We investigated two poultry mortality events in northwest Bangladesh, one in backyard poultry in Pabna in March 2017 and another in a commercial layer farm in Mymensingh in January 2018, to determine ...and molecularly characterize the etiological agent and to assess putative risk factors of disease outbreaks in both areas.
We collected pooled swab samples from affected birds and environmental pooled swabs from affected and neighboring commercial poultry farms, backyard poultry, and live bird markets (LBM). We tested samples using specific real-time RT-PCR for influenza virus A (M gene), followed by HA and NA subtypes and sequenced and performed mutation analysis.
We detected the H5N1 virus in the affected birds and all production and trading systems at both outbreak sites. Phylogenetic analysis of H5N1sequences revealed that the outbreaks were caused by reassortant of clade 2.3.2.1a H5N1 virus, which had also been detected in poultry at LBMs in Dhaka during an overlapping period. We identified several mutations likely to affect possible phenotypic changes, such as increased mammalian adaptation, reduced susceptibility to antiviral agents, and reduced host antiviral response. Investigation into poultry-keeping practices showed that most of the households, farms, and LBMs did not employ adequate biosecurity and hygiene, where (i) backyard poultry were typically reared in farmers’ dwellings, (ii) slaughter remnants were being discarded in the open where wild birds were scavenging waste, and (iii) farmers and vendors were generally not employing hand sanitizing after handling poultry.
The investigation revealed that the relatedness of H5N1 strains across large spatial scales is high, suggesting a readily spreading and continuing evolution of the virus. Thus, the results contribute to sketching a bleak picture of the current AIV situation, the necessity for ongoing surveillance to track the evolution of H5N1 viruses in Bangladesh, and that adequate mitigation measures are urgently required.
In this combined study, the efficacy of different educational methods in enhancing students' agricultural biosecurity knowledge, which is vital for public health, food security, and agricultural ...safety, was assessed.
In-person and virtual learning methods, utilizing educational content developed for the Gearing Up for Safety program, were investigated with 692 total participants. In the in-person learning method, 459 students aged 12-20 received a 50-minute in-person training session using the Gearing Up for Safety lesson on agricultural biosecurity. A 20 question pre- and post-test gauged knowledge gain. In the virtual learning method, 223 students, aged 12-20 received two, 40-minute virtual training sessions using the same content.
Results of knowledge gain from the in-person method improved significantly from 55% to 77% (t(458) = -22.37, P < .001). Chi-squared analysis showed 19 out of the 20 questions significantly contributed to learning. Results of knowledge gain from the virtual method also showed a notable knowledge gain increase from 53% to 66% (t(222) = -11.86, P< .001). However, a chi-squared analysis revealed that only 10 of the 20 questions significantly contributed to learning. In-person learning effectively supported better understanding of general biosecurity.
Virtual education improved general understanding but required enhanced focus on topics like vaccination, pest management, and community biosecurity preparation for comprehensive knowledge. Both in-person and virtual learning resulted in an increase in agricultural biosecurity knowledge, with in-person learning exhibiting a higher proportion of significant knowledge gains. These findings emphasize the importance of diverse educational methods in preparing future agricultural workers to ensure safety and health in agricultural settings. Results were used to enhance the curricula content being made available as part of the Gearing Up for Safety program for young and beginning workers.
The paper discusses the complexity of disasters, enhancing risk situations and the importance of support from Biosecurity, as in episodes with fatalities, procedures formulated by this field should ...be adopted in the handling of corpses, particularly when occurring with search of buried bodies. It contextualizes the magnitude of the disaster characterized by rain and its aftermath (landslides, burying), emphasizing the phenomenon of global warming and climate change and its impacts on communities, especially the poorest, valuing the concept analysis of vulnerability caused by urbanization, environmental degradation by improper management of natural resources, environmental pollution, inefficient public policies, emphasizing low investment in infrastructure. It emphasizes the concept of disaster as unpredictable, sudden and violent, phenomenon causing numerous deaths and destruction; and social, health, legal and operational problems when there is high number deaths at the same time or within a short time. And it analyzes the contribution of Biosafety as guiding emergency plans facing disasters, enhancing the biological risk and the measures required for handling corpses.
Teaching clients, employees, and visitors biosecurity expectations on a horse farm is a critical component of implementing a biosecurity plan. Researchers hypothesized that education delivery method ...would impact the number of errors performed when entering and exiting a biosecure farm with different standard operating procedures (SOP). Volunteers were recruited to participate in simulations of biosecure entry and exits of mock farm premises. The 60 participants were students, staff, and faculty from mostly agricultural-focused departments at the University of Minnesota with a range of biosecurity knowledge and skill from naïve to very experienced. Three rooms were constructed indoors as mock biosecure farm entryways. The rooms were designated as 1, 2, and 3, and each had unique protocols. The protocols used reflected common practices in the industry with room 1 establishing 3 core procedures to sign a logbook, remove outerwear and personal items, and manage a phone by placing it in a disposable plastic bag or leaving it in the biosecure entry. Procedures in rooms 2 and 3 were built from the core procedures with additional steps. Participants received and performed SOPs room-by-room until they completed all 3 rooms. Delivery of the SOP was in one of 3 educational modalities: listen, read, or watch. Each participant had the sameeducation modality for all 3 rooms which was randomly assigned and facilitated by a researcher. For all modalities, if the participant asked questions, the instructional step was repeated, without additional elaboration. A video recorder allowed the research team to track the number of errors that occurred while completing the entry and exit protocols. Errors were tallied by a single researcher and defined as a step performed incorrectly, out of sequence, or not completed. Statistical analyses of education method, room, and their interaction effects on entry and exit errors were completed using R with a significant difference established at P ≤ 0.05. A generalized linear mixed-effect model showed there was no relationship between education modality and the number of entry (P ≤ 0.5) and exit (P ≤ 0.8) errors. The room did influence the number of exit errors (P ≤ 0.001), but not entry (P ≤ 0.09) errors. Therefore, we concluded that biosecurity errors that occurred when entering and exiting a mock farm premises were not dependent on education modality but were dependent on the number of steps required upon exit. Our results highlighted that listen, read, and watch modalities of teaching biosecurity were equally effective.
La pandemia de Covid-19 ha tenido un profundo impacto en la atención dental presencial e impulsando la adopción de la teleodontología como una modalidad virtual de atención. Esto ha llevado a una ...transformación significativa en la interacción entre el odontológico y los pacientes, adaptándose a nuevas formas de satisfacer sus necesidades de atención. Objetivo: Explorar los beneficios y las barreras de la atención dental presencial y la teleodontología de pacientes durante la pandemia de Covid-19. Metodología: Estudio cualitativo exploratorio y descriptivo. Se realizaron 20 entrevistas a individuos que habían utilizado servicios odontológicos presenciales y otros en línea durante la pandemia de Covid-19. Se realizó análisis temático cualitativo de la información recolectada. Resultados: En la atención presencial, los pacientes otorgaron importancia a las medidas de bioseguridad, y el miedo al contagio fue uno de los principales motivos para evitar esta modalidad. No obstante, los pacientes valoraron positivamente la capacidad de resolver sus problemas dentales inmediatamente. Por otro lado, en la teleodontología mencionaron que desconocían este servicio y se sintieron motivados por el deseo de evitar el riesgo de contagio. Sin embargo, fue desafiante el tener que demostrar autonomía para llevar a cabo, por sí solos, ciertos exámenes. Conclusión: La atención dental presencial es esencial para muchos pacientes, y la implementación de normas de bioseguridad no debería representar un riesgo de contagio. Por otro lado, la teleodontología se presenta como una valiosa alternativa para aquellos pacientes que no requieren una intervención clínica inmediata, y es bien evaluada por quienes la han experimentado.
Abstract
Managing marine nonindigenous species (mNIS) is challenging, because marine environments are highly connected, allowing the dispersal of species across large spatial scales, including ...geopolitical borders. Cross-border inconsistencies in biosecurity management can promote the spread of mNIS across geopolitical borders, and incursions often go unnoticed or unreported. Collaborative surveillance programs can enhance the early detection of mNIS, when response may still be possible, and can foster capacity building around a common threat. Regional or international databases curated for mNIS can inform local monitoring programs and can foster real-time information exchange on mNIS of concern. When combined, local species reference libraries, publicly available mNIS databases, and predictive modeling can facilitate the development of biosecurity programs in regions lacking baseline data. Biosecurity programs should be practical, feasible, cost-effective, mainly focused on prevention and early detection, and be built on the collaboration and coordination of government, nongovernment organizations, stakeholders, and local citizens for a rapid response.
Purpose: This study evaluates the accessibility and availability of publicly accessible biosecurity resources in the Fall of 2021, as part of the IN-PREPared and Gearing Up for Safety program. The ...research into the quantity of material underscores the importance of these resources for disease threat awareness and highlights the need for improved biosecurity resource development for small-scale farming communities and overall biosecurity resources which impact global agricultural operations and food security. Design/methodology/approach: This review consisted of resources on agricultural biosecurity literature, websites, and training materials, involving over 125 agencies and organizations. This analysis provides insights into the distribution of resources across different regions and their availability based on farm scale and production type. Findings: Our research reveals both a geographic distribution trend of material that favors Midwestern states and significant disparities in available materials. Additionally, there are more resources that have content that focus on “general biosecurity’ and are focused on larger operations than that of small-farm biosecurity operations. International resources generally focus on overall importance of biosecurity and aspects of One Health. Practical Implications: This review underscores the crucial role of biosecurity resources in enhancing disease threat awareness and safeguarding the food supply and global impact of international trade within agriculture. This emphasizes the need to address resource deficiencies for small-scale farms, particularly regarding specific livestock concentrations. Theoretical Implications: The study confirms with previous research on limited resources, emphasizing the need for a more equitable approach to disseminating biosecurity information, especially for small-scale farming. Implications highlight the importance of resources, training, and informed decision-making for all farming communities, highlighting the significance of risk-based agricultural materials. Originality/Value: The research adds value by shedding light on the unequal distribution of biosecurity resources, especially concerning small-scale farming operations. While the study primarily focuses on livestock and animal health, it acknowledges the importance of crop biosecurity, thus contributing to a broader understanding of agricultural protection. The significance of collaboration and information sharing in the global context of biosecurity extends beyond national borders and requires a coordinated effort.
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