We studied 127 samples of bivalve mollusks (Mediterranean mussel, Mytilus galloprovincialis; smooth clam, Callista chione; grooved carpet‐shell clam, Tapes decussatus; and striped venus clam, Chamelea gallina) obtained in the winter and spring of 2009 from retail fish and shellfish vendors in Granada, Spain. Samples were analyzed (raw and after steaming) to determine the prevalence of Escherichia coli, mesophilic aerobes, Staphylococcus aureus and the disease‐causing microorganisms Salmonella spp., Listeria monocytogenes and Vibrio parahaemolyticus. E. coli was found in 25% of raw samples and 4% of cooked samples. Aerobes were found in 89% of raw samples (more than 1,000 cfu/g), and S. aureus was found in 37.0%. Only one raw sample was positive for V. parahaemolyticus. The percentage of positive findings was fourfold as high in the spring sample as in the winter sample. Contamination was most frequent in the smooth clam, and samples obtained on Mondays were more frequently contaminated than those obtained on other days of the week. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS Current Spanish legislation establishes that all bivalve mollusks intended for commercial sale and human consumption must be treated at a detoxification center. The application of detoxification is of fundamental importance because it constitutes a barrier against the transmission of bacterial and viral diseases of aquatic origin. We analyzed possible differences in contamination parameters in this type of shellfish, indicated characteristics that may be affected by alterations in quality, and discussed the potential effects of these alterations on human health.

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ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to analyze retrospectively the earthquake-induced injuries caused by the October 2015 Hindu Kush earthquake in Pakistan. This is the first population-based study to assess epidemiologically earthquake-induced injuries in the Hindu Kush region, one of the world’s most mountainous and seismically active regions. Unfortunately, only limited studies have investigated the earthquake-induced injuries and deaths in the region epidemiologically.MethodsThe 5 worst affected districts were selected according to the highest number of deaths and injuries recorded. A total of 1,790 injuries and 232 deaths were reported after the 2015 earthquake. In our study area, 391 persons were recorded and verified to have been injured as a result of the earthquake. We attempted to investigate all of the 391 injured people, but the final study looked at 346 subjects because the remaining 45 subjects could not be traced because of the non-availability of their complete records and their refusal to participate in the study.ResultsUsing the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 10th revision (ICD 10), we found that the highest number – 20.23% (70 of 346) – of injuries in the earthquake fall in the class of “Injuries to an unspecified part of trunk, limb, or body region (T08-T14).” The class of “Injuries to knee and lower leg (S80-S89),” which count 15.61% (54 out of 346), followed it, and “Injuries involving multiple body regions (T00-T07)” were making 14.74% of total injuries (51 out of 346).ConclusionIn times of natural disasters like earthquakes, collecting and analyzing real-time data can be challenging. Therefore, a retrospective data analysis of deaths and injuries induced by the earthquake is of high importance. Studies in these emerging domains will be crucial to initiate health policy debates and to prevent and mitigate future injuries and deaths. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2018;13:732–739).

Viruses are the leading cause of foodborne illness associated with the consumption of raw or slightly cooked contaminated shellfish. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of hepatitis A virus in molluscs. Standard and real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction procedures were used to monitor bivalve molluscs from the Granada fish markets (southern Spain) for this human enteric virus. Between February 2009 and October 2010, we collected a total of 329 samples of different types of bivalve molluscs (mussels, smooth clams, striped venus, and grooved clams). The results showed the presence of hepatitis A virus in 8.5% of the 329 samples analyzed. We can therefore confirm that conventional fecal indicators are unreliable for demonstrating the presence or absence of viruses. The presence of hepatitis A virus in molluscs destined for human consumption is a potential health risk in southern Spain.

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