Quantifying the reduction of airborne infectious viral load using a ventilated patient hood.

BACKGROUND: Healthcare workers treating SARS-CoV-2 patients are at risk of infection by respiratory exposure to patient-emitted, virus-laden aerosols. Source control devices such as ventilated patient isolation hoods have been shown to limit the dissemination of non-infectious airborne particles in laboratory tests, but data on their performance in mitigating the airborne transmission risk of infectious viruses are lacking. AIM: We used an infectious airborne virus to quantify the ability of a ventilated hood to reduce infectious virus exposure in indoor environments. METHODS: We nebulized 109 plaque forming units (pfu) of bacteriophage PhiX174 virus into a ∼30-m3 room when the hood was active or inactive. The airborne concentration of infectious virus was measured by BioSpot-VIVAS and settle plates using plaque assay quantification on the bacterial host Escherichia coli C. The airborne particle number concentration (PNC) was also monitored continuously using an optical particle sizer. FINDINGS: The median airborne viral concentration in the room reached 1.41 × 105 pfu/m3 with the hood inactive. When active, the hood reduced infectious virus concentration in air samples by 374-fold. The deposition of infectious virus on the surface of settle plates was reduced by 87-fold. This was associated with a 109-fold reduction in total airborne particle number escape rate. CONCLUSION: A personal ventilation hood significantly reduced airborne particle escape, considerably lowering infectious virus contamination in an indoor environment. Our findings support the further development of source control devices to mitigate nosocomial infection risk among healthcare workers exposed to airborne viruses in clinical settings.

Farm sector financial ratios: pre-COVID forecasts and pandemic performance for 2020

This study compares 2020 values for farm sector financial ratios before and after the onset of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Forecasts from the February 5, 2020, release of the USDA Economic Research Service's Farm Income and Wealth Statistics data product represent the pre-pandemic (before) forecasts. Those forecast values are compared to the data released on February 4, 2022, which represent the realized values for 2020 and include pandemic impacts on commodity demand and the policy response to the economic shock. Solvency ratios (which are indicators of the sector's ability to repay financial liabilities via the sale of assets) worsened in 2020 relative to pre-pandemic expectations. Efficiency ratios (which evaluate the conversion of assets into production and revenue) and liquidity ratios (which are indicators of the availability of cash to cover debt payments) showed mixed outcomes for the realized results in 2020 relative to the pre-pandemic forecasts. Four profitability ratios were stronger in 2020 relative to pre-pandemic expectations. All solvency, liquidity, and profitability ratios plus 2 out of 5 efficiency ratios for 2020 were weaker than their respective average ratios obtained from 2000 to 2019 data.

Economic losses due to meat processing plants shutdown/slowdown

Temporary closure and slowdown of US meat processing plants due to the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in euthanasia or depopulation of livestock. This article outlines the methods of depopulation, and the federal programs to offset the associated costs and lost production value;and estimates the economic losses in 2020.

Contribution of Veterinary Sector to Control COVID-19 Pandemic in Nepal

Nepal has been identified in a high-risk zone by the World Health Organization (WHO) for the Corona Virus Disease of 2019 (COVID-19). Nepal’s first official reported case was confirmed on 13 January 2020 and so far, 24,000 cases have tested positive with 91 deaths. The imposition of lockdown has begun since March 24 and it was extended until 22 July. Reverse transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction and rapid diagnostic tests are used by the Government of Nepal to identify COVID-19. Among the worst-hit sectors are tourism as well as travel and the farming industries, the later contributes to the employment of around 65% of the population and a significant share of the national economy. The loss of commercial sectors, such as dairy, feed, and poultry industries are estimated to be in billions of rupees. One shortcoming of resource poorly managed countries, such as Nepal is the lack of interdisciplinary coordination. Over half a decade long professional existence and crucial contributions in Nepal’s overall development, veterinarians are just beginning to be recognized as essential service providers. Since veterinarians of Nepal have the experience of eradicating cattle plague dealing with Avian Influenza and Swine Flu among others, they study and seem to be mentally prepared to handle pandemics. Currently, five veterinary diseases diagnostic laboratories with RT-PCR facilities are serving as COVID-19 diagnosis labs. Veterinarians from Nepal are serving in innovating newer tools as well as performing, supervising, evaluating, reporting diagnosis, and actively in pursuit of establishing the One Health (OH) approach. The sincere and patriotic role played by veterinarians has pressurized the government of Nepal to recognize veterinary service as an essential commodity. In this regard, universities should take the lead and bring veterinarians in policy and planning as well as decision making. The Tribhuvan University is responsible to have the initiative and Agriculture and Forestry University to deliver the missed opportunities. The 17 sustainable development goals that are to be achieved by 2030 are not possible without a multi-sectoral approach and veterinarians are best suited in this regard. It also needs to be realized that veterinarians are better positioned to handle emerging and re-emerging zoonotic diseases and capable of combating the present situation of COVID19 pandemics. Reiterating the fact that OH approach should not only be in paper and there is no alternative but combined utilization of scarce resources for healthy animals, humans, and the environment with the veterinary profession at its core. © 2020 All Rights Reserved