Publications by authors named "Christopher G Laine"
Brucellosis is a major public health concern worldwide, especially for persons living in resource-limited settings. Historically, an evidence-based estimate of the global annual incidence of human cases has been elusive. We used international public health data to fill this information gap through application of risk metrics to worldwide and regional at-risk populations.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- Biological agents can be used in agro-crime or agro-terrorism, posing significant risks to peace and economic stability, particularly concerning animal health.
- The study introduces a risk-based mutual insurance premium framework, assessing global vulnerabilities and preparedness related to threats against animal health across various countries, using data from multiple intergovernmental organizations.
- Vulnerability indices were developed for 25 selected countries, focusing on several infectious diseases, with a principal component analysis (PCA) method proving most effective in differentiating among vulnerabilities.
Background: For decades, human brucellosis has been recognized worldwide as a significant cause of morbidity, yet the annual incidence of this disease remains unknown. We analyzed this frequency, using international reports (2005-2019), identifying information gaps, and distinguishing a possible path forward.
Methodology/principal Findings: A novel approach to estimating the incidence of this disease was explored.
Brucellosis is a zoonotic disease known to be endemic to parts of western and sub-Saharan Africa. However, the epidemiology for humans and animals remains largely unknown in many of these countries with Cameroon being a typical example. Despite common knowledge that brucellosis affects livestock, the actual number of infected animals remains unknown.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF