Mapping Eastern (EEE) and Venezuelan Equine Encephalitides (VEE) among Equines Using Geographical Information Systems, Colombia, 2008-2019.

INTRODUCTION: Eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV) and Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV) viruses are zoonotic pathogens affecting humans, particularly equines. These neuroarboviruses compromise the central nervous system and can be fatal in different hosts. Both have significantly influenced Colombia; however, few studies analyse its behaviour, and none develop maps using geographic information systems to characterise it. OBJECTIVE: To describe the temporal-spatial distribution of those viruses in Colombia between 2008 and 2019. METHODS: Retrospective cross-sectional descriptive study, based on weekly reports by municipalities of the ICA, of the surveillance of both arboviruses in equines, in Colombia, from 2008 to 2019. The data were converted into databases in Microsoft Access 365®, and multiple epidemiological maps were generated with the Kosmo RC1®3.0 software coupled to shape files of all municipalities in the country. RESULTS: In the study period, 96 cases of EEE and 70 of VEE were reported, with 58% of EEE cases occurring in 2016 and 20% of EEV cases in 2013. The most affected municipalities for EEE corresponded to the department of Casanare: Yopal (20), Aguazul (16), and Tauramena (10). In total, 40 municipalities in the country reported ≥1 case of EEE. CONCLUSIONS: The maps allow a quick appreciation of groups of neighbouring municipalities in different departments (1° political division) and regions of the country affected by those viruses, which helps consider the expansion of the disease associated with mobility and transport of equines between other municipalities, also including international borders, such as is the case with Venezuela. In that country, especially for EEV, municipalities in the department of Cesar are bordering and at risk for that arboviral infection. there is a high risk of equine encephalitis outbreaks, especially for VEE. This poses a risk also, for municipalities in the department of Cesar, bordering with Venezuela.

Exploring the lived experiences of women in sex work in Cucuta, Colombia

In the past five years, Colombia has received an influx of migrants with the political and economic crisis in Venezuela. While Colombia has accepted over one million individuals, many displaced individuals find their situations challenging to provide for themselves and their families;for this reason, many women have turned to sex work as a source of income (Ramsey & Sanchez-Garzoli, 2018). In Colombia, sex work is legal, yet it is unregulated, and much stigma persists, which limits access to formal social services (Doocy et al., 2019). In addition, the Covid-19 pandemic has brought additional challenges to both migrants and women involved in sex work (Kimani et al., 2020). This research examines the lived experiences of Colombian and Venezuelan women in sex work during the Covid-19 pandemic in Cucuta, Colombia.To conduct this study, 22 in-depth interviews were conducted with women involved in sex work: 12 Venezuelan and 10 Colombian in Cucuta, Colombia. Interviews were conducted from June to July 2021 in Spanish and were audio-recorded with the consent of each of the women. The women ranged in age from 18-59 years (m=33.1), and all interviews were conducted in the neighborhood of the workplaces of the individuals. Interviews were transcribed and translated to English and input into NVivo for thematic analysis.Chapter Two Findings: The women involved in sex work shared their experiences and the impact of Covid-19 on their work. Venezuelans shared their migration stories and their journeys into sex work and the changes to the industry since the Covid-19 pandemic. The women also shared their reactions to Covid-19 and their plans for 'after' the pandemic.Chapter Three Findings: Covid-19 had an impact on the human rights of the women. Through an observation of the Universal Deceleration Model, themes emerged relating to the working conditions and adequate living standards of the women. The women discussed their hardships with obtaining groceries, paying rent, accessing medical care for themselves and their children, and their working conditions since Covid-19.Chapter Four Findings: Social support for women in sex work and migrants is essential. The majority of the women relied on informal support services such as family members. Limited support is provided amongst the women because of competition and stigmas. For the women who have desired formal social support, limited services were provided. Through the observation of the social services available for the women, a gap persists in the desired and the availability of services.Implications:This research has various implications for social work practice and future search. This research demonstrates the importance of practicing self-determination, empowerment, and dignity and worth of a person when working with women in sex work. Advocacy and community awareness are important to decrease the stigma received by women and to promote the human rights and decriminalization of sex work. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)

The Work, Economic, and Remittance Stress and Distress of the COVID-19 Pandemic Containment Policies: The Case of Venezuelan Migrants in Argentina and Chile.

According to the social stress process model, global crises are macro-level stressors that generate physiological stress and psychological distress. However, existing research has not identified immigrants' COVID-19 containment policy stressors or examined the social stress of sending remittances amid crises. Drawing on in-depth longitudinal interviews with 46 Venezuelan immigrants-half before and half during the pandemic-in Chile and Argentina, we identified the COVID-19 containment policies' stressors. We focused on Venezuelan immigrants because they constitute one of the largest internationally displaced populations, with most migrating within South America. We found that the governmental COVID-19 containment measures in both countries generated four stressors: employment loss, income loss, devaluation of employment status, and inability to send needed remittances. Moreover, sending remittances helped some migrants cope with concerns about loved ones in Venezuela. However, sending remittances became a social stressor when immigrants struggled to simultaneously sustain their livelihoods and send financial support to relatives experiencing hardships in Venezuela. For some immigrants, these adversities generated other stressors (e.g., housing instability) and symptoms of anxiety and depression. Broadly, for immigrants, the stressors of global crises transcend international borders and generate high stress, which strains their psychological well-being.

Vaccine development for zoonotic viral diseases caused by positive­sense single­stranded RNA viruses belonging to the Coronaviridae and Togaviridae families (Review).

Outbreaks of zoonotic viral diseases pose a severe threat to public health and economies worldwide, with this currently being more prominent than it previously was human history. These emergency zoonotic diseases that originated and transmitted from vertebrates to humans have been estimated to account for approximately one billion cases of illness and have caused millions of deaths worldwide annually. The recent emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (coronavirus disease 2019) is an excellent example of the unpredictable public health threat causing a pandemic. The present review summarizes the literature data regarding the main vaccine developments in human clinical phase I, II and III trials against the zoonotic positive-sense single-stranded RNA viruses belonging to the Coronavirus and Alphavirus genera, including severe acute respiratory syndrome, Middle east respiratory syndrome, Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus, Semliki Forest virus, Ross River virus, Chikungunya virus and O'nyong-nyong virus. That there are neither vaccines nor effective antiviral drugs available against most of these viruses is undeniable. Therefore, new explosive outbreaks of these zoonotic viruses may surely be expected. The present comprehensive review provides an update on the status of vaccine development in different clinical trials against these viruses, as well as an overview of the present results of these trials.

Woman and Migrant in Covid-19 Times: The Situation of Venezuelan Women in Peru

This article analyses the work experiences of Venezuelan migrant women in the Peruvian labour market in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic, beginning in March 2020, and the Peruvian state's ensuing public health measures. We argue that the Venezuelan case in Peru presents another example of how migration places women in labour positions that are segmented by gender and migrant status. Likewise, we find that a by-product of the economic crisis caused by the pandemic, is that women are further marginalized from the labour market because of their gender.

Synthesis and evaluation of 3-alkynyl-5-aryl-7-aza-indoles as broad-spectrum antiviral agents.

RNA viral infections, including those caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), and Venezuelan Equine encephalitis virus (VEEV), pose a major global health challenge. Here, we report the synthesis and screening of a series of pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridines targeting RSV, SARS-CoV-2 and/or VEEV. From this campaign, a series of lead compounds was generated that demonstrated antiviral activity in the low single-digit micromolar range against the various viruses and did not show cytotoxicity. These findings highlight the potential of 3-alkynyl-5-aryl-7-aza-indoles as a promising chemotype for the development of broad-spectrum antiviral agents.

Digital solidarity and migrations: analysis on the use of digital technologies among Venezuelan citizens in Quito, Ecuador

This article aims to analyze the use of digital communication technologies in the solidarity processes of Venezuelan migrants in Quito, Ecuador. The methodol-ogy applied was based on in-depth interviews and content analysis of WhatsApp groups. The research was conducted between June 2020 and March 2021. A non-probabilistic strategy (snowball sampling) was applied for the sampling. The results illustrate the dynamics of digital solidarity both in groups with strong ties (families) and weak ties. However, due to its qualitative nature, these results cannot be generalized. The conclusions show that in transnational families, solidar-ity develops from a sense of co-presence that allows the fulfillment of moral obliga-tions, the generation of an economy of care, and emotional support. On the other hand, in the case of migrants without connective ties with each other, solidarity oc-curs through the construction of digital communities in large and impersonal groups.

Virtual education in pandemic: inequalities between public and private universities in Venezuela

Inequalities in higher education in Venezuela have grown during the years of Complex Humanitarian Emergency and have been magnified during the pandemic. The coverage and permanence of university youth in higher education institutions decreased in the second decade of the 21st century. Migration to virtual education as a health measure during the COVID-19 confinement made the inequity between those studying in public universities and those studying in private universities more evident. Basing on data from Enobu Virtual 2020 survey of the Observatory of Universities, this paper analyzes variables that show the existing gaps between those who access education through the public and those who access it through the private sector. It is concluded that, although the precariousness of services and resources impact both populations, private universities, thanks to their institutional capacities, have been able to guarantee greater continuity than their public counterparts, which have reduced their capacity to guarantee the right to education, thus widening inequalities among young people enrolled in higher education institutions.

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Current Anatomy Education: A Venezuelan Medical Student’s Perspective

Introduction: The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have modified people’s daily lives. The coronavirus has changed the landscape of medical education. The use of innovative teaching strategies and techniques becomes needed in this particular period of academic life. Methods: An online questionnaire using Google Forms® was conducted to recognize the potential challenges being faced by the Venezuelan 1st-year medical students while attending online anatomy classes. Results: In this survey (n=106) more than half of students (52.8 %) are moderately satisfied with virtual classes. But most of them (88.7 %) felt the lack of proper gadgets, high bandwidth, and strong internet connections, was a barrier to their current learning process. 76.4 % of students overlooked every aspect of anatomy education. In addition, 80.2 % felt a lack of proper books or study material in their homes. Discussion: The COVID-19 crisis may provide to update us on whether such approaches can deliver appropriate learning gain. Further, if these online anatomy programs were suitably integrated into curriculum design. At present conditions majority of students (78.3 %) preferred distance learning by video recorded classes. And 52.8 % are moderately satisfied with virtual classes. Conclusion: In this research, the majority of students (92.5 %) recognize that cadaver practice helped them to understand and grasp the subject more easily. Further, most of the students (78.3 %) consider it easier to understand lectures and cadaver practice above online sessions. © 2022 Academia Nacional de Medicina. All rights reserved.

WERE FORCIBLY DISPLACED PEOPLE PRIORITIZED IN THE COVID-19 NATIONAL RESPONSE PLANS?

Background Forcibly displaced people represent a huge humanitarian problem globally. At the end of 2020, the total number was 82,4 million;from those, 34,4 million were refugees, asylum seekers, and Venezuelan displaced abroad. Forcibly displaced people were identified as priority populations during the pandemic due to their risk of being the last served populations with healthcare. This paper aimed to identify if this population was prioritized in the COVID-19 national response plans of a sample of 86 countries. Methods This study is part of a document analysis of 86 COVID-19 national response plans, assessing the degree of comply to quality parameters of effective priority setting. One of the parameters included was the degree to which vulnerable populations such as forcibly displaced people were explicitly prioritized for receiving COVID-19 related interventions or for continuity of non-COVID healthcare services. The analysis involved assessing whether and how forcibly displaced people were prioritized in the COVID-19 national response plans. This was compared with the displaced populations identified in the host countries' UNHCR Forced Displacement 2020 report. Results Only five countries among 86 analyzed prioritized forcibly displaced people in their COVID-19 national response plans. Among the top ten forcibly displaced people hosting countries, Uganda was the only one with an explicit prioritization of this vulnerable group. Although Turkey, Colombia, and Germany account for nearly one-fifth (6,6 million) of refugees, asylum seekers and Venezuelans displaced abroad, none of the COVID-19 response plans of these countries prioritized these populations. Discussion Few countries recognized forcibly displaced people as a vulnerable population in their COVID-19 response and preparedness plans. Governments may have incorporated actions and interventions for these vulnerable groups after publishing the COVID-19 response plans. It would be essential to evaluate the impact of this lack of prioritization on the health and wellbeing of these population groups.

INSTITUTIONAL DISCRIMINATION AND THE POLITICIZATION OF MIGRATION: THE CASE OF THE COLOMBIA–VENEZUELA BORDER

In this article, the author presents the migratory phenomenon at the Colombia– Venezuela border in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The article is based on many sources, including presidential addresses, statements, decrees, and press releases. The author argues how humanitarian assistance has been based on political maneuvering by the governments of Colombia and Venezuela, which constitutes discriminatory practices against Venezuelan migrants. The paper finally points out how this situation has aggravated the migration crisis, characterized by serious violations of fundamental human rights of the Venezuelan migrant population. © 2022, ZRC SAZU, Zalozba ZRC. All rights reserved.

Venezuelan Refugees in Brazil: Communication Rights and Digital Inequalities During the Covid-19 Pandemic

The article analyzes the experiences of Venezuelan refugees in the city of Boa Vista (Brazil) in exercising their communication rights in the context of social and digital inequalities aggravated by the Covid-19 pandemic. This article outlines a perspective on digital inequalities from a rights-based approach, which focuses on granting the right to communicate to those who lack it rather than providing access to technology without highlighting the structural changes that are needed for promoting representation and participation of marginalized communities. Building on online and face-to-face interviews with 12 Venezuelan refugees, we identified three scenarios where inequalities regarding access and uses of ICTs are materialized: (a) reduction of digital communication interactions and affective networks due to the deterioration of connectivity in Venezuela and the suspension of local communication services provided by humanitarian agencies;(b) barriers to accessing information about rights and basic services, such as education, health, work, and shelter, given the reduction of communication channels and the closure of reference centers supporting refugees;and (c) increased exposure to fake news, scams, and hate speech in social media platforms and message apps, generating disinformation and enhancing risks of exploitation and marginalization of refugees.

Integrating Venezuelan Migrants into the Colombian Health System during COVID-19.

Colombia provides a unique setting to understand the complicated interaction between health systems, health insurance, migrant populations, and COVID-19 due to its system of Universal Health Coverage and its hosting of the second-largest population of displaced persons globally, including approximately 1.8 million Venezuelan migrants. We surveyed 8,130 Venezuelan migrants and Colombian nationals across 60 municipalities using a telephone survey during the first wave of the pandemic (September through November 2020). Using self-reported enrollment in one of the several Colombian health insurance schemes, we analyzed the access to and disparities in the use of health-care services for both Colombians and Venezuelan migrants by insurance status, including access to formal health services, virtual visits, and COVID-19 testing for both groups. We found that compared with 3.6% of Colombians, 73.6% of Venezuelan telephone survey respondents remain uninsured, despite existing policies that allow legally present migrants to enroll in national health insurance schemes. Enrolling migrants in either the subsidized or contributory regime increases their access to health-care services, and equality between Colombians and Venezuelans within the same insurance schemes can be achieved for some services. Colombia's experience integrating Venezuelan migrants into their current health system through various insurance schemes during the first wave of their COVID-19 pandemic shows that access and equality can be achieved, although there continue to be challenges.

Tilorone and Cridanimod Protect Mice and Show Antiviral Activity in Rats despite Absence of the Interferon-Inducing Effect in Rats

The synthetic compounds, Tilorone and Cridanimod, have the antiviral activity which initially had been ascribed to the capacity to induce interferon. Both drugs induce interferon in mice but not in humans. This study investigates whether these compounds have the antiviral activity in mice and rats since rats more closely resemble the human response. Viral-infection models were created in CD-1 mice and Wistar rats. Three strains of Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus were tested for the performance in these models. One virus strain is the molecularly cloned attenuated vaccine. The second strain has major virulence determinants converted to the wild-type state which are present in virulent strains. The third virus has wild-type virulence determinants, and in addition, is engineered to express green fluorescent protein. Experimentally infected animals received Tilorone or Cridanimod, and their treatment was equivalent to the pharmacopoeia-recomended human treatment regimen. Tilorone and Cridanimod show the antiviral activity in mice and rats and protect the mice from death. In rats, both drugs diminish the viremia. These drugs do not induce interferon-alpha or interferon-beta in rats. The presented observations allow postulating the existence of an interferon-independent and species-independent mechanism of action.

How regional organizations cope with recurrent stress: the case of South America

Barely 15 years after the 2008 financial crisis and in a context of rising nationalism, regional organizations are facing multiple challenges. This article introduces an analytical framework that systematizes stressors and identifies characteristics that might help regional organizations to cope with stress. It draws on psychological models of how individuals cope with stress to explore how regional organizations grapple with a sequence of stress situations. Stress factors can aggravate pre-existing problems in regionalism and contribute to regional disintegration. But they can also trigger counter-reactions and strengthen the resilience of regionalism. To substantiate our arguments, we study the repercussions of two recent crises for South American regionalism: the political crisis in Venezuela and the Covid-19 pandemic.

Migration policies and regional cooperation in the Southern Cone: institutional management of the Venezuelan migration in Argentina, Chile and Bolivia

The objective of the article is to analyze the exodus of people from Venezuela, the most relevant migratory and humanitarian crises in Latin America in the last five years. An analysis of the evolution of migration policies in Chile, Argentina and Bolivia is carried out, based on a legislative review, policy analysis and a study on the institutional measures adopted by each country. Although there is an emerging international political coordination, the various particularities in force in each are also marked. The existence of State policies focused on migration issues such as in Chile and Argentina, as well as the circumstantial reaction of cases such as Bolivia, have been a fundamental key in the exercise of efforts and international cooperation. Venezuelan migration has become a priority in South America, implementing particular policies that are not enough, requiring greater regional coordination and collaboration, which has become more complex since 2020 given the health crisis caused by the Covid epidemic-19, which generated the closure of national borders. © 2021, Universidade de Brasilia. All rights reserved.

Safety and immunogenicity of a self-amplifying RNA vaccine against COVID-19: COVAC1, a phase I, dose-ranging trial.

BACKGROUND: Lipid nanoparticle (LNP) encapsulated self-amplifying RNA (saRNA) is a novel technology formulated as a low dose vaccine against COVID-19. METHODS: A phase I first-in-human dose-ranging trial of a saRNA COVID-19 vaccine candidate LNP-nCoVsaRNA, was conducted at Imperial Clinical Research Facility, and participating centres in London, UK, between 19th June to 28th October 2020. Participants received two intramuscular (IM) injections of LNP-nCoVsaRNA at six different dose levels, 0.1-10.0µg, given four weeks apart. An open-label dose escalation was followed by a dose evaluation. Solicited adverse events (AEs) were collected for one week from enrolment, with follow-up at regular intervals (1-8 weeks). The binding and neutralisation capacity of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody raised in participant sera was measured by means of an anti-Spike (S) IgG ELISA, immunoblot, SARS-CoV-2 pseudoneutralisation and wild type neutralisation assays. (The trial is registered: ISRCTN17072692, EudraCT 2020-001646-20). FINDINGS: 192 healthy individuals with no history or serological evidence of COVID-19, aged 18-45 years were enrolled. The vaccine was well tolerated with no serious adverse events related to vaccination. Seroconversion at week six whether measured by ELISA or immunoblot was related to dose (both p<0.001), ranging from 8% (3/39; 0.1µg) to 61% (14/23; 10.0µg) in ELISA and 46% (18/39; 0.3µg) to 87% (20/23; 5.0µg and 10.0µg) in a post-hoc immunoblot assay. Geometric mean (GM) anti-S IgG concentrations ranged from 74 (95% CI, 45-119) at 0.1µg to 1023 (468-2236) ng/mL at 5.0µg (p<0.001) and was not higher at 10.0µg. Neutralisation of SARS-CoV-2 by participant sera was measurable in 15% (6/39; 0.1µg) to 48% (11/23; 5.0µg) depending on dose level received. INTERPRETATION: Encapsulated saRNA is safe for clinical development, is immunogenic at low dose levels but failed to induce 100% seroconversion. Modifications to optimise humoral responses are required to realise its potential as an effective vaccine against SARS-CoV-2. FUNDING: This study was co-funded by grants and gifts from the Medical Research Council UKRI (MC_PC_19076), and the National Institute Health Research/Vaccine Task Force, Partners of Citadel and Citadel Securities, Sir Joseph Hotung Charitable Settlement, Jon Moulton Charity Trust, Pierre Andurand, Restore the Earth.

Creative triangulation of research methods Research in times of COVID 19

A theoretical reflection is presented about an investigative experience whose method was molded in times of pandemic, in order to carry out a phenomenological study of female leadership seen from the empowerment of Venezuelan migrants, born between the 30s and 50s of the last century. In this study, two notable elements converged: female leadership without ageism and the episteme - a complex cognitive structure that governs the entire culture of an era. The hermeneutical horizon was that these women exercised leadership without ageism, in challenging socio-historical contexts, in such a way that in order to respond to the research objective and overcome the criteria for the selection of research methods, it was essential to respond to what the method would be. to be used if the criterion that prevailed was the understanding of the phenomenon. The method was restructured due to the conditions inherent to Covit-19, the research methods and techniques were recreated and adapted to the specificities of the sample in order to achieve an understanding of the action of human life with the use of technological support. to observe and listen to seven migrant women in five different countries.

SARS-CoV-2 in Transit: Characterization of SARS-CoV-2 Genomes From Venezuelan Migrants in Colombia.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the genomic epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 from Venezuelan migrants living in Colombia. METHODS: This study sequenced SARS-CoV-2 from 30 clinical specimens collected from Venezuelan migrants. Genomes were compared with the Wuhan reference genome to identify polymorphisms, reconstruct phylogenetic relationships and perform comparative genomic analyses. Geographic, sociodemographic and clinical data were also studied across genotypes. RESULTS: This study demonstrated the presence of six distinct SARS-CoV-2 lineages circulating among Venezuelan migrants, as well as a close relationship between SARS-CoV-2 genomic sequences obtained from individuals living in the Venezuelan-Colombian border regions of La Guajira (Colombia) and Zulia (Venezuela). Three clusters (C-1, C-2 and C-3) were well supported by phylogenomic inference, supporting the hypothesis of three potential transmission routes across the Colombian-Venezuelan border. These genomes included point mutations previously associated with increased infectivity. A mutation (L18F) in the N-terminal domain of the spike protein that has been associated with compromised binding of neutralizing antibodies was found in 2 of 30 (6.6%) genomes. A statistically significant association was identified with symptomatology for cluster C2. CONCLUSION: The close phylogenetic relationships between SARS-CoV-2 genomes from Venezuelan migrants and from people living at the Venezuela-Colombian border support the importance of human movements for the spread of COVID-19 and for emerging virus variants.