Publications by authors named "J N DE KLERK"
Purpose: Immediate initiation of antiretroviral treatment following HIV infection is a cornerstone of the current HIV 'universal test and treat' approach. Delayed progress along the HIV care continuum is thus framed as a major stumbling block in effective HIV epidemic control. Through examining the HIV care trajectories of people diagnosed with HIV in Shinyanga Region, Tanzania, we offer a critical interrogation of the HIV care continuum.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFRobust advancements in clinical treatment of people living with HIV (PLHIV) have resulted in the current "treatment as prevention" strategy: the inability to transmit the virus when it is undetectable. Nevertheless, disclosure within marital relationships remains important to adhere optimally to treatment and further limit transmission in the era of treat-all. Disclosure, however, can have serious social repercussions, particularly for women.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- Bluetongue virus (BT) affects various livestock species worldwide, causing economic losses and health issues, with most existing epidemiological models based on the BTV-8 outbreak from 2006-2009.
- The study aims to create a flexible model for predicting BT outbreaks globally and to identify key factors influencing outbreak dynamics for better policy planning.
- A two-host, two-vector model was developed and analyzed using updated parameters from literature, showing that factors like the infectious period of sheep and cows most significantly affect outbreak length and peak infection levels.
Article Synopsis
- Culicoides biting midges are key vectors for important veterinary viruses like bluetongue and African horse sickness, and their distribution is impacted by climate and environmental changes.
- This study aimed to model the distribution of two primary Culicoides species using random forest machine learning, analyzing various climate and anthropological factors in South Africa where these diseases are common.
- The random forest models successfully explained significant variance in Culicoides populations, with cattle density and water vapor pressure identified as the most critical predictors for the two species, outperforming traditional interpolation maps in predictive accuracy.