Reviving health mediation during the COVID-19 crisis and beyond: an implementation study in deprived neighbourhoods of Marseille, France.

Introduction: In 2020, during France's COVID-19 response, healthcare professionals from a hospital and an association initiated health mediation interventions in Marseille's vulnerable neighbourhoods, funded by the regional health authorities. This mixed method research evaluates the CORHESAN program that lasted until June 2022.

Methods: We examined CORHESAN documents and reports, conducted interviews, and analysed activity data, comparing it to the COVID-19 hotspots identified on a weekly basis at the neighbourhood level, using generalised linear mixed models (GLMMs).

Motivational interview-based health mediator interventions increase intent to vaccinate among disadvantaged individuals.

Coverage for recommended COVID-19 and diphtheria-tetanus-poliomyelitis (DTP) booster shots is often inadequate, especially among disadvantaged populations. To help health mediators (HMs) involved in outreach programs deal with the problems of vaccine hesitancy (VH) in these groups, we trained them in motivational interviewing (MI). We evaluated the effectiveness of this training among HMs on their MI knowledge and skills (objective 1) and among the interviewees on their vaccination readiness (VR) and intention to get vaccinated or accept a booster against COVID-19 and/or DTP (objective 2).

A postpartum intervention for vaccination promotion by midwives using motivational interviews reduces mothers' vaccine hesitancy, south-eastern France, 2021 to 2022: a randomised controlled trial.

BackgroundDespite childhood vaccine mandates imposed in 2018 in France, parental vaccine hesitancy (VH) remains frequent. Interventions in Quebec, Canada, applying motivational interviewing (MI) techniques have successfully reduced parents' VH for childhood immunisations.AimTo determine whether MI intervention for mothers in maternity wards in the days after birth in France could significantly reduce VH, increase intentions to vaccinate (VI) their child at 2 months and reduce VH social inequalities.

Effectiveness of mRNA BNT162b2 COVID-19 vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant among elderly residents from a long-term care facility, South of France, May 2021.

Objective: Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Delta variant was classified as a variant of concern in May 2021 due to its increased transmissibility. It became dominant in Europe during the summer, raising concerns on the effectiveness of vaccines. We assessed the vaccine effectiveness (VE) of mRNA BNT162b2 (BioNTech-Pfizer) against SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant during an outbreak affecting long-term care facility (LTCF) residents in southern France, May 2021.

Outbreak of pneumococcal pneumonia among shipyard workers in Marseille, France, January to February 2020.

We report the third outbreak of pneumococcal pneumonia within one year among workers in European shipyards. During January and February 2020, 37 cases of pneumonia were identified in a shipyard in Marseille, south-eastern France. Outbreak control measures were implemented, including a mass vaccination campaign with 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine targeting all shipyard workers.

Persistence of schistosomal transmission linked to the Cavu river in southern Corsica since 2013.

Seven cases of urogenital schistosomiasis occurred in Corsica in 2015 and 2016. The episodes were related to exposure to the same river and involved the same parasite strain as an outbreak with 106 cases in summer 2013. The connection calls for further investigations on the presence of an animal reservoir and the survival of infested snails during winter.

Large outbreak of urogenital schistosomiasis acquired in Southern Corsica, France: monitoring early signs of endemicization?

Objectives: Clustered cases of urogenital schistosomiasis were reported in April 2014 among French and German tourists linked to exposure in the Cavu River, Southern Corsica, France, between 2011 and 2013. We set up national surveillance for autochthonous urogenital schistosomiasis to document the largest possible number of cases in order to identify potential sites of transmission and to determine the extent of the outbreak in France and Corsica.

Methods: The early response consisted mostly of prohibiting swimming in the river, performing a nationwide serologic screening of all persons exposed to the river between 2011 and 2013 and treating confirmed cases.

Outbreak of diarrhoeal illness in participants in an obstacle adventure race, Alpes-Maritimes, France, June 2015.

An acute gastroenteritis (AG) outbreak occurred among participants in an obstacle race in France in the summer of 2015. An investigation in two phases was conducted to identify the source of infection and document the extent of the outbreak. First, a message on a social media website asked racers to report any symptoms by email to the Regional Health Agency of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur.

Low measles vaccination coverage among medical residents in Marseille, France: reasons for non-vaccination, March 2013.

Background: During 2008-12, France and Europe experienced large measles outbreaks, involving also healthcare workers (HCW). We aimed to estimate the vaccination coverage (VC) of measles among medical residents of the University of Aix/Marseille, in South-Eastern France.

Methods: In March 2013, we conducted a cross-sectional study among all medical residents of the Medical Faculty of Aix/Marseille.

[Increase of mortality associated with emergency relocation of elderly nursing homes residents following flooding in the Var district, France, 2010].

On June 15th, 2010, the Var district was hit by heavy rain causing floods and mudslides. A nursing home for elderly people was subject to an emergency evacuation and had to relocate 140 residents in other hosting facilities in the region. A prospective cohort study was conducted through two evaluations of the residents' health conditions: before the flood and five months after they had returned in their homes.

Two outbreaks of botulism associated with consumption of green olive paste, France, September 2011.

Two family outbreaks of botulism (a total of nine cases) were identified in south-east and northern France in early September 2011. The source of infection was considered to be a ground green olive paste. Botulinum type A toxin was identified in seven cases and in the incriminated olive paste.

Health impact of unicellular algae of the Ostreopsis genus blooms in the Mediterranean Sea: experience of the French Mediterranean coast surveillance network from 2006 to 2009.

Objective: Ostreopsis ovata and Ostreopsis siamensis are tropical unicellular algae that have been found recently in the Mediterranean. Both of these dinoflagellates produce palytoxin (PTX)-like toxins that are powerful vasoconstrictors in mammals. Since 2003, Ostreopsis blooms in Italy and Spain have been accompanied by reports of respiratory problems and skin/mucosa irritation in persons in contact with toxic microalgal cells (epiphytes, plankton, or sea spray) or associated toxins.

Epidemiologic surveillance system implemented in the Hautes-Alpes District, France, during the Winter Olympic Games, Torino 2006.

Some of the competitions of the Olympic Winter Games in Torino, 10 to 26 February 2006, were organised in France near the city of Briancon, in the department of Hautes-Alpes. An epidemiologic surveillance system was set up by the local health authorities. The goals were to detect in a timely fashion any phenomenon which could justify prevention or sanitary control action, and to guide interventions in the case of outbreak or environmental pollution.

Epidemiologic surveillance system implemented in the Hautes-Alpes District, France, during the Winter Olympic Games, Torino 2006.

Some of the competitions of the Olympic Winter Games in Torino, 10 to 26 February 2006, were organised in France near the city of Briançon, in the department of Hautes-Alpes. An epidemiologic surveillance system was set up by the local health authorities. The goals were to detect in a timely fashion any phenomenon which could justify prevention or sanitary control action, and to guide interventions in the case of outbreak or environmental pollution.

Determinants of acquiring hepatitis A virus disease in a large Italian region in endemic and epidemic periods.

Viral hepatitis A is endemic in Puglia region (southeast Italy). Over the last 13 years, annual incidence rates have ranged from 4 to 138 per 100,000 inhabitants and periodical regional epidemics have been described. Between 1 January 1996 and 31 December 1997 over 11,000 cases of hepatitis A were reported accounting for an annual incidence rate over 130/100,000.

Measles outbreak in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, France, January-July 2003.

At the end of May 2003, the Marseilles Hospital Centre's virology laboratory informed the French public heath institute of 5 cases of confirmed measles among young adults living in Marseilles. An investigation was conducted, consulting different community and hospital health services, to determine the virus circulation in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur (PACA) region by the southern interregional epidemiological cell. The investigation identified 259 cases: 183 clinical, 74 serologically confirmed and 2 epidemiologically linked cases.

Measles outbreak in the Provence - Alpes - Côte d'Azur region, France, January - July 2003.

At the end of May 2003, the Marseilles Hospital Centre's virology laboratory informed the French public heath institute of 5 cases of confirmed measles among young adults living in Marseilles. An investigation was conducted, consulting different community and hospital health services, to determine the virus circulation in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur (PACA) region by the southern interregional epidemiological cell. The investigation identified 259 cases: 183 clinical, 74 serologically confirmed and 2 epidemiologically linked cases.

Seventeen years of intervention epidemiology training at Veyrier-du-Lac, 1984-2000.

Early in the 1980s, those involved in public health held symposiums to assess the training of epidemiologists in France showed inadequacies in the teaching of field epidemiology. Hitherto epidemiology in France had been largely confined to research. Evolution of public health practice, with an increasing demand to base decisions on epidemiological data, made it necessary to develop a network of intervention epidemiologists trained to work with standardised methods.

Outbreak of human monkeypox, Democratic Republic of Congo, 1996 to 1997.

Human monkeypox is a zoonotic smallpox-like disease caused by an orthopoxvirus of interhuman transmissibility too low to sustain spread in susceptible populations. In February 1997, 88 cases of febrile pustular rash were identified for the previous 12 months in 12 villages of the Katako-Kombe Health Zone, Democratic Republic of Congo (attack rate = 22 per 1,000; case-fatality rate = 3.7%).

[Total eclipse of the sun in August 11, 1999: a program of prevention and surveillance of ocular complications].

Watching directly at the sun without appropriate protection, particularly during a solar eclipse, can cause severe retinal injuries. On 11 August 1999, a total solar eclipse crossed France. The Direction Générale de la Santé implemented a prevention strategy.

[Tuberculosis in Italy: available data and open questions].

Objectives: To describe the epidemiological trend of tuberculosis (TB) in Italy.

Design: Descriptive study on the basis of routine information sources: TB deaths (1955-1993) and TB notifications (1955-1995). To identify persons with AIDS (PWAs) among notified TB cases, a record linkage with the National AIDS Registry was performed.

Measles vaccine effectiveness in standard and early immunization strategies, Niger, 1995.

Background: An Expanded Programme on Immunization was started in late 1987 in Niger, including vaccination against measles with one dose of standard titer Schwarz vaccine given to infants after 9 months of age. During epidemics an early two-dose strategy was implemented (one dose between 6 and 8 months and one dose after 9 months). From January 1, 1995, until May 7, 1995, 13 892 measles cases were reported in Niamey, Niger.