Journal of travel medicine
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Insecticide treatments in aircraft (termed 'aircraft disinsection') aim to support the containment of potentially disease-carrying vector insects. The introduction of non-endemic mosquito species is of concern as some mosquitoes can act as vectors of many serious human diseases. Expansion of vectors to previously non-endemic regions, extended flight networks and mosquito resistance to insecticides pose challenges to contemporary vector-control approaches. Despite established efficacy of aircraft disinsection in trials, there is increasing concern over its effectiveness and feasibility in flight operations, and its usefulness as a public health measure. ⋯ Concerns about the introduction of non-endemic mosquito vectors reinforce the need for effective preventive measures. Import of disease vectors is likely to occur in the future under changing environmental and operational conditions. Optimal impact from disinsection requires appropriate deployment, commitment and use. The current system of evaluation is inadequate for producing the evidence needed for informed policy decisions. While utilizing the results of research into environmentally sustainable vector-control methods for use in aircraft, future approaches to aircraft disinsection require improved evidence of anticipated benefits and harms, reliable monitoring data on insecticide resistance, and must be supported by strong vector control at airports.
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Letter Case Reports
Pitfalls of exceptions for COVID-19 travel quarantine: lessons from a dignitary visit to Thailand.
A dignitary from a European country made an official visit to Thailand in November 2020. Due to the nature of this visit, a standard 14-day quarantine was not implemented. After a series of meetings with diplomats and hotel staffers, the dignitary was diagnosed with COVID-19. Here, we detailed the transmission and the genomic investigation from the visit, presenting the factors that need to be considered when a standard quarantine was waivered.
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The emerging N501Y mutation in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, which becomes prevalent in the UK rapidly, is one of the major challenges of COVID-19 control. To explore the transmission advantage, we estimate that the N501Y substitution increases the infectivity by 52% (95% confidence interval: 46, 58) in terms of the reproduction number.
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Low-wage dormitory-dwelling migrant workers in Singapore were disproportionately affected by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection. This was attributed to communal living in high-density and unhygienic dormitory settings and a lack of inclusive protection systems. However, little is known about the roles of social and geospatial networks in COVID-19 transmission. The study examined the networks of non-work-related activities among migrant workers to inform the development of lockdown exit strategies and future pandemic preparedness. ⋯ Social and geospatial networks of migrant workers should be considered in the implementation of lockdown exit strategies while addressing the improvement of living conditions and monitoring systems. Essential services, like remittance and grocery shopping at affordable prices, need to be provided near to dormitories to minimize excess gatherings.