In Retrospect

Increasing Awareness of Noma The limited data on the incidence and prevalence of noma hinders the management and treatment of this disease, which affects predominantly children living in extreme poverty. Swiss TPH researchers conducted the first systematic review on the distribution of noma, published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases. The publication contributes to a better understanding of the epidemiology of the disease and lays the groundwork for systematic control interventions.

April

Legionellosis Cases Continue to Increase in Switzerland Switzerland has one of the highest legionellosis incidence in Europe. The number of legionellosis cases in Switzerland has increased five-fold over the past 20 years. A study by Swiss TPH published in the International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health analysed case numbers from 2000 to 2020 and determined the potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on reporting. The researchers also found that the summer peaks of legionellosis have become more pronounced in recent years.

New Swiss TPH Headquarters Opened On 1 April 2022, the new headquarters of Swiss TPH called “Belo Horizonte” officially opened in the BaseLink site, an emerging life science and biotech cluster in Allschwil. Around 700 employees and students will work, research and study in the new building designed by Basel architects Kunz und Mösch. More than 300 guests attended the inauguration from the areas of politics, business and science, as well as from the local neighbourhood in Allschwil.

→ The Legionella bacteria cause legionellosis and are transmitted from water or soil.

Digital Tool Improves Quality of Care for Children

Digital tools are critical to improve the care for sick children, particularly in resource-constrained settings. In a new study, Swiss TPH and partners showed the positive impact of ALMANACH, a digital clinical decision support system, on improving the management of childhood illness in primary care in Nigeria. The findings, published in BMJ Open, support the use of digital tools for health systems strengthening on a broader scale.

Nicole Probst-Hensch Wins Science Award of the City of Basel The government of Basel-Stadt honoured Nicole Probst-Hensch, Head of the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health at Swiss TPH with this year’s Science Award. She re ceived this prize for her pioneering research on the effects of air pollution on human health and her achievements in establishing biobanks and long-term cohort studies. Probst-Hensch and her team help to understand the prerequisites of health in societies and to determine the foundations for maintaining it.

Consultation for Improved Pandemic Preparedness in Switzerland Swiss TPH brought stakeholders from Switzerland and neighbouring countries together to discuss the role of science and politics in enhancing preparedness and response to future health emergencies. The overarching aim was to share and compare experiences and lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic across systems and settings.

A Narrowing Window for Change: Experts Call for Global Climate Action Climate change is an imminent threat to human health and well-being and to our planet. Urgent action is needed in order to reduce climate risks and secure a liveable future. To support policy-makers on climaterelated action, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) sixth assessment report was published, providing a detailed evaluation of the impact of climate change globally. Swiss TPH contributed to the chapter on the impact of climate change on health and well-being.