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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Infectious diseases

Impact of COVID-19 on Clinical Trials Costs to Patients
Examines the direct and indirect costs of COVID-19 clinical trial participation to patients and the impact of utilizing remote technologies. Presents an environmental scan of articles published between 2010 and 2023 and discusses barriers to clinical trial participation experienced by underrepresented and rural populations.
Author(s): Keri Calkins, Emily Crabtree, Emily Harrison, Nyna Williams, Kirsten Barrett
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: Mathematica
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Newly Reported Chronic Hepatitis C Among Adults — Alaska, 2016–2023
Reports on changes in the annual average rate of newly reported adult chronic hepatitis C cases during 2016–2023 in Alaska. Includes rate data for 2016-2019 compared to 2020-2023 for urban, rural, and remote areas.
Author(s): Heather M. Scobie, Jamie Allison, Nicholas Masters, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 74(10), 161-166
Date: 03/2025
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Operating Status of Adult Day Services Centers in 2022

Offers estimates from the 2022 National Post-acute and Long-term Care Study (NPALS) regarding operating status of adult day service centers as a result of COVID-19 response efforts. Compares U.S. Census Bureau regions, metropolitan and nonmetropolitan statistical areas, Medicaid licensure, and number of enrolled participants.


Author(s): Jessica P. Lendon, Priyanka Singh, Christine Caffrey, Manisha Sengupta, Zhaohui Lu
Date: 03/2025
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Health Statistics
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Human Cases of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N1) — California, September–December 2024
Reports on increased risk for infection from highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5N1) among people who work closely with dairy cows, poultry, or other animals with suspected or confirmed infection. Includes data on investigations that led to identification of 38 people who tested positive for HPAI A(H5N1) viruses in California, including 37 dairy farm workers with exposure to sick cows, and one child with an undetermined exposure.
Author(s): Sophie Zhu, Kathleen Harriman, Caterina Liu, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 74(8), 127–133
Date: 03/2025
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Virus Infection of Indoor Domestic Cats Within Dairy Industry Worker Households — Michigan, May 2024
Reports on two ill domestic cats infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5N1) virus that lived in homes of dairy workers but had no known direct exposure to farms impacted by HPAI A(H5N1).
Author(s): Ramya Naraharisetti, Meghan Weinberg, Becky Stoddard, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 74(5);61-65
Date: 02/2025
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Notes from the Field: Seroprevalence of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5) Virus Infections Among Bovine Veterinary Practitioners — United States, September 2024
Presents findings from testing 150 bovine veterinary practitioners for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5) virus infection. Discusses the utility of seroprevalence assessments of recent HPAI A(H5) infection among practitioners at increased risk for exposure.
Author(s): Jerome Leonard, Elizabeth J. Harker, Christine M. Szablewski, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 74(4), 50-52
Date: 02/2025
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Food Security Status Across the Rural-Urban Continuum Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Examines food insecurity across the rural-urban continuum and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on food access in various locations. Utilizes 2015-2019 and 2020-2021 Current Population Survey Food Security Supplement (CPS FSS) data to analyze food security according to urban, large rural city/town, small rural town, or isolated rural town/area.
Author(s): Patrick J. Brady, Melissa N. Laska, Rachel Widome, Sruthi Valluri
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Census Bureau
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Understanding the Impact and Costs Associated with Medical Device Shortages During the COVID-19 Pandemic on Providers, Health Systems, Patients, and Manufacturers
Analyzes the U.S. medical device shortage during the COVID-19 pandemic and provides a related literature review, key stakeholder interviews, and data synthesis. Includes information on type of medical device shortages, strategies to manage shortages, and more, with a focus on shortages in nursing homes and rural hospitals.
Author(s): Linda Thai, Trinidad Beleche, Oluwarantimi Adetunji
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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Examining Differences in Rural and Urban Medicare FFS Beneficiaries' Emergency Department Use Before and During Covid
Results of a study describing changes from 2018-2022 in emergency department use among rural and urban Medicare Fee-for-Service (FFS) beneficiaries. Features statistics including patient demographics, primary diagnoses, and admission sources, with breakdowns by urban and rural areas.
Author(s): Alana Knudson, Craig D. Holden, Marilyn Klug, Tricia Stauffer, Shena Popat
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organization: ETSU/NORC Rural Health Research Center
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Lessons from the Pandemic: Relationship Between Patient Visits and Patient Length of Stay in California's Health System
Examines impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on patient utilization of California hospitals. Analyzes 2019-2021 COVID-19 cases, mortality, patient length of stay (LOS), and more in 56 California counties, with rural versus urban comparisons.
Author(s): David D. Cho, Yu Wang
Citation: Health Research Policy and Systems, 23, 11
Date: 01/2025
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