Cost-effectiveness of anti-viral treatment for infants with RSV disease in the United Kingdom.

Background: Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is a common cause of hospitalisation in infants worldwide, causing significant morbidity and mortality. Recently, the antiviral treatment, Ziresovir, has shown promising results in a Phase III trial conducted on infants hospitalised with RSV. Based on these topline results, this study aims to investigate the cost-effectiveness of Ziresovir in the United Kingdom (UK).

Indirect effects of the COVID-19 pandemic: A cause-of-death analysis of life expectancy changes in 24 countries, 2015 to 2022.

Worldwide, mortality was strongly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, both directly through COVID-19 deaths and indirectly through changes in other causes of death. Here, we examine the impact of the pandemic on COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 mortality in 24 countries: Australia, Austria, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, England and Wales, Hungary, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, The Netherlands, Northern Ireland, Poland, Russia, Scotland, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United States. Using demographic decomposition methods, we compare age- and cause-specific contributions to changes in female and male life expectancy at birth in 2019-2020, 2020-2021, and 2021-2022 with those before the COVID-19 pandemic (2015-2019).

Cluster randomised controlled trial of double-dose azithromycin mass drug administration, facial cleanliness and fly control measures for trachoma control in Oromia, Ethiopia: the stronger SAFE trial protocol.

Introduction: Trachoma is caused by the bacterium (). The WHO recommends the SAFE strategy for trachoma elimination: Surgery for trichiasis, Antibiotics, Facial cleanliness and Environmental improvement. Multiple rounds of SAFE implementation have proven insufficient to eliminate trachoma in Ethiopia, where over 50% of the global trachoma burden remains.

Decision-making for childhood vaccination in crisis settings: a survey of practice & barriers.

Background: Children, particularly those who have received no routine vaccinations (zero-dose children), are at high risk of vaccine-preventable diseases in humanitarian crisis settings. However, the decision-making processes underlying vaccine intervention design and delivery in such settings are poorly understood. The present study investigated the decision-making practices of organisations involved in childhood vaccination in humanitarian crisis settings globally via an online survey.

'I am a father but not pregnant': a qualitative analysis of the perspectives of pregnant couples on male partner role during pregnancy care in Bamenda, Cameroon.

Background: The reduction of maternal mortality has stagnated globally. Estimates project a rise to 140.9 deaths per 100,000 live births by 2030, which is double the Sustainable Development Goal target.

Vaccination strategies to identify and reach zero-dose and under-immunized children in crisis-affected states in Sudan: a qualitative study.

Background: Globally, 21 million children were un- or under-vaccinated with Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis (DTP)-containing vaccines in 2023. Around 20% of zero-dose children, those who had not received any DTP doses, live in conflict-affected settings in low and middle-income countries. There is insufficient evidence on vaccination interventions to identify and reach zero-dose children in these settings.

From the 100 Day Mission to 100 lines of software development: how to improve early outbreak analytics.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, considerable advances have been made to improve epidemic preparedness by accelerating diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccine development. However, we argue that it is crucial to make equivalent efforts in the field of outbreak analytics to help ensure reliable, evidence-based decision making. To explore the challenges and key priorities in the field of outbreak analytics, the Epiverse-TRACE initiative brought together a multidisciplinary group of experts, including field epidemiologists, data scientists, academics, and software engineers from public health institutions across multiple countries.

Whole-genome sequencing surveillance of Siberian tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) identifies an additional lineage in Kyrgyzstan.

Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) is the most prevalent tick-borne viral disease in Europe and Asia. There are three main subtypes of the virus: European, Siberian, and Far Eastern, each of which having distinctive ecology, clinical presentation, and geographic distribution. In recent years, other TBEV subtypes have been described, namely the Himalayan and Baikalian subtypes.

The Systematic Development of a Mobile Phone Delivered Text-messaging Tobacco Cessation Intervention in India.

Introduction: Tobacco consumption is a leading cause of mortality globally. Eighty percent of these deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Despite this, there is a large treatment gap due to both demand and supply-side barriers.

Pregnancy and neonatal outcomes in Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo: a systematic review.

Background: Conflict is known to impact maternal and neonatal health in Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), an area of longstanding insecurity. We conducted a systematic review on pregnancy and neonatal outcomes in this region to provide a comprehensive overview of maternal and neonatal outcomes over a 20-year period.

Methods: We systematically searched databases, such as Medline, EMBASE, Global Health, ClinicalTrials.

Multimorbidity patterns, sociodemographic characteristics, and mortality: Data science insights from low-resource settings.

Multimorbidity data is typically analysed by tallying disease counts, which overlooks nuanced relationships among conditions. We identified clusters of multimorbidity and subpopulations with varying risks and examined their association with all-cause mortality using a data-driven approach. We analysed 8-year follow-up data of people ≥35 years who were part of the CRONICAS Cohort Study, a multisite cohort from Peru.

Prevalence, clinical characteristics, and treatment outcomes of childhood tuberculosis in Nigeria: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Tuberculosis (TB), caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, is a leading cause of infection-related deaths worldwide. Children with underdeveloped immune systems are particularly vulnerable, experiencing symptoms akin to common childhood illnesses. Early diagnosis and treatment typically yield positive outcomes.

A cross-sectional study on socio-demographic correlates of self-reported self-care practices for hypertension and type 2 diabetes among adults living in rural Kenya.

Background: Hypertension and type 2 diabetes are among the most common non-communicable diseases that contribute to a large number of adult morbidity and mortality in Kenya. The impact of these conditions may pose great challenges in rural areas with limited access to healthcare services. The objective of the study was to assess socio-demographic factors associated with self-reported self-care practices for hypertension and type 2 diabetes among adults living in rural Kenya.

The role of Intravitreal chemotherapy as an adjunctive treatment for retinoblastoma: a systematic review and single-arm meta-analysis.

Topic: evaluation of clinical outcomes of patients with retinoblastoma treated with intravitreal chemotherapy (IvitC).

Design: Systematic review and single-arm meta-analysis CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Clinical outcomes with IVitC vary across reports according to patient characteristics and concomitant treatment modalities, mainly intravenous chemotherapy (IVC) and intra-arterial chemotherapy (IAC). There are currently no large clinical trials or meta-analyses focusing on the topic.

Expediting pathogen genomics adoption for enhanced foodborne disease surveillance in Africa.

The role of genomics in public health surveillance has been accentuated by its crucial contributions during the COVID-19 pandemic, demonstrating its potential in addressing global disease outbreaks. While Africa has made strides in expanding multi-pathogen genomic surveillance, the integration into foodborne disease (FBD) surveillance remains nascent. Here we highlight the critical components to strengthen and scale-up the integration of whole genome sequencing (WGS) in foodborne disease surveillance across the continent.

Climate change policies reduce air pollution and increase physical activity: Benefits, costs, inequalities, and indoor exposures.

The burden of diseases attributable to air pollution is comparable to those of global health risks such as unhealthy diets and tobacco smoking, with many air pollution sources also emitting climate heating gases. In this UK study we estimated the co-benefits of Net Zero (NZ) climate policy on the health benefits of air pollution reduction, increased active travel, outdoor exposure inequalities and indoor air pollution changes. The study focused on two of the largest UK sources, road transport and building heating, with comparisons made between NZ and UK existing policy, referred to as Business as Usual (BAU).

'Some patients demand for a prescription of an antibiotic': an assessment of barriers and facilitators to rational antimicrobial use in a private health facility in Uganda.

Background: Antimicrobial misuse and overuse propagate antimicrobial resistance, yet data on factors influencing antibiotic prescription decisions in low-resource settings are limited. We describe factors influencing antimicrobial prescription at a large tertiary care private not-for-profit hospital in Uganda.

Methods: We conducted a descriptive phenomenology qualitative study involving face-to-face in-depth interviews of 12 purposively selected prescribers (four intern doctors, six medical officers and two Internal Medicine physicians) in a private not-for-profit hospital in Kampala, Uganda.

The determinants of handwashing in humanitarian crisis setting during the COVID-19 pandemic: a multi-country analysis.

The Wash'Em process was developed to improve the design of handwashing behaviour change programmes during outbreaks and humanitarian crises. It aims to rapidly create evidence-based, contextualized handwashing programmes. Wash'Em was widely used during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Population genetics and molecular xenomonitoring of Biomphalaria freshwater snails along the southern shoreline of Lake Malawi, Malawi.

Background: Intestinal schistosomiasis was confirmed endemic in Mangochi District, Malawi, in May of 2018 following an unexpected encounter with discreet populations of Biomphalaria spp. freshwater snails during routine malacological surveillance activities. Since then, only limited malacological surveillance of Biomphalaria has been carried out, and so the distribution of Biomphalaria populations in this area is currently unclear.

Incidence, risk factors, and epidemiological trends of tracheal cancer: a global analysis.

Background: Tracheal cancer is a rare malignancy with limited research but high mortality rates. This study aims to analyse recent data to understand the global burden, trends, and risk factors for tracheal cancer, facilitating improved prevention and treatment strategies.

Methods: We conducted a study on tracheal cancer using data from the Global Cancer Observatory and the Cancer Incidence in Five Continents databases.

Access to health insurance amongst people with disabilities and its association with healthcare use, health status and financial protection in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review.

Background: People with disabilities often incur higher costs for healthcare, due to higher needs, greater indirect costs, and the need for services not offered by the public system. Yet, people with disabilities are more likely to experience poverty and so have reduced capacity to pay. Health insurance is an important social protection strategy to meet healthcare needs and avoid catastrophic expenditures for this group.