80 Years of the Medicine and Tropical Hygiene Center in Gdynia (1937-2017): The Pioneer Pre-War Years 1937-1939.

The present Interdepartmental Institute of Maritime and Tropical Medicine in Gdynia of the Medical University of Gdańsk was formally established in 1939 by the Order of June 5, 1939, of the Minister of Social Welfare, Marian Zyndram-Kościałkowski. However, the Branch of the National Institute of Hygiene in Gdynia was founded 2 years earlier, in 1937 (the first head was Dr. Med.

[Pappataci (sandfly fever) - a little known brought in Poland viral disease].

Pappataci (sandfly fever) is a viral (RNA Phlebovirus) vector-borne zoonosis transmitted to men by small Phlebotomus mosquitous. This disease fulfill the international criteria of "emerging disease". Despite of that, pappataci fever is a little known disease brought into Poland.

Prevalence of Coxiella burnetii Infection in Humans Occupationally Exposed to Animals in Poland.

Coxiella burnetii is the etiological agent of Q fever, and outbreaks of Q fever have been reported in different parts of Europe both in animals and humans. Human infections are mostly associated with infections in ruminants, e.g.

Q fever--selected issues.

Q fever is an infectious disease of humans and animals caused by Gram-negative coccobacillus Coxiella burnetii, belonging to the Legionellales order, Coxiellaceae family. The presented study compares selected features of the bacteria genome, including chromosome and plasmids QpH1, QpRS, QpDG and QpDV. The pathomechanism of infection--starting from internalization of the bacteria to its release from infected cell are thoroughly described.

[Reform of epidemiology undergraduate education programme for Polish medical students--the changes threatening essentials of education in medical reasoning].

A concise account has been given of the changes included in the contents, shape and volume of the teaching program of epidemiology included in the current abridged set of proposals of the graduate teaching of the subject. The present slashed set of teaching items gives no real possibility of covering even the shortest agenda or either methodological or natural history oriented parts of epidemiological essentials. Given that epidemiological methodology is increasingly the part and parcel of the modern medical thinking in general, the shape of the reform is the dangerous step back against prevailing scientific currents threatening the very status of the national scientific institutions.

[Management in Chikungunya virus infection--a new threat for Europe].

The authors present etiology, epidemiology and clinical aspects of one of the tropical diseases--Chikungunya fever (CHIK), which has spread across Europe as emerging infectious disease, transmitted to humans by Aedes mosquitoes. The aim of this study is to present the real threat of CHIK to Europe and especially to Poland. The article also describes actions taken by sanitary authorities in the European Union countries.

The first established focus of hantavirus infection in Poland, 2007.

The first hantavirus infection outbreak in Poland (with different seroetiology) was identified between August-December 2007. Thirteen cases were reported in southeast Poland: 12 cases in the Carpathians bordering with northeast Slovakia, mainly in the forested areas of the Bieszczady mountains, and one case approximately 100-120 kilometres north from the others, in the adjacent Sub-Carpathian region. Four additional cases of past infection were identified retrospectively, based on the presence of the hantavirus specific IgG antibodies.

[A case of haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS)].

In our article we describe clinical and epidemiological analysis of the first case of haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS)--with serological confirmation--in Poland.

[Haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS)--Hantavirus infection disease appearing in Poland].

Authors take up the problem of occurrence of the haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome in Poland and present the measures undertaken by Chief Sanitary Inspectorate, which brought to detection of the first, serologically confirmed case of HFRS in May 2005. They strongly emphasize the existence of the disease on Polish territory despite the poor epidemiological recognition, an possibility of its testing.

[Leptospirosis laboratory of WSSE in Wrocław (1947-2005). Comment on its activity].

The article summarises the 1947-2005 activity of the Leptospire Laboratory of Voivodeship Sanitary-Epidemiological Station in Wrocław (1947-2005) which is the oldest and, presently, the only health care diagnostic laboratory offering leptospirosis testing in Poland. Based on own experience the authors analysed laboratory diagnosis of leptospirosis in Poland, identifying existing problems.

[Did West Nile Fever (WNF) appear in Poland? Position of the Expect Committee appointed by the Chief Sanitary Inspector].

Position of the Expect Committee appointed by the Chief Sanitary Inspector regarding the possibility of occurrence of West Nile Fever in Poland.