The Epidemic Preparedness Post - Edition 3

What's happening around the world....

1. 2. 3.

The Nature

Bird flu outbreak in mink sparks concern about spread in people

Kaiser Health News:

Study Estimates That 65 Million People Worldwide May Have Long Covid

Healthiness:

Strain of Multiple Drug-Resistant Gonorrhea Detected in U.S.

Fresh from academia...

Nature

Flu, MERS and Ebola the disease outbreaks most frequently reported

eClinicalMedicine

Oral manifestation of the monkeypox virus: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BMJ Global Health:

One health systems strengthening in countries: Tripartite tools and approaches at the human-animal-environment interface

News from India

India Today:

Norovirus outbreak reported in Kerala's Ernakulam, 19 school students infected

Mint:

India to set up expert teams to deal with health emergencies

Times of India:

Authorities on alert over zoonotic disease outbreak in Thiruvanathpuram

For more conversations on epidemic preparedness, please join :

Articles from the field:

Integrating Medical + Architect + Engineering stream for epidemic preparedness

The current pandemic of COVID19 has exposed the limitation of the health system in managing the surge in demand for clinical services. We tried our best to provide care to the needy and learned a few things along the way. Two prominent learnings are delays in the provision of diagnostic services and critical care services.

To prepare the entire country for future epidemics/pandemics (#100daysforepidemicpreparedness) Government of India provided the resources to build the Critical Care block (CCB) and Integrated Public Health Laboratory (IPHL) through Pradhan Mantri – Ayushman Bharat Infrastructure Mission (PMABHIM). But during its implementation at ground level, we are facing the following issues…

1. Site identification – In a few places the CCB site is identified by executing agency (the construction company) and medical personnel are the least involved.

2. CCB is not a stand-alone hospital – The ground-level understanding is that the CCB is a standalone building and can be constructed separately. But it is an integrated building with the main hospital. Remember a patient will not go directly to CCB, it has to be directed through the existing hospital.

3 District authority needs sensitization – District-level administration authorities need sensitization on CCB for its better implementation

To overcome these issues, we need to integrate professionals from the Medical, Engineer, and Architect streams.

1. The medical professionals will need to identify the site for the construction of the CCB; they have to run the show in the CCB. They can play a vital role in spreading the understanding of the value of CCB to local stakeholders. In addition, they can suggest the clinical service mix to be provided in the CCB and any other services, like the Critical Care Skill lab.

2. The architect will need to support layout planning. They should be well-versed in hospital planning and the flow of services in a tertiary care hospital.

3 The engineer will need support in the identification of building materials at the concerned location and the building construction norms

By integrating the work of the above three people, we can make India a pandemic-prepared country.

Written by, Dr Tukaram Khandade

Epidemic Preparedness Post

Articles from the field:

Government of India's strategic approach for epidemic preparedness

As a part of strengthening #pandemicpreparedness, the government of India is committed to spend over 20,000 million USD (1,64,104 crore INR) by financial year 2025-26 for the following thee flagship initiatives: 1) Emergency COVID Response Program; 2) Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM ABHIM) and 3) 15th Finance Commission

1. Emergency COVID Response Program phase I and II were launched during the pandemic for catalysing health system activities for pandemic management. it aims to accelerate health system preparedness for immediate responsiveness for early prevention, detection and management of the pandemic. It focused on strengthening the health system at the rural and per-urban areas. It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme with some Central Sector components.

To read further: https://lnkd.in/d2bGFRWE

2. Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission aims to strengthen grass root public health institutions to deliver universal Comprehensive Primary Health Care, including #surveillance, and prevention; and to strengthen public health institutions & public health governance capacities, to meet challenges posed by the current and future pandemics with capacities for comprehensive diagnostic and treatment including for critical care services. It also supports to expand and build an IT enabled disease surveillance system by developing a network of surveillance laboratories. The key components are Health and Wellness centers in urban and rural areas, Block Public Health Units (BPHUs), Integrated Public Health Labs (IPHLs) and #criticalcare Hospital Blocks.

To read further: https://lnkd.in/dN6jTTgH

3. Under 15th Finance Commission the government aims to strengthen and plug the gaps at healthcare system at the primary level – for both, urban and rural areas. The key components are: Supporting diagnostic infrastructure to the primary healthcare facilities; establishing Block Public Health Units; ensure universal comprehensive primary health care through urban health and wellness centers: developing sub centers, PHCs and CHCs and conversion of rural PHCs and Sub-Centers into Health and Wellness Center.

To read further: https://lnkd in/dbNzKEsi

The above initiatives are strategically planned to strengthen the health system at all levels in both urban and rural areas Since the components and activities under these three initiatives are linked to one another, providing a diagrammatic presentation related to the levels of the healthcare delivery This will simplify understanding the relationships between the key areas (clinical care, surveillance, laboratory diagnosis etc ) under these initiatives to visualise the holistic approach for the health system strengthening

Written by, Dr Saurabh Parmar

Articles from the field:

health, global health security and pandemic preparedness strategies related?

One Health, Global Health Security Agenda, and Pandemic Prevention Preparedness and Response (PPR) strategies are related in that they all focus on the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health One Health recognizes that the health of humans, animals, and the environment are interconnected and that a holistic approach is necessary to address health threats Global Health Security Agenda focuses on the ability of countries and international organizations to detect, assess, and respond to public health emergencies, including those that have the potential to cross borders. PPR strategy focuses on the development of plans, resources, and systems to detect, respond to, and control the spread of infectious diseases, including those with pandemic potential. All three approaches aim to reduce the risk of outbreaks and to improve the ability to respond quickly and effectively if an outbreak does occur They share the following commonalities:

Recognition of the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health: These approaches recognize that the health of humans, animals, and the environment are interconnected and that a holistic approach is necessary to address health threats.

Recognition of the need for early detection and rapid response: These approaches recognize the importance of early detection and rapid response in order to prevent and control outbreaks, particularly those with the potential to cause significant harm to human health

Importance of risk assessment: All of these approaches prioritize the assessment of risks associated with outbreaks, including the potential for spread and impact on human health (and animal health in case of One Health).

Emphasis on preventing and controlling outbreaks: These strategies prioritize the prevention and control of outbreaks, particularly those with the potential to cause significant harm to human health.

Focus on strengthening health systems: These approaches recognize that strong health systems are essential for preventing and controlling outbreaks and for protecting public health

Emphasis on collaboration and coordination: These strategies call for increased collaboration and coordination across sectors and disciplines, including between human and animal health, to address health threats.

Priority on building resilience: These approaches aim to build resilience to health threats, including by investing in research and development and strengthening health systems

Importance of information-sharing: All of the concepts recognize the importance of sharing information and data in order to detect and respond to health threats

Attention to vulnerable populations: These concepts prioritize the protection of vulnerable populations, including those living in poverty or in areas affected by conflict or other crises.

Attention to international cooperation: All these approaches call for increased international cooperation to detect, respond to, and control the spread of infectious diseases

All of these approaches aim to prepare and ready the countries and communities to prevent and respond to potential pandemics.

Written by,

How are one

Articles from the field:

Epidemic preparedness and representation of the global south

Day before yesterday, India marked her 74th #republicday, a day she adopted her own constitution and declared herself to be sovereign. In 1947, India embarked her journey to be a sovereign nation, and emerged as a leader in the non-alignment movement, simultaneously ensuring that neutrality still remains a choice among those nations that simply wished to catch on development after years of being ruled, and, those countries that finally wished to claim and take space, grow and live. India envisioned the #sovereignty of global south- a dream where #independence and #development coexisted.

However, it’s never that simple, is it? A world where colonization was the norm, it would be strange for it wake up one day, forget old ways and dine human rights and equality Old structures take new forms In the post-colonial and post-world war- era, organizations and bodies were founded to ensure not just world peace but solutions to social and environmental problems that loomed the modern world. Ever since, multilateral bodies have talked but mostly never walked the talk, although it has been a collective failure, there is a palpable disparity between the ones that are responsible and those who bear the brunt. Multilateral platforms have invited the global south, but the south has never felt represented enough to be global, in terms of influence, power and narrative.

Cut to this day, India is hosting G20 in the new era of inclusive multilateralism. And, from 18-20 January, the first Health Working Group meeting was held in Trivandrum under India’s presidency, aiming to track health emergencies, preparedness and response with focus on #Onehealth and #antiobioticresistance

#G20 is powerfully representative- holding 85% of world’s GDP, 75% of world’s trade and two-third of the world’s population. And India plays a unique role- she bridges the gap between the #globalnorth and #globalsouth. India is neither ‘developing’ nor ‘developed’ but carrying the elements of both. During the #globalpandemic of COVID19, India shared her vaccines with African and South American countries. And that is the trend G20 must inspire and set. Be it #climatesmart solutions or reducing the #digitaldivide, and sharing #energy- the G20 summit has scope for countries to act in unison against the bigger enemies at hand. When problems are global, so should be the solutions. And preparedness involves, a shift in perspective from ‘I’ to ‘we’- multilateral platforms like the G20 can be game changers In line with India’s G20 Presidency- Vasudehaiva Kutumbakam or ‘#OneEarth, #Onefamily, #Onefuture’ #100daysforepidemicpreparedness#indiapresidency

Written by, Pankhuri Shukla

Articles from the field:

Building healthy cities for Pandemic Preparedness and Response

This is a story. Story of a city called Metropolis.

In the city of Metropolis, the #urban #landscape had changed dramatically over the years High-rise #buildings had replaced #green spaces, and #traffic congestion was a daily reality The city's residents had grown accustomed to the congestion and had learned to adapt to the chaos. Many of them had given up on using their own cars and instead relied on public transportation. But even this was not a reliable option, as the buses and trains were often delayed or overcrowded. The city's residents had grown accustomed to the noise and pollution, but little did they know that the urban landscape was affecting the transmission and spread of infectious agents.

One day, an #outbreak of a new #respiratory #virus began to spread rapidly in Metropolis The virus was highly contagious and spread easily in the crowded and poorly ventilated high-rise buildings The city's transportation infrastructure, which was heavily congested, also facilitated the spread of the virus as people were in close contact with each other on buses and trains.

The virus soon took over the city and soon enough people were affected by the virus. Some were coughing continuously, while the others were down with fever. Some were wearing masks to avoid inhaling the infectious air, while the others were gasping for whatever air they could get.

Does this story sound familiar?

If I had written the same narrative a couple of years back, it would have been a great fiction writing piece. But in post #covid world, this is not fiction anymore. It was something that we all went through. This was the story of any of the cities in #india. Any that you can think of.

Now the question is:

** How does our urban landscape affect our health? **

** Is it even possible to mitigate future epidemics by re-thinking about our urban landscape? **

The answer is yes. We can absolutely control #epidemics by re-thinking about our environment - our urban landscapes. In fact, the concept of #epidemiologicaltriad discusses how environment is such an important aspect of epidemiological study.

The #environment is an important component of the epidemic triad because it can affect the transmission and spread of infectious agents The environment can provide the conditions that are necessary for the agent to survive, multiply and spread.

With 56% of the world's #population – 4.4 billion inhabitants – living in cities, the urban landscapes is playing and will be playing a crucial role in defining health outcomes of the society. It will certainly define how we prepare for future epidemics.