A5042663607- COVID-19 epidemiological studies
- Influenza Virus Research Studies
- Vaccine Coverage and Hesitancy
- SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research
- Pneumonia and Respiratory Infections
- Statistical Methods and Bayesian Inference
- Virology and Viral Diseases
- COVID-19 and Mental Health
- Antibiotic Use and Resistance
- Data-Driven Disease Surveillance
- Herpesvirus Infections and Treatments
- Respiratory viral infections research
- Mathematical and Theoretical Epidemiology and Ecology Models
- Viral Infections and Outbreaks Research
- COVID-19 Pandemic Impacts
- Statistical Methods and Inference
- Hepatitis B Virus Studies
- Animal Disease Management and Epidemiology
- Hepatitis C virus research
- HIV, Drug Use, Sexual Risk
- Hepatitis Viruses Studies and Epidemiology
- HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions
- demographic modeling and climate adaptation
- Complex Network Analysis Techniques
- COVID-19 Clinical Research Studies
University of Antwerp
2016-2025
Hasselt University
2016-2025
Infectious Diseases Institute
2015-2024
KU Leuven
2009-2022
Statistics Belgium
2022
ISI Foundation
2022
London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
2020-2022
Sciensano (Belgium)
2022
National Centre for Infectious Diseases
2021
National University of Singapore
2021
Mathematical modelling of infectious diseases transmitted by the respiratory or close-contact route (e.g., pandemic influenza) is increasingly being used to determine impact possible interventions. Although mixing patterns are known be crucial determinants for model outcome, researchers often rely on a priori contact assumptions with little no empirical basis. We conducted population-based prospective survey in eight European countries using common paper-diary methodology.7,290 participants...
BackgroundEstimating key infectious disease parameters from the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak is essential for modelling studies and guiding intervention strategies.AimWe estimate generation interval, serial proportion of pre-symptomatic transmission effective reproduction number COVID-19. We illustrate that numbers calculated based on interval estimates can be biased.MethodsWe used data clusters in Singapore Tianjin, China to symptom onset while acknowledging uncertainty about incubation...
An altered gut microbiota composition has recently been linked to obesity. The principal aim of this study is investigate and compare the in obese lean children. Secondly, associations between analysed bacterial species, dietary compounds, energy intake biochemical blood parameters are evaluated.In prospective cross-sectional study, 26 overweight/obese (mean BMI: 28.7 ± 6.5) 27 16.5 2.1) children aged 6 16 were included. Faecal samples collected subjected selective plating quantitative...
To investigate the duration of presence maternal antibodies to measles in infants.Prospective study (May 2006 November 2008).Five hospitals Province Antwerp, Belgium.Of 221 pregnant women recruited, 207 healthy woman-infant pairs were included-divided into a vaccinated group (n=87) and naturally immune (n=120), according vaccination documents history.Measles IgG measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) at seven time points (week 36 pregnancy, birth (cord), 1, 6, 9, 12 months);...
To describe total outpatient systemic antibiotic use in Europe from 1997 to 2009 and analyse statistically trends of composition over time.For the period 1997-2009, data on antibiotics aggregated at level active substance were collected expressed defined daily doses (WHO, version 2011) packages per 1000 inhabitants day (DID PID, respectively). Outpatient (ATC J01) DID 33 European countries able deliver valid was analysed using longitudinal compositional analyses.Total varied by a factor 3.8...
There are different patterns in the COVID-19 outbreak general population and amongst nursing home patients. We investigate time from symptom onset to diagnosis hospitalization or length of stay (LoS) hospital, whether there differences population. Sciensano collected information on 14,618 hospitalized patients with admissions 114 Belgian hospitals between 14 March 12 June 2020. The distributions event times for patient groups estimated accounting interval censoring right truncation...
Background Empirical social contact patterns are essential to understand the spread of infectious diseases. To date, no such data existed for France. Although diseases frequently seasonal, temporal variation has not been documented hitherto. Methods COMES-F is first French large-scale population survey, carried out over 3 different periods (February-March, April, April-May) with some participants common and last period. Participants described their contacts 2 consecutive days, reported...
Mathematical modelling of infectious disease is increasingly used to help guide public health policy. As directly transmitted infections, such as influenza and tuberculosis, require contact between individuals, knowledge about patterns a necessary pre-requisite accurate model predictions. Of particular interest the potential impact school closure means controlling pandemic (and potentially other pathogens). This paper uses population-based prospective survey mixing in eight European...
Background: Cardiac telerehabilitation has been introduced as an adjunct or alternative to conventional center-based cardiac rehabilitation increase its long-term effectiveness. However, before large-scale implementation and reimbursement in current health care systems is possible, well-designed studies on the effectiveness of this new additional treatment strategy are needed. Objective: The aim trial was assess medium-term Internet-based, comprehensive, patient-tailored program with short...
Background The spread of infectious diseases from person to is determined by the frequency and nature contacts between infected susceptible members population. Although there a long history using mathematical models understand these transmission dynamics, are still remarkably little empirical data on contact behaviors with which parameterize models. Even starker almost complete absence developing countries. We sought address this knowledge gap conducting household based social diary in rural...
BackgroundData on 13 years (1997–2009) of outpatient penicillin use were collected from 33 European countries within the Surveillance Antimicrobial Consumption (ESAC) project and analysed in detail.
School closure is often considered as an option to mitigate influenza epidemics because of its potential reduce transmission in children and then the community. The policy still however highly debated controversial evidence. Moreover, specific mechanisms leading mitigation are not clearly identified.We introduced a stochastic spatial age-specific metapopulation model assess role holiday-associated behavioral changes how they affect seasonal dynamics. applied Belgium, parameterized with...
BackgroundNotwithstanding the cardiovascular disease epidemic, current budgetary constraints do not allow for budget expansion of conventional cardiac rehabilitation programmes. Consequently, there is an increasing need cost-effectiveness studies alternative strategies such as telerehabilitation. The present study evaluated a comprehensive telerehabilitation programme.
Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic has shown how a newly emergent communicable disease can lay considerable burden on public health. To avoid system collapse, governments have resorted to several social distancing measures. In Belgium, this included lockdown and following period of phased re-opening. A representative sample Belgian adults was asked about their contact behaviour from mid-April the beginning August, during different stages intervention measures in Belgium. Use personal protection...
We expect social networks to change as a result of illness, but contact data are generally collected from healthy persons. Here we quantified the impact influenza-like illness on mixing patterns. analyzed patterns persons England measured when they were symptomatic with during 2009 A/H1N1pdm influenza epidemic (2009–2010) and again 2 weeks later had recovered. Illness was associated reduction in number contacts, particularly settings outside home, reducing reproduction about one-quarter...
Few studies have quantified social mixing in remote rural areas of developing countries, where the burden infectious diseases is usually highest. Understanding patterns those settings crucial to inform implementation strategies for disease prevention and control. We characterized contact communities Peruvian highlands.This cross-sectional study was nested a large prospective household-based respiratory infections conducted province San Marcos, Cajamarca-Peru. Members households were...
Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic caused many governments to impose policies restricting social interactions. A controlled and persistent release of lockdown measures covers potential strategies is subject extensive scenario analyses. Here, we use an individual-based model (STRIDE) simulate interactions between 11 million inhabitants Belgium at different levels including extended household settings, i.e., “household bubbles”. burden impacted by both the intensity frequency physical contacts,...