Percorrer por data de Publicação, começado por "2025-07-21"
A mostrar 1 - 2 de 2
Resultados por página
Opções de ordenação
- Mpox Surveillance and Laboratory Response in Portugal: Lessons Learned from Three Outbreak Waves (2022-2025)Publication . Cordeiro, Rita; Francisco, Rafaela; Pelerito, Ana; Lopes de Carvalho, Isabel; Nuncio, MSBackground/Objectives: Mpox re-emerged in 2022 as a global health concern. Between 2022 and 2025, Portugal experienced three distinct outbreak waves, highlighting the critical role of laboratory surveillance and public health interventions. This study describes the epidemiological trends, diagnostic performance, and key lessons learned to improve outbreak preparedness. Methods: A total of 5610 clinical samples from 2802 suspected cases were analyzed at the National Institute of Health Doutor Ricardo Jorge using real-time PCR methods. Positivity rates and viral loads (Ct values) were assessed across different clinical specimen types, including lesion, anal, oropharyngeal swabs, and urine samples. Results: Mpox was confirmed in 1202 patients. The first outbreak accounted for 79.3% of cases (n = 953), followed by a significant reduction in transmission during subsequent waves. Lesion and rectal swabs provided the highest diagnostic sensitivity (95.1% and 87.9%, respectively). Oropharyngeal swabs contributed to diagnosis in cases without visible lesions, while urine samples showed limited utility. Conclusions: This study underscores the importance of sustained laboratory surveillance and adaptive public health strategies in controlling mpox outbreaks. Optimizing specimen collection enhances diagnostic accuracy, supporting early detection. Continuous monitoring, combined with targeted vaccination and effective risk communication, is essential to prevent resurgence and ensure rapid response in non-endemic regions.
- Umrah- and travel-associated meningococcal disease due to multiple serogroup W ST-11 sub-strains pre-Hajj 2024Publication . Lucidarme, Jay; Deghmane, Ala-Eddine; Sharma, Shalabh; Meilleur, Courtney; Eriksson, Lorraine; Mölling, Paula; Claus, Heike; van Sorge, Nina; Bettencourt, Célia; Bajanca-Lavado, Paula; Tsang, Raymond S.W.; Caugant, Dominique A.; Stefanelli, Paola; Neri, Arianna; Tzanakaki, Georgina; Lekshmi, Aiswarya; Campbell, Helen; Clark, Stephen A.; Heymer, Emma J.; Ribeiro, Sonia; Willerton, Laura; Walsh, Lloyd; Bai, Xilian; Lâm, Thiên-Trí; Wagle, Basanta R.; Walia, Vishakh; Howie, Rebecca L.; Neatherlin, John; Rubis, Amy; Vachon, Madhura; McNamara, Lucy A.; Ladhani, Shamez N.; Taha, Muhamed-Kheir; Borrow, RayObjectives: Collectively, the Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages draw > 30 million pilgrims to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) each year. Before Hajj 2024 (14 to 19 June), the meningococcal serogroup W ST-11 complex (W:cc11) Hajj-strain sublineage caused multiple international cases of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) associated with travel to the Middle East and Asia. Here we identify and characterise the strains responsible. Methods: All Hajj strain sublineage genomes on PubMLST.org underwent core genome MLST comparisons (PubMLST.org). Results: Isolates from 30 cases, across seven countries, formed five phylogenetic clusters within two distinct strains. Travel histories included KSA, other Middle Eastern countries, India, Mauritius, Kenya via Turkey, and no known associated travel. The prevalent strain, representing four clusters, had no African, and limited Middle Eastern, representation. The geo-temporal distribution of available genomes indicated Eastern Europe as a possible source. Conclusions: The rapid expansion of Umrah/travel-related W:cc11 IMD cases in early 2024 was due to multiple strains/sublineages. Despite the involvement of non-KSA travel-destinations, the coincidence of cases with the busy month of Ramadan, and the abrupt cessation during Hajj (when vaccine compliance is maximal), suggest that Umrah was a key driver and highlight the need to reinforce mandatory vaccination whilst maintaining global vigilance.