This job aid provides information for laboratorians about how to receive, process, and store dried blood spot specimens collected for early infant ...diagnosis, viral load, or drug resistance testing.
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In order to maintain daily operations and patient care services, health care facilities need to develop an Emergency Water Supply Plan (EWSP) to prepare for, respond to, ...ghlight medbox">and recover from a total or partial interruption of the facilities’ normal water supply. Water supply interruption can be caused by several types of events such as natural disaster, a failure of the community water system, construction damage or even an act of terrorism.
The planning guide provides a four step process for the development of an EWSP:
1. Assemble the appropriate EWSP Team and the necessary background documents for your facility;
2. Understand your water usage by performing a water use audit;
3. Analyze your emergency water supply alternatives; and
4. Develop and exercise your EWSP
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The document titled "Prevención y control del cólera" (Cholera Prevention and ...ribute-to-highlight medbox">Control) provides essential guidance on preventing and managing cholera, a disease characterized by severe watery diarrhea and vomiting. Without prompt treatment, cholera can lead to death due to dehydration within hours. The disease is primarily transmitted through the ingestion of food or water contaminated with the feces of an infected person.
To protect against cholera and other diarrheal diseases, the document emphasizes the importance of drinking safe water, such as bottled water with intact seals, boiled water, or water treated with chlorine products. Frequent handwashing with safe water and soap is recommended, and in the absence of soap, hands can be cleaned using ash or sand followed by rinsing with safe water. Proper sanitation practices, such as using latrines or burying feces and avoiding defecation near water sources, are crucial. The document also highlights safe food practices, including thoroughly cooking food (especially seafood), consuming it while hot, keeping it covered, and peeling fruits and vegetables. Ensuring the safe cleaning of kitchens and areas where the family bathes or washes clothes is also advised.
In case of diarrheal illness, the document stresses the immediate use of oral rehydration solution (ORS) to prevent dehydration and the importance of seeking medical attention as quickly as possible. Patients should continue ORS intake both at home and during transit to a health facility. These preventative measures and prompt treatment strategies are vital for reducing cholera transmission and mortality.
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This technical package represents a select group of strategies based on the best available evidence to help communities and states sharpen their focus on prevention activities with the greatest pote...ntial to prevent suicide
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The following checklist can help hospitals assess and improve their preparedness for responding to a community-wide outbreak of COVID-19. Each hospital will need to adapt this checklist to meet its ...unique needs and circumstances. This checklist should be used as one of several tools for evaluating current plans or in developing a comprehensive COVID-19 preparedness plan.
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Guidance and tools to help administrators of correctional and detention facilities make decisions and protect ...edbox">and communicate with staff, people who are incarcerated, and their communities.
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MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. ePub: 4 December 2020. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6949e2
Poster for communities and health worker
Testing Guidance and Interpretation of Results for Healthcare providers
Testing Guidance and Interpretation of Results for Healthcare Providers Dengue and Zika Virus
No vaccines or drugs to prevent infection are available. The best way for travelers to prevent infection is to protect themselves from sand fly bites. To decrease the risk of being bitten, follow these preventive measures:
Avoid outdoor activitie...s, especially from dusk to dawn, when sand flies generally are the most active.
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Website last accessed on 31.03.2023
Learn about dengue diagnosis and testing guidance.
Use these resources to engage communities, increase cultural competence, and promote type 2 diabetes prevention and diabetes management.
March 2020
The number of African Union Member States reporting COVID-
19 cases is increasing and there is a likelihood of community transmission. The WHO recently modified the COVID-19 suspect case definition to include severe acute respiratory in...fection and advises testing of all severe acute respiratory illness (SARI) cases.1 However, many Member States have not yet started implementing these changes, they are still focussing surveillance efforts on individuals with travel history to an area with local COVID-19 transmission. This means patients with similar symptoms, but no apparent contact, may not
be investigated.
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The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases detected and reported in each country is influenced by
many factors including limited access and/or utilization of healthcare ...ght medbox">and COVID-19 testing, limited
surveillance, lack of knowledge amongst the population about when to seek testing, an asymptomatic presentation, and other unknown issues. This is true in all countries of the world, and not Africa specific, however there are factors unique to Africa which may also affect the way the virus behaves there. COVID-19 prevalence data are critical for planning effective mitigation strategies and understandingthe true impact of the disease and relevant intervention measures in Africa, which might be quite different from regions with a different population age distribution or risk factor profile.
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