Journal of travel medicine
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Surgical masks and filtering facepiece class 2 respirators (FFP2) have no major physiological effects at rest and during moderate exercise at 3000 m altitude. A randomised controlled trial.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the use of face masks has been recommended or enforced in several situations; however, their effects on physiological parameters and cognitive performance at high altitude are unknown. ⋯ Although mask use was associated with higher rates of dyspnoea, it had no clinically relevant impact on gas exchange at 3000 m at rest and during moderate exercise, and no detectable effect on resting cognitive performance. Wearing a surgical mask or an FFP2 can be considered safe for healthy people living, working or spending their leisure time in mountains, high-altitude cities or other hypobaric environments (e.g. aircrafts) up to an altitude of 3000 m.
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Highlights: Here we present the first human case of Influenza A H5N1 infection in Chile, and the fifth worldwide in 2023. The patient is a 53-year-old man who lives in the north region of Chile, near the seashore. The Chilean sample was subtyped in the clade 2.3.4.4b.
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The Phuket Sandbox project was initiated by collaboration between the central government and support from locals to allow travellers entering Phuket while the country remained in lockdown stage. This initiative has been successful and several lessons could be learned from this once in the history of mankind event.
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Evidence on long-term associations between coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and risks of multi-organ complications and mortality in older population is limited. This study evaluates these associations. ⋯ COVID-19 is associated with long-term risks of multi-organ complications in older adults (aged ≥ 60). Infected patients in this age-group may benefit from appropriate monitoring of signs/symptoms for developing these complications.