Background: Timeliness metrics offer countries a framework by which to assess and optimize speed in outbreak detection and response times. This study analyses the One Health timeliness metrics for multisectoral public health emergencies in Uganda to identify and explore factors influencing outbreak performance. Methods: We compiled a database of outbreak events in Uganda occurring between 2018-2022 and involving the human, animal, plant, and environmental sectors. Outbreak milestone dates were extracted from reports to calculate timeliness metrics, which were analyzed using proportional hazards regression models. Concurrently, we conducted Key Informant Interviews to explore factors affecting detection and response timeliness. Results: Integrated analyses of timeliness metrics from 81 outbreaks and expert interviews reveal that the greatest predictors of improved timeliness are frequent past experience with similar disease outbreaks and whether an outbreak is a viral hemorrhagic fever due to heightened perceived threat and pre-existing preparedness measures. Other factors, including diagnostic and laboratory considerations and contextual influences, such as One Health collaborations, are also described as relevant to timeliness. Conclusions: To complement positive timeliness trends in Uganda, disease-agnostic investments in outbreak preparedness and response efforts will facilitate the ability of health systems to rapidly detect and respond to all outbreaks, irrespective of the pathogen.

Senegal has made significant progress in reducing the malaria burden over the last decade. However, malaria remains a major cause of morbidity in some regions and key challenges exist among high-risk populations who have high exposure to mosquitos, but low coverage and use of vector control measures and limited access to healthcare. Two identified high-risk populations are goldminers and talibés (Koranic school students). We conducted a controlled pre/post survey to measure the impact of targeted malaria interventions, including expansion of active community case management and distribution of LLINs, on reported LLIN usage and Plasmodium falciparum infection prevalence at mining sites and Koranic schools (daaras) during the high transmission season in Senegal. We randomly assigned four health facility catchment areas in Kaolack (a city with many daaras) and four in Saraya (a district with gold mining sites) to intervention or control groups. Surveys were conducted pre (Oct 2021; n = 1740 talibés and gold miners) and post (Feb 2022; n = 2200) delivery of the intervention package to assess intervention coverage and infection prevalence by rapid diagnostic test and qPCR. We compared infection prevalence and self-reported LLIN usage, by group and arm, between the two time periods using a difference in difference framework with binomial generalized linear mixed models. Among the talibés, the package of interventions was associated with an adjusted 12.6-percentage point relative reduction in RDT-derived malaria prevalence (p < 0.05, adjusted risk difference: -12.6, 95% CI: -2.7, -22.4) and an adjusted 44.0-percentage point increase in reported prior night net use (p < 0.001, aRD: 44.0, 95% CI: 36.3, 51.6) in the intervention group compared to the counterfactual. However, among the gold miners there was no measured association between the package of interventions and these outcomes. While there was high acceptability in both groups, interventions should be tailored to address high mobility amongst gold miners and maximize impact.

Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) has made significant progress in reducing malaria in recent years. In the Greater Mekong Subregion, forest-going is often a risk factor contributing to continuing malaria transmission. This study assessed forest-going and other potential risk factors for malaria cases in Champasak Province, Lao PDR. Routine passive surveillance data from August 2017 to December 2018 were extracted from health facilities in three districts for a case-control study; at the time of presentation, all fever cases were asked to report any recent forest travel. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess the relationship between forest-going and malaria infection while controlling for other covariates. Of 2933 fever cases with data available on forest-sleeping and malaria diagnosis from 25 health facilities, 244 (8%) tested positive (cases), and 2689 (92%) tested negative (controls). Compared with spending 0–2 nights in the forest, spending 3–7 nights in the forest was associated with 9.7 times the odds of having a malaria infection (95% CI: 4.67–20.31, p < 0.001) when adjusting for gender, occupation, and season. Forest-going, especially longer trips, is associated with increased risk for confirmed symptomatic malaria in southern Lao PDR, and appropriate and targeted intervention efforts are needed to protect this high-risk population.

BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the challenge of swiftly disseminating research findings to a global audience. Language barriers further exacerbated disparities in access to timely scientific information, particularly for non-English speaking communities. The majority of COVID-19 research was published in English, limiting accessibility for Spanish-speaking populations. OBJECTIVE This paper aims to assess the reach and effectiveness of AccesoCovid.com, a platform designed to disseminate up-to-date COVID-19 research in both English and Spanish, addressing the language gap in scientific communication. METHODS AccesoCovid.com was developed through a partnership between the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) and Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM). The website’s performance and user engagement were evaluated using Google Analytics over a span of 2 years. Key metrics included user language preference, geographical distribution, and site traffic. The website summarized and translated 1032 articles on various COVID-19 topics, such as “Pharmaceutical Interventions and Vaccines.” RESULTS From February 2021 to February 2023, the platform attracted 57,000 users. Of the 43,000 unique new visitors, 84.2% (n=36,219) hailed from Spanish-speaking regions. The majority accessed the site organically through search engines, with 88.4% (n=38,000) of users arriving this way, while 5000 (11.6%) users accessed the site directly. Most users (n=30,894, 72.1%) preferred the Spanish version of the site. The website’s most accessed category was “Pharmaceutical Interventions and Vaccines,” followed by “Clinical Presentation and Management” and “Mental Health.” Regarding language distribution, 72.1% (n=30,894) of users primarily used Spanish; 21.4% (n=9215) used English; and 6.7% (n=2891) spoke other languages, including Portuguese, Chinese, and German. Geographically, the website attracted visitors from 179 countries, with the highest visitor counts from Mexico (n=12,342, 28.7%), Spain (n=6405, 14.9%), the United States (n=4416, 10.3%), and Peru (n=3821, 8.9%). CONCLUSIONS AccesoCovid.com successfully bridged a critical language gap in the dissemination of COVID-19 research. Its success underscores the pressing need for multilingual scientific resources. The platform demonstrated significant user engagement and reach, particularly in Spanish-speaking countries. This highlights the potential for similar platforms to ensure equitable access to scientific knowledge across diverse linguistic communities. Future efforts should focus on expanding to other languages and conducting formal evaluations to enhance user satisfaction and impact.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the challenge of swiftly disseminating research findings to a global audience. Language barriers further exacerbated disparities in access to timely scientific information, particularly for non-English speaking communities. The majority of COVID-19 research was published in English, limiting accessibility for Spanish-speaking populations. Objective: This paper aims to assess the reach and effectiveness of AccesoCovid.com, a platform designed to disseminate up-to-date COVID-19 research in both English and Spanish, addressing the language gap in scientific communication. Methods: AccesoCovid.com was developed through a partnership between the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) and Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM). The website’s performance and user engagement were evaluated using Google Analytics over a span of 2 years. Key metrics included user language preference, geographical distribution, and site traffic. The website summarized and translated 1032 articles on various COVID-19 topics, such as “Pharmaceutical Interventions and Vaccines.” Results: From February 2021 to February 2023, the platform attracted 57,000 users. Of the 43,000 unique new visitors, 84.2% (n=36,219) hailed from Spanish-speaking regions. The majority accessed the site organically through search engines, with 88.4% (n=38,000) of users arriving this way, while 5000 (11.6%) users accessed the site directly. Most users (n=30,894, 72.1%) preferred the Spanish version of the site. The website’s most accessed category was “Pharmaceutical Interventions and Vaccines,” followed by “Clinical Presentation and Management” and “Mental Health.” Regarding language distribution, 72.1% (n=30,894) of users primarily used Spanish; 21.4% (n=9215) used English; and 6.7% (n=2891) spoke other languages, including Portuguese, Chinese, and German. Geographically, the website attracted visitors from 179 countries, with the highest visitor counts from Mexico (n=12,342, 28.7%), Spain (n=6405, 14.9%), the United States (n=4416, 10.3%), and Peru (n=3821, 8.9%). Conclusions: AccesoCovid.com successfully bridged a critical language gap in the dissemination of COVID-19 research. Its success underscores the pressing need for multilingual scientific resources. The platform demonstrated significant user engagement and reach, particularly in Spanish-speaking countries. This highlights the potential for similar platforms to ensure equitable access to scientific knowledge across diverse linguistic communities. Future efforts should focus on expanding to other languages and conducting formal evaluations to enhance user satisfaction and impact.

During 2024, a dengue outbreak occurred in the US Virgin Islands (USVI). To guide response efforts, we assessed health care providers’ practices, experiences, and needs related to dengue diagnostics, clinical management, and reporting during the ongoing outbreak. A rapid needs assessment was conducted using semi-structured interviews with 9 clinicians across the USVI. Interview data were coded into predefined topic areas and analyzed to identify key gaps and actionable opportunities for support. Outcomes revealed gaps in clinical training, diagnostic support, and clinician–community engagement. Providers reported limited confidence in recognizing warning signs and expressed a need for additional training and decision-making tools. Findings indicated that clinicians often relied on clinical judgment for diagnosis but faced challenges related to diagnostic testing, including cost, long turnaround times, and uncertainty about test selection. Gaps in community awareness and misconceptions about dengue transmission were also identified. The rapid needs assessment was led by the Virgin Islands Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and results informed rapid implementation of targeted interventions, including clinician training resources, expanded diagnostic testing pathways, and enhanced community outreach efforts, such as streamlined diagnostic testing processes and community outreach. This case study highlights the value of rapid assessments in guiding timely public health responses during outbreaks through provider-centered feedback.