Human beings are continuously exposed to microorganisms that cause infections. They include bacteria and viruses, which are typically evolving, spreading to new areas and populations, and undergoing significant ecological transformations. Consequently, these changes give rise to emerging infections that affect humans and animals. Some of these diseases and infections include tuberculosis, malaria, influenza, dengue fever, measles, West Nile fever, and the Usutu virus. The Centre for Disease Control and Prevention provides details regarding the medical conditions through the Emerging Infectious Diseases journal. Detailed below are two articles from the EID journal, which examine the Usutu virus and Latent Tuberculosis Infection (LTBI) screening respectively.
Usutu Virus in Germany
The research examines the issue of Usutu virus as an emerging infectious condition in the European region. Lühken et al (2017) depict that flavivirus is responsible for an escalated mortality rate in the region. Since it was first discovered, the condition and its impact on birds in the region has never been extensively examined (Lühken et al., 2017). The researcher holds an idea that Usutu Virus is a significant threat to birds in the future within the European region. Besides, the impact of the virus is more pronounced on blackbirds, which are typically known as Turdus Merula (Lühken et al., 2017) . Therefore, the researcher puts emphasis on the need to establish suitable measures to control the virus as a move to protect these birds.
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Lühken et al (2017) assess this condition by asking people to present dead birds for extensive screening to them. People were supposed to volunteer and no procedure was applied to define the kind of people who were to present the birds. A total of 230 dead birds were collected by the researchers between 2011 and 2015. The number consisted of 15 notable bird species in the region and all of them were examined. To assess the distribution of the virus in the areas, the researchers used European Land Surface Temperature maps, and nine bioclimatic variables, which were incorporated into the study (Lühken et al., 2017). Most importantly, they were used to show the environmental factors that could have influenced the spread of the virus among the birds. The 250-m resolution bioclimatic variables were used to explain why the probability of the Usutu virus in some areas was significantly different from that in other areas within the European region and more specifically in Germany.
From the findings, the researchers determined that 11 species out the 15 that were collected did not have any significant statistical difference when the Usutu virus in areas prone to and those that are not prone to the virus was assessed (Lühken et al., 2017). This typically shows that the 11 species were least affected by the virus while in both suitable and unsuitable areas for the spread of the Usutu virus. On the other hand, the four remaining species showed substantial statistics differences in two types of localities examined. Primarily, the effect of the virus on them was influenced by other factors such as temperature. Then also, the researchers determined that the blackbirds, which are also known as Turdus Merula, were adversely affected by the virus (Lühken et al., 2017). Therefore, the researchers managed to convince the entire readership that this is the reason why the mortality amongst the blackbirds was significantly high than in the other species.
Cost-effectiveness of Latent Tuberculosis Infection (LTBI) Screening
The article holds that pre-immigration LTBI screening is highly recommended since it is cost effective. Notably, it is essential when one is moving from a region of high incidence of tuberculosis to an area of low prevalence. LTBI screening is proven by the researchers to be highly sustainable, easy to implement and acceptable (Campbell et al., 2019). Therefore, the study asserts that it is essential to conduct pre-immigration LTBI screening unlike the traditional screening of prospective migrants. This is meant to identify latent TB infections. The screening strategy is recommended by the researchers due to its effectiveness in the control of tuberculosis through early diagnosis and treatment.
In this research, Campbell et al (2019) incorporate the use of discrete event simulations over the typical Markov models, and they cite flexibility as the main reason. The researchers chose to assess new migrants who they categorized into four distinct groups. The four categories of new migrants were also placed into four other groups. In this particular case, the covariates included LTBI prevalence, patient’s age, BCG vaccination status, and chest assessment report (Campbell et al., 2019). Each of the categories was extensively examined basing on varying factors. The impact of LTBI screening as a key intervention in the control of latent TB infection was assessed. Campbell et al (2019) hold an assumption that all migrants in this particular study were recommended to undergo post arrival LTBI and that they all tested positive to LTBI diagnosis (Campbell et al., 2019). The researchers determined that optimal intervention was highly recommended for new migrants from regions of moderate to high incidences of tuberculosis. For those who came from areas with low incidences of tuberculosis, sequential screening and post-arrival refampin therapeutic procedures were highly recommended.
From the findings, it was generated that comprehensive screening procedures could control tuberculosis as an emerging infectious disease. Screening for prospective migrants before they leave their respective countries did not assess latent TB infection, which would be acquired while traveling. LTBI screening strategy was found to be ideal and highly recommended in the control of this condition (Campbell et al., 2019). In this case, infections that could have been acquired after a post-migration screening of tuberculosis are put under control. The research, thus, concludes that it is possible to effectively control tuberculosis as an emerging infectious disease through proper screening and application of ideal therapeutic procedures. Campbell et al (2019) define the condition as one that requires severe and timely interventions measures.
References
Campbell, J. R., Johnston, J. C., Cook, V. J., Sadatsafavi, M., Elwood, R. K., & Marra, F. (2019). Cost-effectiveness of Latent Tuberculosis Infection Screening before Immigration to Low-Incidence Countries . Emerging Infectious Diseases, 25(4), 661–671. Retrieved from https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/25/4/pdfs/17-1630.pdf
Lühken, R., Jöst, H., Cadar, D., Thomas, S., Bosch, S., Tannich, E...Schmidt-Chanasit, J. (2017). Distribution of Usutu Virus in Germany and Its Effect on Breeding Bird Populations. Emerging Infectious Diseases , 23 (12), 1994-2001. Retrieved from https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/23/12/pdfs/17-1257.pdf
