Public health reports
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Public health reports · May 2016
Utility of Keywords from Chest Radiograph Reports for Pneumonia Surveillance Among Hospitalized Patients with Influenza: The CDC Influenza Hospitalization Surveillance Network, 2008-2009.
Transcripts from admission chest radiographs could aid in identification of pneumonia cases for public health surveillance. We assessed the reliability of radiographic data abstraction and performance of radiographic key terms to identify pneumonia in patients hospitalized with laboratory-confirmed influenza virus infection. ⋯ Radiographic key terms abstracted by surveillance staff members from final impressions of chest radiograph reports had moderate to almost perfect reliability and could be used to identify pneumonia among patients hospitalized with laboratory-confirmed influenza virus infection. This method can inform pneumonia surveillance and aid in public health response.
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Public health reports · May 2016
Impact of the Hepatitis Testing and Linkage to Care (HepTLC) Initiative on Linkage to Care for Minnesota Refugees with Hepatitis B, 2012-2014.
The Hepatitis Testing and Linkage to Care (HepTLC) initiative promoted viral hepatitis B and hepatitis C screening, posttest counseling, and linkage to care at 34 U.S. sites from 2012 to 2014. Through the HepTLC initiative, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) and clinic partners began conducting linkage-to-care activities with hepatitis B-positive refugees in October 2012. This intervention provided culturally appropriate support to link refugees to follow-up care for hepatitis B. ⋯ In the context of a strong screening and surveillance infrastructure, a simple intervention improved the linkage-to-care rate for HBsAg-positive refugees.
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Public health reports · May 2016
Social Media's Initial Reaction to Information and Misinformation on Ebola, August 2014: Facts and Rumors.
We analyzed misinformation about Ebola circulating on Twitter and Sina Weibo, the leading Chinese microblog platform, at the outset of the global response to the 2014-2015 Ebola epidemic to help public health agencies develop their social media communication strategies. ⋯ Misinformation about Ebola was circulated at a very low level globally in social media in either batch. Qualitative and quantitative analyses of social media posts can provide relevant information to public health agencies during emergency responses.