Does Dr. Sunder study COVID-19?

Yes, Dr. Sunder specifically studies the spread of COVID-19, particularly in prisons and jails.

What is mass testing?

Mass testing involves testing all individuals in a group, such as a prison, regardless of whether they show symptoms of illness.

How does Dr. Sunder's research help inmates?

Her research helps identify the true spread of COVID-19 in prisons, which can lead to better health measures and protect both inmates and staff.

DR. LALITHA L. SUNDER, M.D.

HOUSTON, TX

Research Active

Internal Medicine - Interventional Cardiology NPI registered 21+ years 1 publication 2020 – 2020 NPI: 1851395438

Internal Medicine - Interventional Cardiology

COVID-19Coronavirus InfectionsPandemicsPrevalencePneumonia, ViralMass ScreeningDisease OutbreaksPrisonsCOVID-19 TestingClinical Laboratory TechniquesHousing

Practice Location

915 GESSNER RD
HOUSTON, TX 77024-2527

Phone: (713) 973-8821

What does LALITHA SUNDER research?

Dr. Sunder studies the impact of COVID-19 within prison and jail populations, analyzing how the virus spreads in these crowded settings. Her research specifically looks at the effectiveness of mass testing, which means testing everyone in these facilities regardless of symptoms, to identify cases that might otherwise go unchecked. By highlighting the high rates of infection among inmates, her work aims to inform better public health strategies and management practices during disease outbreaks.

Key findings

In a study of 16 prisons and jails, some facilities reported COVID-19 positivity rates as high as 86.8%.
After mass testing, a total of 8,239 confirmed COVID-19 cases were identified, a significant increase from just 642 cases found through symptom screening.
The research indicated that previous methods of tracking the virus were inadequate, showing how relying solely on symptoms underestimates the true spread.

Frequently asked questions

Does Dr. Sunder study COVID-19?: Yes, Dr. Sunder specifically studies the spread of COVID-19, particularly in prisons and jails.
What is mass testing?: Mass testing involves testing all individuals in a group, such as a prison, regardless of whether they show symptoms of illness.
How does Dr. Sunder's research help inmates?: Her research helps identify the true spread of COVID-19 in prisons, which can lead to better health measures and protect both inmates and staff.

Publications in plain English

Mass Testing for SARS-CoV-2 in 16 Prisons and Jails - Six Jurisdictions, United States, April-May 2020.

2020

MMWR. Morbidity and mortality weekly report

Hagan LM, Williams SP, Spaulding AC, Toblin RL, Figlenski J +22 more

Plain English
This study examined the spread of COVID-19 in 16 prisons and jails across six areas in the United States during April and May 2020. It found that the percentage of inmates who tested positive for the virus varied widely, with some facilities showing rates as high as 86.8%, resulting in a total of 8,239 confirmed cases after mass testing—up from just 642 cases identified through symptoms alone. This information is crucial because it highlights how underestimating the virus spread can lead to inadequate measures for managing outbreaks in crowded facilities. Who this helps: This helps inmates, prison staff, and public health officials.

PubMed

Frequent Co-Authors

Liesl M Hagan Samantha P Williams Anne C Spaulding Robin L Toblin Jessica Figlenski Jeanne Ocampo Tara Ross Heidi Bauer Justine Hutchinson Kimberley D Lucas

Physician data sourced from the NPPES NPI Registry . Publication data from PubMed . Plain-English summaries generated by AI. Not medical advice.