Social implications of a change in the legal classification of COVID-19: The need for pandemic prevention, preparedness, and healthcare system strengthening.

In Japan, there has been a discussion of the potential reclassification of the novel coronavirus infectious disease 2019 (COVID-19) as an infectious disease under the Act on the Prevention of Infectious Diseases and Medical Care for Patients with Infectious Diseases (the Infectious Diseases Control Law), beginning in late 2022. To make an informed decision, the societal impact of COVID-19 needs to be carefully considered to ensure that any reclassification does not negatively impact healthcare or society as a whole. The disease burden of COVID-19 remains considerable and is likely to persist for an extended period of time. Consequently, numerous special measures have been taken in the healthcare system to cope with COVID-19. Several of these measures must be implemented. Thus, the healthcare system needs to be strengthened in the future. This will result in adequate prevention, preparation, and a response to future pandemics.

An overview of the reclassification of COVID-19 of the Infectious Diseases Control Law in Japan.

Japan's responses to COVID-19 have been conducted based on the Act on the Prevention of Infectious Diseases and Medical Care for Patients with Infectious Diseases (the Infectious Diseases Control Law) and the Act on Special Measures against Novel Influenza, etc. (the Act on Special Measures), as COVID-19 is classified as the category of "the Novel Influenza etc." under the Infectious Diseases Control Law. The government's Novel Coronavirus Response Headquarters decided to reclassify COVID-19 as a Category V infectious disease under the Infectious Diseases Control Law in May 2023 since the disease has become less lethal. Accordingly, the countermeasures such as surveillance and medical care are going to be reviewed, and COVID-19 prevention actions will depend on personal choices (Prior to the review in May, mask usage will be changed from 13 March). However, this does not mean that infection control measures are no longer necessary; it is recommended that such measures be taken in certain settings in order to prevent the elderly and those who at a high risk of severe illness from being infected, even after the disease is classified as Category V.

Elimination of human onchocerciasis: progress report, 2021

This progress report provides an update on the progress made towards eliminating nnchocerciasis (river blindness) by the World Health Organization (WHO) as part of its road map on neglected tropical diseases for 2021-2030. The report highlights that the goal is to eliminate the need for mass drug administration of ivermectin in at least one focus in 34 countries by 2030, in more than 50% of the population in at least 16 countries and in the entire endemic population in at least 12 countries. However, challenges remain in achieving these goals, including incomplete mapping of all transmission zones, co-endemicity of onchocerciasis and loiasis, a potential decrease in sensitivity to ivermectin, uncoordinated cross-border work, suboptimal programme implementation and inadequate technical and financial resources. COVID-19 has also delayed national programmes, with millions of doses of preventive chemotherapy that should have been distributed expiring. The report also provides regional highlights, including that in 2021, 23 countries reported having treated a total of 142.3 million people for onchocerciasis, representing 58.1% of global coverage, and that the African region faces the greatest challenge with 99% of the global burden of the disease in this region.

Green microwave synthesis of ZnO and CeO2 nanorods for infectious diseases control and biomedical applications.

Control of Infectious diseases such as; bacteria and viruses, has become a globally critical issue, since the appearance of COVID-19 virus in 2020. In addition to the microbial resistance of the currently available therapeutic drugs as well as, its prolonged side effects make its use is of health care concern. Green nanotechnology approach is a promising solution for controlling such infectious diseases and many biomedical purposes. In the present study, green synthesis approach based on microwave-assisted hydrothermal method is an innovative and environmentally friendly method for preparation of bioactive CeO2 and ZnO nanorod structured materials using Olea europaea (O. e.) leaf plant extract as a natural medicinal capping agent for controlling the shape and size of nano-products. The optical and structural analyses of the obtained nanorod-structures are characterized using; TEM, FTIR, XRD, SBET analyses and particle size analyzer. The green-synthesized ZnO and CeO2 nanorods display an average crystallite size of approximately 15 and 5 nm, respectively. The antimicrobial activity of ZnO and CeO2 nanorods compared with the traditional hydrothermal methods, was examined on six clinical pathogens including; (E. coli Serratia sp., S. aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Streptococcus mutant, and MRSA). The results indicated superior antimicrobial and anti-tumor activities towards hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines (IC50 = 117.24 and 103.50 µg mL-1 for ZnO and CeO2 and LD50 > 3000 mg kg-1). This demonstrates that the green microwave process is a promising approach for the synthesis of effective ZnO and CeO2 nanomaterials applied for many biomedical applications.

Individual and household risk factors for COVID-19 infection among household members of COVID-19 patients in home-based care in western Uganda, 2020.

Objective: To investigate factors associated with COVID-19 among household members of patients in home-based care (HBC) in western Uganda. Methods: We conducted a case-control and cohort study. Cases were reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 diagnosed 1-30 November 2020 among persons in HBC in Kasese or Kabarole districts. We compared 78 case-households (≥1 secondary case) with 59 control-households (no secondary cases). The cohort included all case-household members. Data were captured by in-person questionnaire. We used bivariate regression to calculate odds and risk ratios. Results: Case-households were larger than control-households (mean 5.8 vs 4.3 members, P<0.0001). Having ≥1 household member per room (adjusted odds ratio (aOR)=4.5, 95% CI 2.0-9.9), symptom development (aOR=2.3, 95% CI 1.1-5.0), or interaction with primary case-patient (aOR=4.6, 95% CI 1.4-14.7) increased odds of case-household status. Households assessed for suitability for HBC reduced odds of case-household status (aOR=0.4, 95% CI=0.2-0.8). Interacting with a primary case-patient increased the risk of individual infection among household members (adjusted risk ratio=1.7, 95% CI 1.1-2.8). Conclusion: Household and individual factors influence secondary infection risk in HBC. Decisions about HBC should be made with these in mind.

[Field epidemiology in times of COVID-19: challenges for public health services. SESPAS Report 2022]. / Epidemiología de campo en tiempos de COVID-19: retos para los servicios de salud pública. Informe SESPAS 2022.

During the COVID-19 crisis, local epidemiology units have been forced to manage an increasing number of cases, contacts and outbreaks for which they were not previously prepared or staffed. Under normal circumstances, the efficient study and control of outbreaks and public health alerts requires human and material resources, situation analysis to identify possible causes and present recommendations, coordination with other health system structures, as well as the providing a written report including control and prevention measures implemented and their results or other recommendations. The field study of outbreaks has been systematized in a way that has made it possible to implement quick and effective measures, for the interruption of transmission chains and management of risk situations. To achieve this, a rapid and extraordinary exercise of digital integration, staff mobilization and creation of ad hoc structures needed to be carried out. Solidarity and cooperation between professionals from different administrations has been the pillar that has sustained the surveillance systems. Despite this, obstacles have been found as a result of the lack of coordination, social inequalities, and later, pandemic fatigue, which have reduced adherence and effectiveness of the implemented measures. It has also come to light the need to properly staff these units with trained professionals, and match working conditions and salaries with other health services.

Internet of Things Application in Controlling the Coronavirus Disease Spread in Hajj Season

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is currently a threat to the global human population. Infectious viruses, such as SARS-CoV-2, are easily transmitted from person to person and spread very quickly. These viruses are likely to spread anywhere there are massive crowds in confined spaces-and the Hajj pilgrimage to Makkah, Saudi Arabia is no exception. This work aims to prevent the spread of infection in the early stages of an outbreak. This paper explores the various methods for monitoring and controlling infectious disease during the Hajj including strengthening disease control and methods for providing the Saudi Ministry of Health (MOH) insights to enable them to plan for the specific challenges of controlling Coronavirus disease during the Hajj. This paper proposes a model, based on the Radio Frequency Identification Devices (RFID), Global Positioning System (GPS), wearable watch technology, and cloud computing infrastructure, which detects and monitors infected pilgrims and also aids in the identification of those pilgrims exposed to sources of a virus. Disciplinary: Information System, Technology, and Application, Healthcare Management. (C) 2022 INT TRANS J ENG MANAG SCI TECH.