The novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, which has similarities to the 2002–2003 severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus known as SARS-CoV-1, causes the infectious disease designated COVID-19 by the World Health Organization (Coronavirus Disease 2019). Although the first reports indicated that activity of the virus is centered in the lungs, it was soon acknowledged that SARS-CoV-2 causes a multisystem disease. Indeed, this new pathogen causes a variety of syndromes, including asymptomatic disease; mild disease; moderate disease; a severe form that requires hospitalization, intensive care, and mechanical ventilation; multisystem inflammatory disease; and a condition called long COVID or postacute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Some of these syndromes resemble previously described disorders, including those with no confirmed etiology, such as Kawasaki disease. After recognition of a distinct multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children, followed by a similar syndrome in adults, various multisystem syndromes occurring during the pandemic associated or related to SARS-CoV-2 began to be identified. A typical pattern of cytokine and chemokine dysregulation occurs in these complex syndromes; however, the disorders have distinct immunological determinants that may help to differentiate them. This review discusses the origins of the different trajectories of the inflammatory syndromes related to SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Introduction: The Situation Room is a physical or virtual space where experts systematically analyze information to characterize a health situation, especially during emergencies. Decision-making processes are made toward solving health needs and promoting collaboration among institutions and social sectors. This paper presents the context and circumstances that led the University of Guadalajara (UdeG) to install a local health situation room (HSR) to address the COVID-19 pandemic at this institution based in the state of Jalisco, Mexico, a narrative is also made of its working processes and some of its results.Methods: The design of this situation room for COVID-19 was based on the methodology established by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)/WHO. This local-type situation room was installed on February 12, 2020. The health problem was characterized, and strategic lines, objectives, and goals were established; the first analysis was derived from an action plan deployed at the UdeG. The strategic lines were situational diagnosis, preventive actions, and containment strategies.Results: The situation room influenced the activities of the UdeG before the epidemic cases started in the state. One of the actions with the greatest impact was developing a mathematical model for predicting COVID-19 cases. Subsequently, new models have been developed according to the epidemiological evolution of the disease, helping manage the epidemic in the state. Another important result was the early closing of face-to-face university activities, reducing contagion risks and the mobility of more than 310,000 students, faculty, and administrative personnel throughout Jalisco.Conclusions: A consequence of the closure was that the confinement generated by the pandemic was the change to virtual meetings from April 2020 to date; but at the same time, this working format was a strength, since it influenced the decision of the university board to change all the academic activities to virtual format before other educational, economic, and social activities in the state did. By April 2020, the situation room transcended its institutional boundaries and was invited to participate at the Jalisco State's Health Committee. Its recommendations have helped to maintain the state with one of Mexico's lowest COVID-19 incidence and mortality rates.

Spirometra (Cestoda: Diphyllobothriidea) affects humans and some species of domestic and wild animals which eventually interact with humans. In this article, we report three new cases of Spirometra decipiens (Diesing, 1850) infection observed in two intermediate hosts and one definitive host, in Cuba. Genetic and morphological identification of S. decipiens in two snakes and a domestic dog were carried out by molecular means and routine histological study using hematoxylin–eosin staining, respectively. Taken together, the anatomical location, the host species infected with the specimens and their morphological and genetic features, all the samples were identified as S. decipiens. In each of the three cases, PCR assays using specific primers amplified bands that corresponded to S. decipiens species. To our knowledge, this paper is the first report of S. decipiens in species of Cuban endemic fauna and in the Caribbean islands. These species constitute a real or potential risk of transmission of Spirometra to humans in Cuba.

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