Happy Wednesday! Today we are covering these news stories:

Monday morning episode to cover breaking global and public health news for the week of December 11, 2023. Stories:

Citations:

https://www.cdc.gov/outbreaks/index.html

https://www.who.int/emergencies/disease-outbreak-news/item/2023-DON497

https://www.who.int/news/item/04-12-2023-global-partners-pledge-usd777-million-to-combat-neglected-tropical-diseases

 https://www.webmd.com/covid/news/20231204/covid-flu-rates-rising-rsv-may-have-peaked https://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/news/20231128/cdc-says-flu-cases-rising-12000-hospitalized

⁠https://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/food-poisoning/news/20231127/cantaloupes-recalled-salmonella-linked-3-deaths⁠

Mini episode about the medical buzzword phrase circulating the internet: whit lung syndrome. Let's dig into the facts! Clickbait or threat? I say clickbait.

Citation:

Tom Frieden interview: https://youtu.be/mqHdozyqpY0?si=N_LNepgJbLPluMJ_

CBS article: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ohio-white-lung-pneumonia-not-linked-to-china-outbreak-novel-pathogen-experts/

In this 'Breaking News' episode of Transmissible: A Public Health Podcast, Jessica covers WHO's official statement on the reported clusters of respiratory illness in children in northern China.

Statement from WHO:

WHO has made an official request to China for detailed information on an increase in respiratory illnesses and reported clusters of pneumonia in children.  

At a press conference on 13 November 2023, Chinese authorities from the National Health Commission reported an increase in incidence of respiratory diseases in China. Chinese authorities attributed this increase to the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions and the circulation of known pathogens such as influenza, Mycoplasma pneumoniae (a common bacterial infection which typically affects younger children), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19). Authorities stressed the need for enhanced disease surveillance in healthcare facilities and community settings, as well as strengthening the capacity of the health system to manage patients.   

On 21 November, media and ProMED reported clusters of undiagnosed pneumonia in children in northern China. It is unclear if these are associated with the overall increase in respiratory infections previously reported by Chinese authorities, or separate events. 

On 22 November, WHO requested additional epidemiologic and clinical information, as well as laboratory results from these reported clusters among children, through the International Health Regulations mechanism. We have also requested further information about recent trends in the circulation of known pathogens including influenza, SARS-CoV-2, RSV and Mycoplasma pneumoniae, and the current burden on health care systems. WHO is also in contact with clinicians and scientists through our existing technical partnerships and networks in China.  

Since mid-October, northern China has reported an increase in influenza-like illness compared to the same period in the previous three years. China has systems in place to capture information on trends in influenza, influenza-like illnesses, RSV and SARS-CoV-2, and reports to platforms such as the Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System.   

While WHO seeks this additional information, we recommend that people in China follow measures to reduce the risk of respiratory illness, which include recommended vaccination; keeping distance from people who are ill; staying home when ill; getting tested and medical care as needed; wearing masks as appropriate; ensuring good ventilation; and regular hand-washing.   

WHO will continue to provide updates.

https://www.who.int/news/item/22-11-2023-who-statement-on-reported-clusters-of-respiratory-illness-in-children-in-northern-china

https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-03732-w

In this episode, we delve into nine challenges that emerge during wartime and their profound impact on the health of innocent civilians. These challenges range from issues like the scarcity of clean water and food to the spread of diseases and the breakdown of healthcare infrastructure. Additionally, Jessica provides a quick update on her graduate school capstone project, focusing on the health of survivors from the 9/11 World Trade Centers terrorist attack.

Podcast does not reflect the views of employers or universities.

Citations:

https://mch.umn.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/hg_april07.pdf (highly recommend reading)

https://www.history.com/news/the-siege-of-leningrad

https://www.army.mil/article/185864/fog_friction_and_logistics

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(22)00479-2/fulltext

https://www.nejm.org/doi/pdf/10.1056/NEJM194301072280101 (throwback paper)

9/11 illness reading: https://www.nyc.gov/site/911health/about/wtc-health-registry.page

What is one of the oldest diseases known to man, is thought to be where the folklore of vampires, werewolves, and zombies comes from, has a mortality rate of 99.9% (highest out of any other infectious disease), and can only be cured before you know you have it? Rabies. In this episode we will be diving head first into the fascinating, scary and unusual world of Rabies. We will talk about WHY you should get the rabies prophylaxis treatment (PEP) if you find a bat inside your house, how rabies is transmitted, what happens to the human body when it is infected, and finally the ancient history that has made this disease a household name for thousands of years. 

Join Jessica Stahl, an epidemiology graduate student and former CDC contractor, as she deep dives into the fascinating world of Typhus.

Sources:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK448173/

https://www.montana.edu/historybug/napoleon/typhus-russia.html#:~:text=Just%20one%20month%20into%20the,followed%2C%20claiming%206%2C000%20French%20casualties. 

https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/29/4/ac-2904_article#:~:text=Major%20typhus%20epidemics%20took%20place,%2C%20including%20typhus%2C%20was%20challenging. 

https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/0AF993E555D30A9F8DCD864F4DDD4344/S0025727300058725a.pdf/div-class-title-typhus-and-its-control-in-russia-1870-1940-div.pdf 

https://www.cdc.gov/typhus/index.html

Article about the Typhus vaccine in WWII:

https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2014/07/lice-doctor-lviv-nazi-germany-109255/

Join Jessica Stahl, an epidemiology graduate student and former CDC contractor, in the debut episode of "Transmissible: A Public Health Podcast." In this introductory episode, Jessica provides a glimpse into her passion for infectious disease public health and sets the stage for fun future episodes.