Background: The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is responsible for more fatalities than the SARS coronavirus, despite being in the initial stage of a global pandemic.

Background Vector control measures are critical for the prevention and reduction of dengue virus (DENV) transmission. Effective vector control is reliant not only on knowledge of mosquito abundance, but also on the timely and accurate detection of mosquito-borne infection. Mosquito-based virus surveillance programs typically rely on pool-based mosquito testing, although whether individual-based mosquito testing is a feasible alternative to this has not been widely studied. Applying an individual-based mosquito testing approach, we conducted a 1-month surveillance study of DENV in adult Aedes aegypti mosquitoes in homes of suspected dengue patients during the 2015 peak dengue season in Tarlac City, Philippines to more accurately assess the mosquito infection rate and identify the DENV serotypes and genotypes concurrently co-circulating in mosquitoes and patients there. Methods We performed a one-step multiplex real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay for the simultaneous detection and serotyping of DENV in patients and individual female Ae. aegypti mosquitoes. Additionally, we performed sequencing and phylogenetic analyses to further characterize the detected DENV serotypes in mosquitoes and patients at the genotype level. Results We collected a total of 583 adult Ae. aegypti mosquitoes, of which we individually tested 359 female mosquitoes for the presence of DENV. Ten (2.8%) of the 359 female mosquitoes were positive for the presence of DENV. We detected DENV-1, DENV-2, and DENV-4 in the field-collected mosquitoes, which was consistent with the serotypes concurrently found in infected patients. Sequencing and phylogenetic analyses of the detected DENV serotypes based on the partial sequence of the evelope (E) gene revealed three genotypes concurrently present in the sampled mosquitoes and patients during the study period, namely DENV-1 genotype IV, DENV-2 Cosmopolitan genotype, and DENV-4 genotype II. Conclusions We demonstrated the utility of a one-step multiplex real-time RT-PCR assay for the individual-based DENV surveillance of mosquitoes. Our findings reinforce the importance of detecting and monitoring virus activity in local mosquito populations, which are critical for dengue prevention and control.

Background The recently emerged novel coronavirus, “severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus‐2 (SARS‐CoV‐2)”, caused a highly contagious disease called coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19). It has severely damaged the world's most developed countries and has turned into a major threat for low‐ and middle‐income countries. Since its emergence in late 2019, medical interventions have been substantial, and most countries relied on public health measures collectively known as nonpharmaceutical interventions. Aims To centralize the accumulative knowledge on non‐pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) against COVID‐19 for each country under one worldwide consortium. Methods International COVID‐19 Research Network collaborators developed a cross‐sectional online‐survey to assess the implications of NPIs and sanitary supply on incidence and mortality of COVID‐19. Survey was conducted between January 1 and February 1, 2021, and participants from 92 countries/territories completed it. The association between NPIs, sanitation supplies and incidence and mortality were examined by multivariate regression, with log‐transformed value of population as an offset value. Results Majority of countries/territories applied several preventive strategies including social distancing (100.0%), quarantine (100.0%), isolation (98.9%), and school closure (97.8%). Individual‐level preventive measures such as personal hygiene (100.0%) and wearing facial mask (94.6% at hospital; 93.5% at mass transportation; 91.3% in mass gathering facilities) were also frequently applied. Quarantine at a designated place was negatively associated with incidence and mortality compared to home quarantine. Isolation at a designated place was also associated with reduced mortality compared to home isolation. Recommendations to use sanitizer for personal hygiene reduced incidence compared to recommendation to use soap did. Deprivation of mask was associated with increased incidence. Higher incidence and mortality were found in countries/territories with higher economic level. Mask deprivation was pervasive regardless of economic level. Conclusion NPIs against COVID‐19 such as using sanitizer, quarantine, and isolation can decrease incidence and mortality of COVID‐19. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via the original article.

BACKGROUND Following the detection of the first laboratory-confirmed Monkeypox (MPXV) infection in the Philippines, guidelines on Monkeypox diagnosis, treatment, and prevention have been strengthened to further help healthcare providers in differentiating it properly from other diseases with similar clinical presentation, one of which is Varicella zoster (VZV) infection. Interestingly, co-infection with Monkeypox and Varicella has been previously reported in Monkeypox endemic countries. We then report the first travel-related case of MPXV-VZV co-infection in the Philippines, a country that is endemic for Varicella but non-endemic for Monkeypox. CASE PRESENTATION A 29-year-old Filipino, female, with a travel history to Switzerland and with no prior history of VZV infection consulted due to rashes. She presented with multiple papular, pustular, and vesicular skin lesions, some with umbilication and with irregular borders, on the face, neck, trunk, inguinal area, upper extremities, and right leg. She also had bilateral submandibular and post-auricular lymphadenopathies. Tzanck smear exhibited viral cytopathic effects. She was confirmed to have Monkeypox infection from Clade II and Varicella infection via quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) tests. Shotgun metagenomic sequencing (mNGS) successfully recovered sequences from the Varicella zoster virus which corroborated with the high viral load detected using qPCR. In contrast, shotgun mNGS showed too few reads mapped to the Monkeypox virus reference sequence. Systemic and topical acyclovir was given to the patient. She was discharged and continued home isolation for 30 days from the rash onset. CONCLUSION Strategies have been formed by the country’s healthcare facilities to properly identify monkeypox infection. However, Monkeypox co-infection with other viral diseases presented a challenge in the proper diagnosis of our patient. This prompted a high index of suspicion and the usage of suitable diagnostic tests. The qPCR tests confirmed the presence of both Monkeypox and Varicella zoster virus infections in the patient. Shotgun metagenomic sequencing (mNGS) successfully recovered sequences from the Varicella zoster virus, while there were too few reads mapped to the Monkeypox virus reference sequence. With proper clinical evaluation and utilization of appropriate diagnostic tests, we were able to diagnose the first Filipino patient with Monkeypox and Varicella zoster virus co-infection.