Spatial analysis for risk assessment of dengue in Spain.

Introduction: The establishment of Aedes albopictus in new areas in Europe has changed the risk of local dengue transmission represented by imported human cases. The risk of transmission is determined by the distribution of travelers arriving from dengue-endemic areas and the distribution of Ae. albopictus as potential vectors of dengue in Spain.

Estimates of mpox effective reproduction number in Spain, April-August 2022.

We analysed the transmission of the human mpox virus in Spain by estimating the effective reproduction number of the disease from official surveillance data. Our computations show that this decreased steadily after an initial burst phase, dropping below 1 on July 12, and thus the outbreak was expected to reduce in the following weeks. Differences in trends were found across geographical regions of the country and across MSM and heterosexual populations.

Effectiveness of non-pharmaceutical interventions in nine fields of activity to decrease SARS-CoV-2 transmission (Spain, September 2020-May 2021).

Background: We estimated the association between the level of restriction in nine different fields of activity and SARS-CoV-2 transmissibility in Spain, from 15 September 2020 to 9 May 2021.

Methods: A stringency index (0-1) was created for each Spanish province ( = 50) daily. A hierarchical multiplicative model was fitted.

[Effectiveness of vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 used in Spain: infection, hospitalization and mortality in people aged fifty/fifty-nine.].

In this paper we compared brand-specific COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness (VE) during August 2021 in persons born 1962-1971 and vaccinated during June. For SARS-CoV-2 symptomatic infection, protection was lower for Janssen (56%; CI95%: 53-59) or AstraZeneca [Vaxzevria] (68%; CI95%: 65-70), compared to Pfizer-BioNTech [Comirnaty] (78%; CI95%: 77-78), AstraZeneca/Pfizer (86%; CI95%: 80-90) or Moderna [Spikevax] (89%; CI95%: 88-90). VE against hospitalization was ranged 86% for Janssen to 97%-98% for other vaccines.

Widespread Detection of Multiple Strains of Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus in Ticks, Spain.

Human cases of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) were first detected in Spain in 2016. National human and animal health authorities organized a large, multidisciplinary study focusing on ticks as sentinels to determine the nationwide distribution of ticks with CCHF virus. Ticks were collected from animals and vegetation, samples pooled (12,584 ticks; 4,556 pools), and molecular methods used to look for the virus.

Direct and Indirect Effectiveness of mRNA Vaccination against Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 in Long-Term Care Facilities, Spain.

We conducted a registries-based cohort study of long-term care facility residents >65 years of age offered vaccination against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 before March 10, 2021, in Spain. Risk for infection in vaccinated and nonvaccinated persons was compared with risk in the same persons in a period before the vaccination campaign, adjusted by daily-varying incidence and reproduction number. We selected 299,209 persons; 99.

Effectiveness of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines in preventing SARS-CoV-2 infections and COVID-19 hospitalisations and deaths in elderly long-term care facility residents, Spain, weeks 53 2020 to 13 2021.

Residents in long-term care facilities (LTCF) experienced a large morbidity and mortality during the COVID-19 pandemic in Spain and were prioritised for early COVID-19 vaccination. We used the screening method and population-based data sources to obtain estimates of mRNA COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness for elderly LTCF residents. The estimates were 71% (95% CI: 56-82%), 88% (95% CI: 75-95%), and 97% (95% CI: 92-99%), against SARS-CoV-2 infections (symptomatic and asymptomatic), and COVID-19 hospitalisations and deaths, respectively.

Effects of mercury on the germination and growth of Quercus ilex L. seedlings.

While it is well-known that the toxicity of mercury for plants is related to its bioavailability in the environment in which the plant lives, few studies have addressed Hg effects under controlled conditions of life-limiting available Hg concentrations. This study examines the effects of Hg on the holm oak (Quercus ilex L.) exposed to medium-high available Hg concentrations.

Mercury species accumulation and distribution in Typha domingensis under real field conditions (Almadén, Spain).

Monomethylmercury (MeHg) is one of the most toxic and the most commonly occurring organomercury compound and the wetlands are one of the main areas of generation of this Hg form. Concretely, it is in the macrophyte root system where better conditions are given for its generation. However, the knowledge of absorption and subsequent distribution of mercury (Hg) and monomethylmercury in aquatic plants is still limited.

Fast method for the simultaneous determination of monomethylmercury and inorganic mercury in rice and aquatic plants.

Recent investigations revealed that monomethylmercury (MMHg) can be absorbed and accumulated by plants, i.e. rice crops, thus becoming an important route of human exposure to MMHg through diet.

Cultivation of Solanum tuberosum in a former mining district for a safe human consumption integrating simulated digestion.

Background: Potato (Solanum tuberosum) is a global crop and by far the most important non-cereal crop in the world. Therefore, it is necessary to assure its safe consumption. This is especially relevant in the case of its cultivation in abandoned mining areas, where the population tends to return to agriculture.

[Surveillance in Spain 3 years since the enactment of the Public Health Law].

In 2014, the Epidemiological Surveillance Working Group of the Sociedad Española de Epidemiología (Spanish Society of Epidemiology), carried out a descriptive study in order to evaluate the level of development of the Spanish Public Health Law since its enactment in 2011. A survey collecting data on the existence of information systems and other aspects pertaining to each surveillance section included in the law was sent to all 19 autonomous communities and cities. All regional authorities reported the presence of an information system for communicable diseases, and six also reported an information system for social factors.

Properties of Non-Structural Concrete Made with Mixed Recycled Aggregates and Low Cement Content.

In spite of not being legally accepted in most countries, mixed recycled aggregates (MRA) could be a suitable raw material for concrete manufacturing. The aims of this research were as follows: (i) to analyze the effect of the replacement ratio of natural coarse aggregates with MRA, the amount of ceramic particles in MRA, and the amount of cement, on the mechanical and physical properties of a non-structural concrete made with a low cement content; and (ii) to verify if it is possible to achieve a low-strength concrete that replaces a greater amount of natural aggregate with MRA and that has a low cement content. Two series of concrete mixes were manufactured using 180 and 200 kg/m³ of CEM II/A-V 42.

Mercury leaching from hazardous industrial wastes stabilized by sulfur polymer encapsulation.

European Directive 2013/39/EU records mercury as a priority hazardous substance. Regulation n° 2008/1102/EC banned the exportation of mercury and required the safe storage of any remaining mercury compounds. The present work describes the encapsulation of three wastes containing combinations of HgS, HgSe, HgCl2, HgO2, Hg3Se2Cl2, HgO and Hg(0), according to patent of Spanish National Research Council WO2011/029970A2.

Could an abandoned mercury mine area be cropped?

The Almadén area (Spain) is known for its high natural mercury background as well as for the anthropogenic impact due to mining activities. After the end of these activities, appropriate alternative use of the soil has to be found, and agricultural activities stand out as an environmentally-friendly and potentially profitable alternative, giving to the soil a sustainable use without risks for human or animal health according to current legislation. Experiments performed at different scales (involving hydroponics, growth in pots and lysimeters) allow recommendations to be made regarding the adequacy of cultivation of different crops for animal or human consumption before they are sown in the field.

Genetic diversity of respiratory syncytial virus isolated during an epidemic period from children of northeastern Brazil.

Outbreaks of human respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV) are the leading cause of serious acute lower respiratory viral disease in many countries in different continents. Data on clinical and epidemiological aspects of HRSV infections in this country have been reported, but there is lack of data regarding the molecular epidemiology of this virus in Salvador. The genetic variability of HRSV isolated during an outbreak in Salvador, Brazil (1999) has been analysed.

Antigenic and genetic variability of human respiratory syncytial viruses (group A) isolated in Uruguay and Argentina: 1993-2001.

The antigenic and genetic diversity of G glycoprotein from 25 human respiratory viruses (group A) isolated during nine consecutive epidemics (1993-2001) in Montevideo, Uruguay, and 7 strains isolated in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in the same period were analyzed. Genetic variability was evaluated by partial sequence of the G protein gene. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that most Uruguayan and Argentinean group A isolates clustered into three genotypes: GA5, GA2, and GA1.