Epidemiological Characteristics and Spatio-temporal Patterns of Foodborne Diseases in Jinan, Northern China

Foodborne diseases(FBDs) represent a substantial, yet largely preventable, health burden and result in considerable morbidity and mortality in both developed and developing countries[1]. The FBDs Burden Epidemiology Reference Group(FERG)found that the global burden of FBDs is comparable to those of major infectious diseases, such as human immunodeficiency virus infection/acquired immune deficiency syndrome, malaria, and tuberculosis[2].

The Combined Effects of High Temperatures and Ozone Pollution on Medical Emergency Calls—Jinan City,Shandong Province,China,2013–2019

What is already known about this topic?Studies have extensively documented the separate and independent effects of extreme temperature and ozone on morbidity and mortality associated with respiratory and circulatory diseases.What is added by this report?The study revealed a significant association between elevated temperature,ozone pollution,and the combined effect of high temperature and ozone pollution with an increased risk of all-cause medical emergency calls(MECs)and MECs specifically related to neurological diseases.What are the implications for public health practice?Interventional measures should be implemented to mitigate exposure to high temperatures and ozone levels.Specifically,during the warm season,it is crucial for relevant authorities to focus on disseminating scientific information regarding the health impacts of elevated temperatures and ozone pollution.Additionally,timely public health advisories should be issued to alert the public effectively.

Acute Effects of Low Temperatures and Cold Waves on Elderly Infectious Pneumonia Mortality—Jinan City,Shandong Province,China,2014-2022

Summary What is already known about this topic?The mortality rate due to pneumonia varies depending on the infectious agents present in a low-temperature environment.What is added by this report?This study aimed to examine the relationship between low temperatures and cold waves and the risk of mortality from infectious pneumonia in the elderly.The findings indicate a significant increase in the risk of infectious pneumonia.

Molecular Characteristics of Neisseria meningitidis Isolated during an Outbreak in a Jail: Association with the Spread and Distribution of ST-4821 Complex Serogroup C Clone in China

Objective To characterize the meningococcal strains isolated from cases and close contacts with meningococcal disease associated with an outbreak in a jail in May 2010 by investigating the national distribution of hyperinvasive ST-4821 serogroup C clone associated with this outbreak. Methods The cases were described based on the clinical symptoms and laboratory results. Pharyngeal swabs were cultured for N. meningitidis from men in the jail. Meningococcal isolates were identified by serogrouping, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis （PFGE） and multilocus sequence typing （MLST）, respectively. Four hundred and sixteen serogroup C N. meningitidis strains were collected from 27 provinces between 2003 and 2010 for a nationwide survey and analyzed by PFGE and MLST. Results Three persons in a jail system were infected with invasive N. meningitidis serogroup C. All isolates tested had matching PFGE patterns and belonged to the multilocus sequence type （ST） 4821 clonal complex. All 47 N. meningitidis strains were identified from the pharyngeal swabs of 166 peoples in the jail, and 26 of them belonged to ST-4821 serogroup C clone, and 90.14% （375/416） serogroup C strains identified in the nationwide survey belonged to the ST-4821 complex. The ST-4821 serogroup C clone was spread nationwide, distributed in 24 provinces, especially in eastern provinces between 2003 and 2010. Conclusion Endemic transmission and carriage rate of ST-4821 serogroup C clone are high in this jail system. The ST-4821 serogroup C clone is spreading in China and nationwide distributed despite the existence of some effective vaccines.

Occupational Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Associated with Diesel Motor Operation in an Air-raid Shelter in June 2015, Jinan City, China-An Epidemiological Investigation

Carbon monoxide （CO） is an odorless, colorless gas produced by incomplete combustion of carbonbased compounds. Exposure to CO can cause various adverse health effects ranging from headache and fatigue to coma and death. Thousands of illnesses and deaths have been documented through CO poisoning surveillance systems and accident investigations each year.

Investigation of an Adenovirus-Induced Respiratory Disease Outbreak

Objective: An epidemiological investigation was carried out in school X in Jinan, Shandong Province, China, to identify the cause, epidemiology, and etiological characteristics of a febrile respiratory disease outbreak;and therefore to control the dissemination. Methods: Both field epidemiological investigations and laboratory examinations were carried out. Results: Forty cases were identified, in which 38 cases were students and two were teachers. Clinical manifestations included fever, coughing, headache, and sore throat. A total of 21 pharyngeal swab specimens were collected and 18?tested positive for adenovirus. The adenovirus hexon gene was sequenced in three of the 18 positive specimens and the results?showed a 100% homology with the standard HAdV-55 HEXO. Conclusions: The outbreak originated from an adenovirus-infected student, who spread the pathogen to her classmates and teacher. The teacher then further disseminated the disease within the school which led to 40 febrile respiratory infections.

Cronobacter Carriage in Neonate and Adult Intestinal Tracts

A total of 7 Cronobocter strains were isolated from 703 fecal samples collected in Jinan from June 13 to December 30, 2011, with the positive rate of Cronobacter spp. being 1.0% （95% confidence interval 0.6%-1.4%）. Three Cronobacter sakazakii stains were isolated from 157 fecal samples of healthy neonates （95% confidence interval 0.4%-5.5%）. This number was slightly higher than that isolated from 273 fecal samples of healthy adults, in which 1 strain of C. sakazakii and 1 strain of Cronobacter malonaticus were isolated, and that from 173 fecal samples of adults with acute diarrhea, in which 1 strain of C sakazakii and 1 strain of C. malonaticus were isolated, but the differences were not statistically significant （P〉O.05）. The Cronobocter isolates were all from different genetic sources. It should be noted that Cronobacter carriage may cause infection under certain conditions, especially in neonates.

The Post-exposure Effects of Spinosad and Plant Allelochemicals on Biological Characteristics of Helicoverpa armigera(Lepidoptera： Noctuvidae)

In order to define the combined effects of spinosad and plant allelochemicals on Helicoverpa armigera(Lepidoptera:Noctuvidae), the research fed them on artificial diets with different doses of spinosad, gossypol, quercetin and tannicacid, and the changes of pupal and imaginal biological characteristics were observed and recorded. The results showed that spinosad at sublethal concentrations decreased pupation ratio and pupal weight, prolonged prepupal and pupal periods, and decreased emergence ratio, fecundity and longevity of adults. Combined with plant allelochemicals, spinosad significantly prolonged pupal period and shorten adult longevity. Other life-cycle parameters such as pupation ratio, pupal weights, emergence ratio, eggs laid per female and hatch ratio did not change significantly. The results clearly indicated that plant allelochemicals did not change spinosad efficiency on H. armigera, but the combination of spinosad and plant allelochemicals might affect pest population dynamics significantly by changing its development.

Evaluating the Applicability and Health Benefits of the Graded Heat Health Risk Early Warning Model-Jinan City,Shandong Province,China,2022

What is already known about this topic?The heat health early warning model serves as an effective strategy for reducing health risks related to heatwaves and improving population adaptability.Several high-income countries have taken the lead in conducting research and implementing measures aimed at safeguarding their populations.What is added by this report?The graded heat health risk early warning model(GHREWM)in Jinan City has demonstrated efficacy in safeguarding males,females,individuals aged above 75 years,and those with cardiopulmonary diseases.During the summer of 2022,the warning stage of GHREWM contributed to the prevention of 10.9 deaths per million individuals,concurrently averting health-related economic losses estimated at approximately 227 million Chinese Yuan(CNY).What are the implications for public health practice?The GHREWM has the potential to enhance cities’adaptability to climate change.It is crucial to incorporate additional adverse health endpoint data in the development of early warning models,as this will improve their applicability and protective efficacy.

Current situation of AIDS prevention and control with traditional Chinese medicine and relevant policies in China

This article analyzes the current system,the prevention and treatment team,drugs relating to AIDS prevention and control with traditional Chinese medicine,and the relevant policies in China so as to provide scientific advice on improving the policies and to promote the role of traditional Chinese medicine in treating AIDS.

Unmanned aerial vehicles:potential tools for use in zoonosis control

Unmanned aerial vehicles(UAVs)have become useful tools to extend human abilities and capacities.Currently UAVs are being used for the surveillance of environmental factors related to the transmission of infectious diseases.They have also been used for delivering therapeutic drugs and life-saving supplies to patients or isolated persons in extreme conditions.There have been very few applications of UAVs for disease surveillance,control and prevention to date.However,we foresee many uses for these machines in the fight against zoonotic disease.The control of zoonoses has been a big challenge as these diseases are naturally maintained in animal populations.Among 868 reported zoonoses,echinococcosis(hydatid disease)is one of the most severe public health problems and listed as one of 17 neglected tropical diseases targeted for control by the World Health Organization.Infected dogs(domestic or stray)play the most important role as definitive hosts in maintaining the transmission of echinococcosis.However,the actual contribution of wild canines to transmission has received little attention as yet,but should certainly not be ignored.This paper summarizes the history of development and application of UAVs,with an emphasis on their potential use for zoonosis control.As an example,we outline a pilot trial of echinococcosis control in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau region,in which UAVs were used to deliver baits with praziquantel for wildlife deworming.The data suggested that this is a cost-effective and efficient approach to the control of zoonotic diseases transmitted among wild animal populations.

Effectiveness of DTaP Against Pertussis in≤2-Year-Old Children—Linyi Prefecture,Shandong Province,China,2017–2019

Summary What is already known about this topic?Vaccine effectiveness(VE)is positively correlated with the number of administered co-purified diphtheria,tetanus,and acellular pertussis vaccine(DTaP)doses.A matched case-control study conducted in Zhongshan City revealed that the co-purified DTaP VE against pertussis-related illnesses in children aged 4–11 months was 42%for one dose,88%for two doses,and 95%for three doses,respectively.What is added by this report?The results of this study contribute to the current body of research.We found that the VE of co-purified DTaP against pertussis-related illness and hospitalization increased substantially,ranging from 24%–26%after one dose to 86%–87%after four doses.

The presence of foci of Rickettsia conorii infection in China

China is not considered as an endemic area of Rickettsia conorii,so there is no routine clinical way to diagnose this infection.This study aims to determine whether 2 febrile patients who had a tick bite in East China were indeed infected with R.conorii.The citrate synthase gene(gltA)was amplified with universal rickettsial primers by real-time fluorescent PCR from the patients’blood samples.Nested PCR was used to amplify the outer membrane protein A gene(ompA)for positive specimens.PCR products were further identified and analyzed through nucleic acid sequencing.Positive amplification of the gltA and ompA genes was found in both patients.The nucleotide sequences(303 bp)of the ompA gene of the 2 patients had high homology(99%)with the R.conorii Indian tick typhus strain in GenBank.A more than 4-fold increase in IgG against R.conorii provided supportive evidence of SFG Rickettsia infection.And the rapid recovery after doxycycline treatment also supported a rickettsial cause for the disease.Physicians in East China should be aware of human infections with R.conorii.PCR-based diagnostic methods offer a rapid and precise way to diagnose rickettsiosis,improving patient identification and management.

An emerging hemorrhagic fever in China caused by a novel bunyavirus SFTSV

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome(SFTS) is an emerging hemorrhagic fever in rural areas of China and is caused by a new bunyavirus,SFTSV,named after the disease.The transmission vectors and animal hosts of SFTSV are unclear.Ticks are the most likely transmission vectors and domestic animals,including goats,dogs,and cattle,are potential amplifying hosts of SFTSV.The clinical symptoms of SFTS are nonspecific,but major symptoms include fever,gastrointestinal symptoms,myalgia,dizziness,joint pain,chills,and regional lymphadenopathy.The most common abnormalities in laboratory test results are thrombocytopenia(95%),leukocytopenia(86%),and elevated levels of serum alanine aminotransferase,aspartate aminotransferase,creatine kinase,and lactate dehydrogenase.The fatality rate for SFTS is 12% on average,and the annual incidence of the disease is approximately five per 100000 of the rural population.

Development of the National Air Quality Health Index-China,2013−2018

What is already known about this topic?While the establishment of an air quality health index(AQHI)in some countries yielded positive outcomes in communicating health risks of air pollution,China lagged behind in developing its own AQHI.Several research studies of AQHI were conducted in China,but this scientific research has not yet been applied to standards.What is added by this report?This report introduced the method of calculation of Chinese AQHI to be launched in pilot cities.The index in this report was established on the basis of fully drawing on international experience and considering Chinese characteristics.What are the implications for public health practice?The purpose of this report is to guide unified application of the AQHI throughout China and translate scientific evidence into public services to promote public health.Based on the AQHI construction method in this report,an AQHI real-time computing platform and data transfer interface will be developed.The release of AQHI aims to communicate health risk of air pollution and provide scientific health protective guidance to the general public,accordingly to protect people’s health.

PM_(2.5) exposure associated with microbiota gut-brain axis:Multi-omics mechanistic implications from the BAPE study

Recent studies have shown that PM_(2.5) may activate the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal(HPA)axis by inducing hormonal changes,potentially explaining the increase in neurological and cardiovascular risks.In addition,an association between PM_(2.5) and gut microbiota and metabolites was established.The above evidence represents crucial parts of the gut-brain axis(GBA).In view of this evidence.