The Experts below are selected from a list of 174 Experts worldwide ranked by ideXlab platform
Toby L. Litovitz - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Public health investigation after the discovery of ricin in a South Carolina postal facility.
American journal of public health, 2007Co-Authors: Joshua G. Schier, Manish M. Patel, Martin G. Belson, Amee Patel, Nicole Fitzpatrick, Dan Drociuk, Scott Deitchman, Michael Schwartz, Richard Meyer, Toby L. LitovitzAbstract:In October 2003, a package containing ricin and a note threatening to poison water supplies was discovered in a South Carolina postal facility, becoming the first potential chemical terrorism event involving ricin in the United States. We examined the comprehensive public health investigation that followed and discuss the lessons learned from it. An investigation consisting primarily of environmental sampling for ricin contamination, performance of health assessments on Affected Personnel, and local, regional, and national surveillance for ricin-associated illness. Laboratory analysis of 75 environmental sampling specimens revealed no ricin contamination. Health assessments of 36 Affected employees were completed. Local surveillance initially identified 3 suspected cases, and national surveillance identified 399 outliers during the 2-week period after the incident. No confirmed cases of ricin-associated illness were identified. A multifaceted and multidisciplinary approach is required for an effective public health response to a chemical threat such as ricin. The results of all of the described activities were used to determine that the facility was safe to reopen and that no public health threat existed.
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Public Health Investigation After the Discovery of Ricin in a South Carolina Postal Facility
American Journal of Public Health, 2007Co-Authors: Joshua G. Schier, Manish M. Patel, Martin G. Belson, Amee Patel, Michael D. Schwartz, Nicole Fitzpatrick, Dan Drociuk, Scott Deitchman, Richard F. Meyer, Toby L. LitovitzAbstract:Objectives. In October 2003, a package containing ricin and a note threatening to poison water supplies was discovered in a South Carolina postal facility, becoming the first potential chemical terrorism event involving ricin in the United States. We examined the comprehensive public health investigation that followed and discuss the lessons learned from it.Methods. An investigation consisting primarily of environmental sampling for ricin contamination, performance of health assessments on Affected Personnel, and local, regional, and national surveillance for ricin-associated illness.Results. Laboratory analysis of 75 environmental sampling specimens revealed no ricin contamination. Health assessments of 36 Affected employees were completed. Local surveillance initially identified 3 suspected cases, and national surveillance identified 399 outliers during the 2-week period after the incident. No confirmed cases of ricin-associated illness were identified.Conclusions. A multifaceted and multidisciplinary a...
Joshua G. Schier - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Public health investigation after the discovery of ricin in a South Carolina postal facility.
American journal of public health, 2007Co-Authors: Joshua G. Schier, Manish M. Patel, Martin G. Belson, Amee Patel, Nicole Fitzpatrick, Dan Drociuk, Scott Deitchman, Michael Schwartz, Richard Meyer, Toby L. LitovitzAbstract:In October 2003, a package containing ricin and a note threatening to poison water supplies was discovered in a South Carolina postal facility, becoming the first potential chemical terrorism event involving ricin in the United States. We examined the comprehensive public health investigation that followed and discuss the lessons learned from it. An investigation consisting primarily of environmental sampling for ricin contamination, performance of health assessments on Affected Personnel, and local, regional, and national surveillance for ricin-associated illness. Laboratory analysis of 75 environmental sampling specimens revealed no ricin contamination. Health assessments of 36 Affected employees were completed. Local surveillance initially identified 3 suspected cases, and national surveillance identified 399 outliers during the 2-week period after the incident. No confirmed cases of ricin-associated illness were identified. A multifaceted and multidisciplinary approach is required for an effective public health response to a chemical threat such as ricin. The results of all of the described activities were used to determine that the facility was safe to reopen and that no public health threat existed.
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Public Health Investigation After the Discovery of Ricin in a South Carolina Postal Facility
American Journal of Public Health, 2007Co-Authors: Joshua G. Schier, Manish M. Patel, Martin G. Belson, Amee Patel, Michael D. Schwartz, Nicole Fitzpatrick, Dan Drociuk, Scott Deitchman, Richard F. Meyer, Toby L. LitovitzAbstract:Objectives. In October 2003, a package containing ricin and a note threatening to poison water supplies was discovered in a South Carolina postal facility, becoming the first potential chemical terrorism event involving ricin in the United States. We examined the comprehensive public health investigation that followed and discuss the lessons learned from it.Methods. An investigation consisting primarily of environmental sampling for ricin contamination, performance of health assessments on Affected Personnel, and local, regional, and national surveillance for ricin-associated illness.Results. Laboratory analysis of 75 environmental sampling specimens revealed no ricin contamination. Health assessments of 36 Affected employees were completed. Local surveillance initially identified 3 suspected cases, and national surveillance identified 399 outliers during the 2-week period after the incident. No confirmed cases of ricin-associated illness were identified.Conclusions. A multifaceted and multidisciplinary a...
Taulant Muka - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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COVID-19 in Health-Care Workers: A Living Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Prevalence, Risk Factors, Clinical Characteristics, and Outcomes
American journal of epidemiology, 2020Co-Authors: Sergio Alejandro Gómez-ochoa, Oscar H. Franco, Lyda Z. Rojas, Peter Francis Raguindin, Zayne Milena Roa-díaz, Beatrice Minder Wyssmann, Sandra Lucrecia Romero Guevara, Luis E. Echeverría, Marija Glisic, Taulant MukaAbstract:Health care workers (HCW) are at the frontline response to the new coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), being at a higher risk of acquiring the disease, and subsequently, exposing patients and colleagues. Searches in eight bibliographic databases were performed to systematically review the evidence on the prevalence, risk factors, clinical characteristics, and prognosis of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection among HCW. Ninety-seven studies (All published in 2020), including 230,398 HCW, met the inclusion criteria. From the screened HCW using RT-PCR and the presence of antibodies, the estimated prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection was 11% (95%CI; 7%-15%) and 7% (95% CI; 4%-11%), respectively. The most frequently Affected Personnel were the nurses (48%. 95%CI; 41%-56%), while most of the COVID-19 positive medical Personnel were working in hospitalization/non-emergency wards during the screening (43%, 95%CI;28%-59%). Anosmia, fever and myalgia were identified as the only symptoms associated with HCW SARS-CoV-2 positivity. Among RT-PCR positive HCW, 40% (95%CI;17%-65%) did not show symptoms at the time of diagnosis. Finally, 5% (95%CI;3%-8%) of the COVID-19 positive HCW developed severe clinical complications, and 0.5% (95% CI; 0.02%-1.3%) died. HCW suffer a significant burden from COVID-19, with HCW working in hospitalization/non-emergency wards and nurses being the most infected Personnel.
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COVID-19 in Healthcare Workers: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Prevalence, Risk Factors, Clinical Characteristics, and Outcomes
SSRN Electronic Journal, 2020Co-Authors: Sergio Alejandro Gómez-ochoa, Oscar H. Franco, Lyda Z. Rojas, Sandra Lucrecia Romero Guevara, Luis E. Echeverría, Marija Glisic, Taulant MukaAbstract:Background: Health care workers (HCW) are at the frontline response to the new coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), exposing themselves to a higher risk of acquiring the disease, and subsequently, exposing patients and colleagues. We aimed to systematically review the evidence on the prevalence, risk factors, clinical characteristics, and prognosis of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection among HCW. Methods: Searches in Embase, Pubmed, LILACS, MedxRiv and Google Scholar databases (inception to May 24th, 2020) were performed. Preprint and peer-reviewed published articles of any language reporting the prevalence of COVID-19 in HCW and evaluating the risk factors, clinical characteristics, and clinical outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 infection among HCW were included. Two reviewers independently selected the studies, extracted the data, and assessed the quality of evidence. Estimates were pooled using random-effects meta-analysis. Findings: Forty-five studies, including 44,879 HCW, met the inclusion criteria. From the screened HCW using RT-PCR and the presence of antibodies, the estimated prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection was 11% (95%CI; 7%-16%) and 5% (95% CI; 2%-9%), respectively. The most frequently Affected Personnel were the nurses (54%. 95%CI; 48%-60%), while most of the COVID-19 positive medical Personnel were working in hospitalization/non-emergency wards during the screening (50%, 95%CI; 37%-64%). Anosmia (OR 43.69; 95%CI 12.42-153.67) and fever (OR 5.45; 95%CI 1.33-22.34) were identified as the only symptoms significantly associated with SARS-CoV-2 positivity among HCW. Data from 8 studies revealed a pooled prevalence of asymptomatic carriers among RT-PCR positive HCW of 46% (95%CI 21%-72%). Finally, 7% (95% CI; 2-15) of the COVID-19 positive HCW developed severe clinical complications, and 0.3% (95% CI; 0.29-0.35) died. Interpretation: HCW suffer a significant burden from COVID-19. A significant proportion of HCW are positive for COVID-19 while asymptomatic, which leads to the silent transmission of the disease. The presence of anosmia and fever could be used as an indicator for screening, especially in settings with limited testing capacities. While more research is needed to understand more specific symptoms and other factors related to SARS-CoV-2 infection to improve the screening performance and early detection, it is clear that providing HCW with adequate Personal Protective Equipment is essential. Funding Statement: None. Declaration of Interests: None to declare.
Nicole Fitzpatrick - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Public health investigation after the discovery of ricin in a South Carolina postal facility.
American journal of public health, 2007Co-Authors: Joshua G. Schier, Manish M. Patel, Martin G. Belson, Amee Patel, Nicole Fitzpatrick, Dan Drociuk, Scott Deitchman, Michael Schwartz, Richard Meyer, Toby L. LitovitzAbstract:In October 2003, a package containing ricin and a note threatening to poison water supplies was discovered in a South Carolina postal facility, becoming the first potential chemical terrorism event involving ricin in the United States. We examined the comprehensive public health investigation that followed and discuss the lessons learned from it. An investigation consisting primarily of environmental sampling for ricin contamination, performance of health assessments on Affected Personnel, and local, regional, and national surveillance for ricin-associated illness. Laboratory analysis of 75 environmental sampling specimens revealed no ricin contamination. Health assessments of 36 Affected employees were completed. Local surveillance initially identified 3 suspected cases, and national surveillance identified 399 outliers during the 2-week period after the incident. No confirmed cases of ricin-associated illness were identified. A multifaceted and multidisciplinary approach is required for an effective public health response to a chemical threat such as ricin. The results of all of the described activities were used to determine that the facility was safe to reopen and that no public health threat existed.
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Public Health Investigation After the Discovery of Ricin in a South Carolina Postal Facility
American Journal of Public Health, 2007Co-Authors: Joshua G. Schier, Manish M. Patel, Martin G. Belson, Amee Patel, Michael D. Schwartz, Nicole Fitzpatrick, Dan Drociuk, Scott Deitchman, Richard F. Meyer, Toby L. LitovitzAbstract:Objectives. In October 2003, a package containing ricin and a note threatening to poison water supplies was discovered in a South Carolina postal facility, becoming the first potential chemical terrorism event involving ricin in the United States. We examined the comprehensive public health investigation that followed and discuss the lessons learned from it.Methods. An investigation consisting primarily of environmental sampling for ricin contamination, performance of health assessments on Affected Personnel, and local, regional, and national surveillance for ricin-associated illness.Results. Laboratory analysis of 75 environmental sampling specimens revealed no ricin contamination. Health assessments of 36 Affected employees were completed. Local surveillance initially identified 3 suspected cases, and national surveillance identified 399 outliers during the 2-week period after the incident. No confirmed cases of ricin-associated illness were identified.Conclusions. A multifaceted and multidisciplinary a...
Scott Deitchman - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Public health investigation after the discovery of ricin in a South Carolina postal facility.
American journal of public health, 2007Co-Authors: Joshua G. Schier, Manish M. Patel, Martin G. Belson, Amee Patel, Nicole Fitzpatrick, Dan Drociuk, Scott Deitchman, Michael Schwartz, Richard Meyer, Toby L. LitovitzAbstract:In October 2003, a package containing ricin and a note threatening to poison water supplies was discovered in a South Carolina postal facility, becoming the first potential chemical terrorism event involving ricin in the United States. We examined the comprehensive public health investigation that followed and discuss the lessons learned from it. An investigation consisting primarily of environmental sampling for ricin contamination, performance of health assessments on Affected Personnel, and local, regional, and national surveillance for ricin-associated illness. Laboratory analysis of 75 environmental sampling specimens revealed no ricin contamination. Health assessments of 36 Affected employees were completed. Local surveillance initially identified 3 suspected cases, and national surveillance identified 399 outliers during the 2-week period after the incident. No confirmed cases of ricin-associated illness were identified. A multifaceted and multidisciplinary approach is required for an effective public health response to a chemical threat such as ricin. The results of all of the described activities were used to determine that the facility was safe to reopen and that no public health threat existed.
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Public Health Investigation After the Discovery of Ricin in a South Carolina Postal Facility
American Journal of Public Health, 2007Co-Authors: Joshua G. Schier, Manish M. Patel, Martin G. Belson, Amee Patel, Michael D. Schwartz, Nicole Fitzpatrick, Dan Drociuk, Scott Deitchman, Richard F. Meyer, Toby L. LitovitzAbstract:Objectives. In October 2003, a package containing ricin and a note threatening to poison water supplies was discovered in a South Carolina postal facility, becoming the first potential chemical terrorism event involving ricin in the United States. We examined the comprehensive public health investigation that followed and discuss the lessons learned from it.Methods. An investigation consisting primarily of environmental sampling for ricin contamination, performance of health assessments on Affected Personnel, and local, regional, and national surveillance for ricin-associated illness.Results. Laboratory analysis of 75 environmental sampling specimens revealed no ricin contamination. Health assessments of 36 Affected employees were completed. Local surveillance initially identified 3 suspected cases, and national surveillance identified 399 outliers during the 2-week period after the incident. No confirmed cases of ricin-associated illness were identified.Conclusions. A multifaceted and multidisciplinary a...
