Gilead Sciences’ Post

The World Health Organization today announced elimination of visceral #leishmaniasis as a #publichealth problem by #Bangladesh, interruption of #leprosy transmission by #Maldives and elimination of #rubella by DPR #Korea Bangladesh has become the 1st country globally to be validated for elimination of visceral leishmaniasis or #kalaazar, a life-threatening neglected tropical disease #NTDs. The country achieved the elimination target of less than 1 case/10,000 population at the sub-district level in 2017 and has sustained it to date despite disruptions caused by the #COVID19 #pandemic Maldives is the 1st country to verify interruption of transmission of leprosy, having achieved the milestone of no #child case detection for more than 5 consecutive years. In 2019 Maldives published a Framework for Zero leprosy with clear milestones to reach leprosy elimination by 2030. An independent assessment team by WHO highlighted high political will and #community motivation, along with strong health systems and minimal evidence of #stigma and #discrimination towards persons affected by leprosy, as the key factors for #Maldives’ success The WHO SEARO Commission for #Measles and Rubella Elimination, based on the evidence provided by the National Verification Committee of DPR Korea, concluded that #endemic rubella #virus has been eliminated from the country. DPR Korea introduced measles-rubella #vaccine in childhood #immunization programme in 2019 after successfully carrying out a wide age range immunization campaign targeting 9 months to 15 years old #children and 16 to 18 years old #women with measles and rubella vaccines. Through this mass immunization activity, achieving more than 99.8% coverage in almost 6 M target population, the country rapidly built substantial population immunity for rubella #Neglected #tropical #diseases like lymphatic filariasis, visceral leishmaniasis and leprosy, along with the threat to children and young people posed by rubella, require continued national leadership, commitment and collaborative action by countries and health partners worldwide said WHO DG Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus Elimination of NTDs and childhood killer and debilitating diseases measles and rubella have been among the flagship priority programmes of the Region focusing on #trachoma, lymphatic #filariasis, visceral leishmaniasis #kalaazar, #yaws and leprosy. The Region has witnessed 95% decline in new cases of kala azar in the last 10 years. The Special Programme for #Research and #Training in Tropical Diseases and WHO, the Government of Bangladesh and partners such as the Government of the United Kingdom, Gilead Sciences, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative - DNDi and the INTERNATIONAL CENTRE FOR DIARRHOEAL DISEASE RESEARCH BANGLADESH supported research and development of new #diagnostic #tools and effective #treatments, that helped accelerate the #elimination of kala-azar in Bangladesh Dr Ibrahima Socé Fall

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation seeks an Abuja-based Deputy Director - Immunization and Disease Control to lead the development and implementation of the Nigeria team’s strategies on Immunization, Resiliency of azithromycin for children (“REACH”), Malaria and other infectious diseases, and work collaboratively with programmatic, functional, and cross-division partners across the foundation to develop and lead a portfolio of grants at the country, regional and global level to achieve results. They will ensure alignment with the foundation’s work in Nigeria on Immunization, REACH, Malaria and other diseases, and supervise staff placed in the Nigeria Country Office to drive these program strategies. Apply by 15 August. Please share. #GlobalDev #SustainableDevelopmentGoals #SDGs #Hiring #ApplyNow #Recruiting #SustainableDevelopment #InternationalDevelopment #JobVacancy #DevelopmentJobs #OpenForNewOpportunities #HiringNow #InternationalDevelopmentProjects #DevJob #InternationalDevelopmentProjects #EmpoweringAfrica #NowHiring #Africa #AfricaRising #TheAfricaWeWant #SubSaharanAfrica #PublicHealth #ChildDevelopment #ChildHealthOutcomes #GlobalChildHealth #JobsInNigeria #Nigeria #Abuja #GlobalHealth #Vaccination #Immunization #ImmunizationProgram #JoinGatesFoundation

R-zero is an estimate of the contagiousness that is a function of human behavior and the biological character of pathogens. R-zero is not a measure of the severity of an infectious disease or the rapidity of a pathogen's spread through a population. It is not a biological constant for a specific pathogen. Nonetheless it does signal what viruses in a population to pay attention to. R-zero for measles is 12-18; one infected person can pass the virus to 12-18 other susceptible persons. By contrast the R-zero for SARS CoV2 is 1.4-2.4. We need to vaccinate against measles no doubt hands down.

A critical part of preparing for an American flu season is watching trends in incidence, severity, and age distribution in our southern hemisphere neighbors’ earlier winter season. Australia’s flu season is wrapping up this coming month and they’ve had had high flu numbers (only slightly lower than last winter) and a slant towards more infection in healthy children. Predictive modeling in epidemiology is one tool we have to protect our communities from infection. But knowing the trends doesn’t help if we don’t take action. Getting an updated influenza vaccine annually teaches a child’s immune system to be ready when their body encounters flu later in the season. Vaccines don’t always prevent the infection from day zero. Vaccines DO boost the body’s response so that infection doesn’t cause severe disease like pneumonia. They often shorten the illness and get youth back in school and adults back to work. I’m looking forward to my annual #influenza vaccine so my body will be ready. I’ll be less likely to get severe flu disease and less likely to spread it around during the days before I’m symptomatic.

LinkedIn and other social media platforms need to review organizations like Physicians for Informed Consent and their "medical misinformation".... Those types of groups promote public health practices that go against standard accepted medical practices and threaten the health and well-being of the public. Philadelphia's measles outbreak is just the first in a long series of dangerous illnesses which will begin to plague our nation because of these "anti-vax" groups. Groups like Unbiased Science Podcast work to combat these groups with sound, public health information -so that our families can be safe and these dangerous past diseases stay in check. Shame on you LinkedIn for allowing groups like Physicians for Informed Consent to continue to peddle their dangerous "anti-vax" and "Public Health Malpractice" information on your platform. #public_health_malpractice #publichealtheducation #publichealthmatters

MENINGITIS, MENINGOCOCCAL ( Neisseria meningitis_ serotype C) - NIGER: (ZINDER). Since the last update, the MoH reported 1626 new cases (214 confirmed, 1412 suspected) and 99 new deaths (CFR: 9.8%) of bacterial meningitis. Cumulatively, 2185 cases (325 confirmed, 1860 suspected) and 129 deaths (CFR: 5.4%) have been reported from 11 health districts in Zinder region, Southern Niger. Laboratory confirmation was made by the isolation of _Neisseria meningitis_ serotype C from samples collected from symptomatic cases. Response by MS/Partners: The MoH conducted reactive vaccination campaigns with trivalent meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine in all affected health districts. Additionally, risk communication and community engagement activities are ongoing in close collaboration with community leaders in the affected and neighboring districts. Source: ProMedmail.

I am pleased to announce the publication of our collaborative work titled "COVID-19 herd immunity in Lebanon: Challenges and prospects" in Public Health Challenges. Our research delves into the impact of COVID-19 on Lebanon amidst economic challenges and political unrest, shedding light on the complexities of pandemic response. From the onset of the virus to the vaccination efforts, our study highlights the multifaceted factors that influenced Lebanon's trajectory. The findings underscore the importance of mass vaccination in pandemic management, despite challenges in achieving herd immunity. With insights from the COVAX program and vaccination data, we offer critical perspectives on addressing vaccine hesitancy and enhancing accessibility, particularly for vulnerable populations. Read the article here for a glimpse into our study: https://lnkd.in/e5Juk5Dg Sincere gratitude to my co-authors and collaborators for their dedication and expertise throughout this journey. I welcome your thoughts and insights on our findings! Let's continue pushing the boundaries of knowledge and making meaningful contributions to public health. #PublicHealth #Research #COVID19 #Lebanon #Vaccination #PandemicResponse

In Cholera control and response, early vaccine delivery plays a pivotal role. Cholera, a waterborne disease can rapidly escalate into widespread outbreaks causing severe illness and even deaths. Timely vaccination is essential to mitigate the impact of such outbreaks. By delivering vaccines early, health authorities can facilitate the establishment of a protective barrier within vulnerable populations, thereby preventing the rapid spread of the disease. Early vaccination not only safeguards individuals, but also curbs community transmission, reducing the burden on the healthcare system and preventing further strain on limited resources. Rapid deployment of vaccines can help target high-risk areas, such as densely populated centres such as urban, refugee and IDP camps, where cholera can easily flourish. This proactive approach not only minimizes the number of infections, but also contributes to maintaining social stability and preventing economic disruption caused by large scale outbreaks. Furthermore, early vaccine delivery demonstrates a commitment to public health and underscores the importance of preparedness in the face of infectious disease threats. In summary, the importance of early vaccine delivery in Cholera campaigns cannot be overstated. It is a critical strategy that saves lives, prevents the rapid spread of the disease, and supports the broader goal of global health security. (In the pictures; Raymond Chilinda Kawayi and Mercy Susan Buluzi; The Zonal Polio Outbreaks Consultants with UNICEF MCO facilitating the transportation of over 60,000 doses of Cholera Vaccines from Dedza to Chikwawa Districts where Cholera Vaccination Campaign will be taking place) #TheEndCholeraCampaign #RoleofZonalPolioConsultantsinCholeraCampain #RapidResponeMatters #DrGhanashyamSethy #DrSnehilKumarSingh #PatrickNicksOmar #TemwaStellaMzengeza #TexasZamasiya #UNICEFMALAWICOUNTRYOFFICE