea, Atoa Glenn Fatupaito, Md Anuar Bin Abd Samad, Ridzuan Bin Dato' Mohd Isa, Gaafar Uherbelau, Esther Muña, Shalimar Abdullah, Masniza Mustaffa","doi":"10.5365/wpsar.2023.14.6.1161","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5365/wpsar.2023.14.6.1161","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":31512,"journal":{"name":"Western Pacific Surveillance and Response","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11473473/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142476419","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}
Dylan M Bush, Alice Siuna Waneoroa, Emire Meone Maefiti, Thomas H Fitzpatrick, Elizabeth Wore, Silvia S Chiang
{"title":"Tuberculosis in Solomon Islands: why declining case notifications may not reflect true incidence.","authors":"Dylan M Bush, Alice Siuna Waneoroa, Emire Meone Maefiti, Thomas H Fitzpatrick, Elizabeth Wore, Silvia S Chiang","doi":"10.5365/wpsar.2024.15.3.1174","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5365/wpsar.2024.15.3.1174","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":31512,"journal":{"name":"Western Pacific Surveillance and Response","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11420149/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142355487","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}
Miranda Forsyth, Joanne Taylor, Tambri Housen, Celeste Marsh, Philip Gibbs, William Kipongi
{"title":"Sorcery and witchcraft beliefs on the front line of public health response in Papua New Guinea and beyond.","authors":"Miranda Forsyth, Joanne Taylor, Tambri Housen, Celeste Marsh, Philip Gibbs, William Kipongi","doi":"10.5365/wpsar.2024.15.3.1171","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5365/wpsar.2024.15.3.1171","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Problem: </strong>Many communities refer to sorcery or witchcraft to explain misfortunes such as sickness, death and disability. The effects of these beliefs on public health service delivery have long been overlooked. Beliefs in sorcery and witchcraft are significant challenges for health-care workers to understand to deliver better health outcomes and avoid inadvertently triggering accusations of witchcraft that may lead to violence.</p><p><strong>Context: </strong>This paper examines the impacts of accusations of sorcery and related violence on the provision of health care in Papua New Guinea.</p><p><strong>Action: </strong>The discussion focuses on a workshop held in Papua New Guinea in September 2022 with health extension officers on the topic of health-care delivery and sorcery accusations.</p><p><strong>Lessons learned: </strong>The workshop confirmed the challenges that beliefs in sorcery and witchcraft present for health extension officers and suggested several strategies that could be used to navigate them. It identified several possible future measures that those on the front line of community health-care delivery considered most important in responding to the issue. These included educating health-care workers on how to effectively address sorcery beliefs when delivering health care and developing communication techniques on the causes of death and sickness that avoid triggering sorcery accusations.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>This paper reviews the findings of the workshop in the broader context of the effects of beliefs in witchcraft on public health delivery globally. Because of the close connections between sorcery beliefs and health, equipping health-care workers and field epidemiologists with strategies to address these beliefs effectively is critical to delivering better health care, facilitating timely response to public health events, and helping to prevent violence related to sorcery accusations. This need exists in all countries where sorcery beliefs related to health, illness, disability and death are prevalent.</p>","PeriodicalId":31512,"journal":{"name":"Western Pacific Surveillance and Response","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11383757/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142297095","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}
Tinh Huu Ho, Phuong Hoai Hoang, Lam Vo Thi Ngoc, Minh Nguyen Dinh, Dong Do Thanh, Viet Nguyen Dinh, O Phan Van, Phuong Nguyen Thi Lan, Thanh Nguyen Quoc, Nhan Le Dinh Trong, Chinh Van Dang
{"title":"Large-scale salmonella outbreak associated with banh mi, Viet Nam, 2024.","authors":"Tinh Huu Ho, Phuong Hoai Hoang, Lam Vo Thi Ngoc, Minh Nguyen Dinh, Dong Do Thanh, Viet Nguyen Dinh, O Phan Van, Phuong Nguyen Thi Lan, Thanh Nguyen Quoc, Nhan Le Dinh Trong, Chinh Van Dang","doi":"10.5365/wpsar.2024.15.3.1168","DOIUrl":"10.5365/wpsar.2024.15.3.1168","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>To investigate the cause of a foodborne outbreak that occurred in Dong Nai province, Viet Nam, in 2024, and implement control measures.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>An initial investigation was conducted to confirm the outbreak, which was followed by epidemiological and environmental investigations to find the plausible causative food item. Clinical specimens and food samples were tested to identify the pathogen.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 547 symptomatic cases were recorded, of whom two were in severe condition requiring extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and ventilation, one of whom died. Among 99 interviewed cases, the mean incubation time was 9 hours (range 2-24 hours), with the main symptoms being fever, abdominal pain, diarrhoea and vomiting. All patients had eaten banh mi from a local bakery. <i>Salmonella</i> spp. were identified in food samples and clinical specimens. The bakery halted production, and the outbreak ended after 1 week.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>All the patients were exposed to only one food in common, which facilitated the investigation process. This outbreak is a reminder to small retailers and take-away shops of the importance of food safety management in preventing similar future outbreaks. All food handlers must comply with food hygiene principles, especially in hot temperatures, which boosts bacterial growth.</p>","PeriodicalId":31512,"journal":{"name":"Western Pacific Surveillance and Response","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11377868/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142156166","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":"Harnessing the power of mobile and messaging apps for risk communication and intervention during the COVID-19 pandemic: lessons from the Western Pacific.","authors":"Fernan Talamayan, Lieke Visser, Babatunde Olowokure, Nancy Wong, Wenyajing Zhang","doi":"10.5365/wpsar.2024.15.3.1156","DOIUrl":"10.5365/wpsar.2024.15.3.1156","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Problem: </strong>The spread of mis- and disinformation on mobile and messaging apps during the COVID-19 pandemic not only fuelled anxieties and mistrust in health authorities but also undermined the effectiveness of the overall public health response.</p><p><strong>Context: </strong>Mobile and messaging apps help users stay informed and connected to their families, friends, colleagues and communities. However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, these apps were also one of the primary channels where mis- and disinformation were circulated.</p><p><strong>Action: </strong>Recognizing the importance of including mobile and messaging apps in risk communication and emergency response strategies, the World Health Organization (WHO) and some countries in the WHO Western Pacific Region independently piloted initiatives to reach messaging app users, meet their evolving information needs, and streamline health ministry communication.</p><p><strong>Outcome: </strong>The enhanced use of mobile and messaging apps enabled consistent and timely communication and improved coordination during the COVID-19 pandemic. Leveraging their features also helped identify and potentially fill crucial information gaps, mitigating the harms of mis- and disinformation and fostering stronger trust in health authorities.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>The findings from the work carried out by WHO and countries in the Western Pacific Region identified some promising innovative communication interventions using mobile and messaging apps. While these interventions should be further explored and evaluated, they have demonstrated that interventions need to be proactive, flexible, and able to adapt to changes in mis- and disinformation content being shared through messaging apps.</p>","PeriodicalId":31512,"journal":{"name":"Western Pacific Surveillance and Response","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2024-08-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11346470/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142074115","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}
Romeo S Gundran, Dan Drexel Dela Cruz, Milagros R Mananggit, Joely T Ongtangco, Xandre D Baccay, Ronnie D Domingo, Mary Elizabeth G Miranda, Emily Bailey, Samantha Gabrielle Cody, Laura A Pulscher, Emily R Robie, Gregory C Gray
{"title":"Surveillance for respiratory viruses in freshwater bodies visited by migratory birds, the Philippines.","authors":"Romeo S Gundran, Dan Drexel Dela Cruz, Milagros R Mananggit, Joely T Ongtangco, Xandre D Baccay, Ronnie D Domingo, Mary Elizabeth G Miranda, Emily Bailey, Samantha Gabrielle Cody, Laura A Pulscher, Emily R Robie, Gregory C Gray","doi":"10.5365/wpsar.2024.15.3.1123","DOIUrl":"10.5365/wpsar.2024.15.3.1123","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":31512,"journal":{"name":"Western Pacific Surveillance and Response","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2024-08-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11346469/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142074116","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}
Amy Elizabeth Parry, Sai Campbell, Stefan Thottunkal, Partha Pratim Mandal, Sharon Salmon
{"title":"Outbreak response capacity of the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network across WHO's South-East Asia and Western Pacific regions.","authors":"Amy Elizabeth Parry, Sai Campbell, Stefan Thottunkal, Partha Pratim Mandal, Sharon Salmon","doi":"10.5365/wpsar.2024.15.5.1109","DOIUrl":"10.5365/wpsar.2024.15.5.1109","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>The COVID-19 pandemic challenged the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network's (GOARN) mechanism used to rapidly deploy technical support for international responses and highlighted areas that require strengthened capacity within the Network. GOARN's partners in the World Health Organization's (WHO) South-East Asia and Western Pacific regions were engaged to explore their levels of preparedness, readiness and ability to respond to international public health emergencies.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Consultative discussions were held and a survey was conducted with GOARN's partners from the two WHO regions. Discussion topics included partners' capacity to support and participate in a GOARN deployment, training, research and collaboration. Descriptive and content analyses were conducted.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Barriers to engaging in GOARN's international outbreak response efforts included limited numbers of personnel trained to respond to outbreaks; institutional, financial and administrative hurdles; and limited collaboration opportunities. Partners identified innovative solutions that could strengthen their engagement with deployment, such as financial subsidies, mentorship for less experienced staff, and the ability to provide remote support.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>GOARN plays an important role in enabling WHO to fulfil its international alert and response duties during disease outbreaks and humanitarian crises that have the potential to spark disease outbreaks. Yet without systematic improvement to strengthen national outbreak capacity and regional connectedness, support for international outbreak responses may remain limited. Thus, it is necessary to integrate novel approaches to support international deployments, as identified in this study.</p>","PeriodicalId":31512,"journal":{"name":"Western Pacific Surveillance and Response","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2024-08-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11335431/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142018905","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":"A case study of the Philippines' COVID-19 after action review.","authors":"Elliot Brennan, Charade B Mercade-Grande, Rowena Capistrano, Yui Sekitani, Kathleen Ryan, Landry Ndriko Mayigane","doi":"10.5365/wpsar.2024.15.3.1113","DOIUrl":"10.5365/wpsar.2024.15.3.1113","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":31512,"journal":{"name":"Western Pacific Surveillance and Response","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11294490/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141890260","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}