Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) infection in humans causing severe musculoskeletal pain, fever and rashes, is transmitted by the bite of infected mosquitoes, primarily Aedes (Ae.) aegypti and Ae. albopictus. CHIKV has resulted in 18.7 million cases worldwide till 2020 and after 2004 has spread to Europe, Middle East (Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Yemen, Egypt, Oman, Iraq, Kuwait, and Iran) and Pacific regions. This rapid spread of CHIKV emphasizes the pivotal need of enforcing control measures and examining new diagnostic methods. As the mosquito vectors (Aedes) of CHIKV are evolving, vector control methods are losing its efficacy. Further, existing serological and molecular assays to detect CHIKV show variabilities in sensitivity and specificity, leading to mis-reporting or under-reporting of CHIKV cases in affected regions. In this review article, we start by discussing CHIKV infection, followed by an introduction to currently available control and detection methods. We further highlight the challenges these methods pose and how they can be conquered by employing various easy and sustainable strategies. This review may provide valuable information for the development of novel diagnostic strategies in resource limited settings for mitigating CHIKV disease.

Objective: To predict parents’ willingness to pay for dengue fever vaccination through the perception of dengue vaccine based on the Health Belief Model (HBM).

Methods: A multicenter crosssectional study was conducted on parents who had children aged ≤ 5 years and were participating in integrated health service post activities in 3 districts/cities with the highest incidence of dengue fever in Southeast Sulawesi. The instruments used to collect data in this study consisted of a participant characteristics questionnaire, a dengue vaccine perception questionnaire based on the HBM, and a willingness to pay for dengue vaccine questionnaire. Chi-square test and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used to determine the correlation between the perceived HBM subscales and willingness to pay for dengue vaccination.

Results: A total of 310 people participated in this study with an average age of (29.9±5.6) years. Most of them were females (284/310, 91.7%), 80.9% (251/310) had a high education status and 87.4% (271/310) had direct experience with DF. The results showed good perceptions including Perceived Susceptibility (adjusted OR 3.7, 95% CI 2.7-6.3, P<0.001), Perceived Severity (adjusted OR 2.8, 95% CI 1.7-5.5, P<0.001), Perceived Benefits (adjusted OR 2.8, 95% CI 1.7-4.5, P<0.001), and Cues to Action (adjusted OR 3.1, 95% CI 1.9-5.1, P<0.001) were positively correlated with willingness to pay for the dengue vaccine comparing with poor perceptions, whereas Perceived Barriers showed no significant effect on willingness to pay for the dengue vaccine.

Conclusions: These results suggest that a person’s willingness to pay for dengue vaccine increases with their understanding of the risks and advantages of immunization as well as encouraging outside incentives. As a result, these elements are crucial in raising community involvement in the immunization campaign.

Objective: To identify factors associated with hepatotoxicity during the intensive phase of treatment in tuberculosis (TB) patients.

Methods: A case-control study was conducted of TB patients treated with first-line anti-TB drugs from 2013 to 2020. Cases were defined as patients who developed hepatotoxicity, while controls were those without hepatotoxicity, at a 1:2 ratio. Controls were randomly selected from the same hospitals as the cases. The primary outcome was the occurrence of hepatotoxicity during the intensive treatment phase, with data retrospectively collected from medical records. Descriptive statistics and multiple logistic regression with backward elimination were used for analysis.

Results: Among 3021 tuberculosis patients who received first-line anti-tuberculosis regimen, 50 had abnormal liver function and 14 developed hepatotoxictiy. In addition, 2957 patients had normal liver function and 128 served as controls for this analysis. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that female patients had about twice the risk of hepatotoxicity compared to males (adjusted OR 2.25, 95% CI 1.11-4.59), and patients with HIV coinfection were nearly 10 times more likely to develop hepatotoxicity than those without HIV (adjusted OR 9.74, 95% CI 3.12-30.41).

Conclusions: Female sex and HIV coinfection were found to be significant risk factors for hepatotoxicity during the intensive phase of TB treatment. Enhanced monitoring and preventive strategies are recommended for these high-risk groups to reduce the risk of hepatotoxicity.

Objective: HIV has infected approximately 75 million people worldwide with over half dying from AIDS-related diseases. This study aimed to determine individuals’ willingness to pay (WTP) for future HIV vaccines.

Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted in December 2022 in Southern Vietnam with 1 675 face-to-face interviews. WTP was determined using the contingent valuation method with two bidding games under three vaccine efficacy scenarios (high, medium, low) for both self-vaccination and child vaccination.

Results: Among 1 655 valid respondents, 553 were willing to pay for their children’s vaccination. Overall, the WTP of adults for the HIV vaccine was (4961 264±3793 652) VND (23700 VND = 1 US dollar). The WTP of parents is (4947 799±4930 721) VND for self-vaccination and (4865 399±4064 567) VND for vaccinating their children. Average WTP decreased with lower vaccine efficacy and lower bid prices. Education level, marital status, occupation, and monthly income were significantly associated with WTP for all vaccination types.

Conclusions: In this study, high WTP rates and numerous individuals willing to pay for HIV vaccines were found. These findings can help decision-makers understand factors influencing WTP for future HIV vaccines and provide evidence for developing funding programs and budgeting plans for introducing such vaccines in Vietnam.

Rationale: Myiasis is more commonly found in ulcerated tissues and tropical climates, although it can also occur in non-tropical climates and in healthy individuals.

Patient concerns: The patient was a 4-year-old girl who presented to the emergency department with three nodular lesions on the skull, associated with edema, tenderness, pain, and purulent drainage.

Diagnosis: Furuncular myiasis caused by Wohlfahrtia magnifica.

Interventions: Antibiotic therapy was initiated, and the patient was taken to the operating room for larval removal. Mupirocin ointment and petroleum jelly were applied daily. Three days later, a second operation was performed to remove the remaining live larvae from the tissue.

Outcomes: After 14 days of treatment, the patient was cured and discharged.

Lessons: Although furuncular myiasis is more commonly observed in ulcerated and necrotic tissues, it can also occur in healthy individuals, particularly in the absence of proper hygiene, even in non-tropical regions.