Articles: health.
-
Norovirus (NoV) has been an emerging pathogen of enteric infections in the post-rotavirus vaccine era. GII.4 have played a major role in NoV infections while other genotypes were reported in sporadic outbreaks. In this study, we reported novel variant NoV GII.12 outbreaks in 2010, Taiwan with their genomic analysis and clinical manifestations compared to GII.4 infections. ⋯ Phylogenetic analysis showed that our GII.12 sequences were closely aligned with reference genomes identified in the United Kingdom and the United States of America. When compared to patients infected by GII.4 NoV, those with GII.12 infection experienced a lower frequency and shorter duration of diarrhea. Continued research is essential to unravel the intricate relationship between NoV genotypes and clinical outcomes, guiding public health interventions and therapeutic strategies.
-
Congenital syphilis (CS) case rates have increased significantly in the United States over the past 20 years, accelerating during the COVID-19 pandemic. Increasing rates may relate to access to care but have not been evaluated in a fully-insured population, such as the Military Health System. ⋯ Congenital syphilis care rates were substantially lower in this insured group than national rates but increased significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Higher care rates were seen in children of military members of lower rank. Regional trends differed from national data. These findings suggest that, even in a fully-insured population, income and regional differences impact CS, and the COVID-19 pandemic may have exacerbated differences in care delivery.