A5008121261- Mosquito-borne diseases and control
- SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research
- Viral Infections and Vectors
- COVID-19 epidemiological studies
- Peripheral Neuropathies and Disorders
- SARS-CoV-2 detection and testing
- Retinal and Optic Conditions
- Long-Term Effects of COVID-19
- Viral Infections and Outbreaks Research
- Vaccine Coverage and Hesitancy
- Biosensors and Analytical Detection
- COVID-19 and Mental Health
- COVID-19 Clinical Research Studies
- Malaria Research and Control
- Influenza Virus Research Studies
- Travel-related health issues
- Misinformation and Its Impacts
- Monoclonal and Polyclonal Antibodies Research
- Mining and Resource Management
- HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions
- Viral gastroenteritis research and epidemiology
- Respiratory viral infections research
- Insect symbiosis and bacterial influences
- Virology and Viral Diseases
- Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health
Puerto Rico Department of Health
2016-2024
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
2016-2024
London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
2024
Swedish Veterinary Agency
2023
University of Puerto Rico System
2023
Ponce Health Sciences University
2023
Government of the United States of America
2023
National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases
2017-2018
Office of Tribal Affairs and Strategic Alliances
2017-2018
Institute of Forensic Sciences
2017
Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is a postinfectious autoimmune disorder characterized by bilateral flaccid limb weakness attributable to peripheral nerve damage (1). Increased GBS incidence has been reported in countries with local transmission of Zika virus, flavivirus transmitted primarily certain Aedes species mosquitoes (2). In Puerto Rico, three arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses) are currently circulating: Zika, dengue, and chikungunya. The first locally acquired virus infection Rico...
<h3>Importance</h3> The pathophysiologic mechanisms of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) associated with Zika virus (ZIKV) infection may be indicated by differences in clinical features. <h3>Objective</h3> To identify specific features GBS ZIKV infection. <h3>Design, Setting, and Participants</h3> During the epidemic Puerto Rico, prospective retrospective strategies were used to patients who had neurologic illness onset 2016 hospitalized at all 57 nonspecialized hospitals 2 rehabilitation...
Zika virus is a flavivirus transmitted primarily by Aedes species mosquitoes, and symptoms of infection can include rash, fever, arthralgia, conjunctivitis (1).* during pregnancy cause microcephaly other severe brain defects (2). Infection has also been associated with Guillain-Barré syndrome (3). In December 2015, Puerto Rico became the first U.S. jurisdiction to report local transmission virus, index patient reporting symptom onset on November 23, 2015 (4). This provides an update...
Aedes species mosquitoes transmit chikungunya virus, as well dengue and Zika viruses, bite most often during the day.* Infectious mosquito bites frequently occur in around homes (1,2). Caribbean countries first reported local transmission of virus December 2013, soon after, spread throughout Americas (3). Puerto Rico its laboratory-positive case May 2014 (4), subsequently identified approximately 29,000 suspected cases island by end 2015.(†) Because conventional vector control approaches...
Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) caused a large outbreak in Puerto Rico 2014, followed by Zika (ZIKV) 2016. Communities Organized for the Prevention of Arboviruses (COPA) is cohort study southern Rico, initiated 2018 to measure arboviral disease risk and provide platform evaluate interventions. To identify factors infection, we assessed prevalence previous CHIKV infection recent ZIKV DENV cross-sectional among COPA participants. Participants aged 1–50 years (y) were recruited from randomly selected...
Postmortem examination results of a patient with Guillain-Barré syndrome and confirmed Zika virus infection revealed demyelination the sciatic cranial IV nerves, providing evidence acute demyelinating inflammatory polyneuropathy variant. Lack in nervous tissue suggests that pathophysiology was antibody mediated without neurotropism.
Abstract We reconstructed the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic caused by Omicron variant in Puerto Rico sampling genomes collected during October 2021–May 2022. Our study revealed that BA.1 emerged and replaced Delta as predominant December 2021. Increased transmission rates a dynamic landscape of sublineage infections followed.
Arboviral diseases transmitted by Aedes species mosquitoes pose an increasing public health challenge in tropical regions. Wolbachia-mediated population suppression (Wolbachia suppression) is a vector control method used to reduce mosquito populations introducing male infected with Wolbachia, naturally occurring endosymbiotic bacterium. When Wolbachia-infected mate female wild mosquitoes, the resulting eggs will not hatch. Public support vital successful implementation and sustainability of...
Background A better understanding of SARS-CoV-2 infection risk among Hispanic and Latino populations in low-resource settings the United States is needed to inform control efforts strategies improve health equity. Puerto Rico has a high poverty rate other population characteristics associated with increased vulnerability COVID-19, there are limited data date determine community incidence. Objective This study describes protocol baseline seroprevalence prospective community-based cohort (COPA...
ABSTRACT Background The COVID‐19 pandemic underscored the need for rapid and accurate diagnostic tools. In August 2020, Abbott BinaxNOW Antigen Card test became available as a timely affordable alternative SARS‐CoV‐2 molecular testing, but its performance may vary due to factors including timing symptomatology. This study evaluates in diverse epidemiological contexts. Methods Using RT‐PCR reference, we assessed of detection anterior nasal swabs from participants two studies Puerto Rico...
Acute Zika Virus Infection as a Risk Factor for Guillain-Barré Syndrome in Puerto RicoGuillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is an uncommon autoimmune disorder characterized by progressive weakness and diminished deep tendon reflexes following infection or, rarely, vaccination. 1 Increased GBS incidence has been reported countries affected virus, 2 flavivirus transmitted primarily Aedes species mosquitoes. 3 During the virus epidemic Rico, we conducted casecontrol study to identify risk factors...
To assist with public health preparedness activities, we estimated the number of expected cases Zika virus in Puerto Rico and associated healthcare needs. Estimated annual incidence is 3.2-5.1 times baseline, long-term care needs are predicted to be 3-5 greater than years no virus.
The reliability of sequence-based inference severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) transmission is not clear. Sequence data from infections among household members can define the expected genomic diversity a virus along defined chain. SARS-CoV-2 cases were identified prospectively 2,369 participants in 706 households. Specimens with reverse transcription-PCR cycle threshold ≤30 underwent whole-genome sequencing. Intrahost single-nucleotide variants (iSNV) at ≥5%...
Dengue is a growing public health threat, causing approximately 400 million infections annually. In June 2021, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommended first dengue vaccine (CYD-TDV) for children aged 9-16 years with previous infection, living in endemic areas, such as Puerto Rico (PR). As COVID-19 pandemic affected intention worldwide, we assessed before (pre-COVID) and after (post-COVID) availability among participants enrolled Communities Organized to Prevent...
Zika virus (ZIKV) can be transmitted sexually but the risk of sexual transmission remains unknown. Most evidence is from partners infected travelers returning areas with ZIKV circulation.We used data US national arboviral disease surveillance system on travel- and acquired cases during 2016-2017 to develop individual-level simulations for estimating male-to-female, male-to-male, female-to-male via vaginal and/or anal intercourse. We specified parametric distributions characterize variability...
In West Africa, identification of nonmalarial acute febrile illness (AFI) etiologic pathogens is challenging, given limited epidemiologic surveillance and laboratory testing, including for AFI caused by arboviruses. Consequently, public health action to prevent, detect, respond outbreaks constrained, as experienced during dengue in several African countries. We describe the successful implementation laboratory-based arbovirus sentinel a outbreak Burkina Faso fall 2017. implementation,...
As of January 20, 2022, > 247,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 3,600 deaths were reported in Puerto Rico (PR). We interviewed participants aged ≥ 14 years the Communities Organized to Prevent Arboviruses (COPA) study, a community-based cohort PR, about vaccine intention from November 12, 2020, June 25, 2021. used univariate adjusted analyses identify participant characteristics associated with intention. Among 1,542 respondents, median age was 37 (interquartile range 23-45) 914 (59%) female....
ABSTRACT Background The reliability of sequence-based inference SARS-CoV-2 transmission is not clear. Sequence data from infections among household members can define the expected genomic diversity a virus along defined chain. Methods cases were identified prospectively 2,369 participants in 706 households. Specimens with an RT-PCR cycle threshold ≤30 underwent whole genome sequencing. Intrahost single nucleotide variants (iSNV) at ≥5% frequency. Phylogenetic trees used to evaluate...
Mosquito-borne arboviruses are an important cause of morbidity and mortality in the Caribbean. In Puerto Rico, chikungunya, dengue, Zika viruses have each caused large outbreaks during 2010–2022. To date, majority control measures to prevent these diseases focus on mosquito many require community participation. 2018, U.S. Centers for Disease Control Prevention launched COPA project, a community-based cohort study Ponce, measure impact novel vector interventions reducing arboviral infections....
Abstract Understanding the dynamics of antibody responses following vaccination and SARS-CoV-2 infection is important for informing effective strategies other public health interventions. This study investigates in a Puerto Rican cohort, analyzing how IgG levels vary by status previous infection. We assess waning immunity distribution hybrid with aim to inform programs Rico similar settings. conducted prospective, longitudinal cohort identify infections related outcomes Ponce, Rico, from...
Abstract Understanding the dynamics of antibody responses following vaccination and SARS-CoV-2 infection is important for informing effective strategies other public health interventions. This study investigates in a Puerto Rican cohort, analyzing how IgG levels vary by status previous infection. We assess waning immunity distribution hybrid with aim to inform programs Rico similar settings. conducted prospective, longitudinal cohort identify infections related outcomes Ponce, Rico, from...
Dengue is an ongoing health risk for Peace Corps Volunteers (PCVs) working in the tropics. On May 2019, Office of Health Services notified Centers Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) a dengue outbreak among PCVs Timor-Leste. The purpose this investigation was to identify clinical, demographic, epidemiological characteristics with recommend preventive measures. To describe disease severity, medical records reporting fever during September 2018-June 2019 were reviewed. factors associated...
Dengue is a growing public health threat, causing approximately 400 million infections annually. In June 2021, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommended first dengue vaccine (CYD-TDV) for children aged 9–16 years with previous infection, living in endemic areas, such as Puerto Rico (PR). As COVID-19 pandemic affected intention worldwide, we assessed before (pre-COVID) and after (post-COVID) availability among participants enrolled Communities Organized to Prevent...