Timeliness of public health emergency response: A case study of Ebola virus disease (EVD) scare in Lagos, South-Western Nigeria, 2019

AbstractThe world’s largest outbreak of Ebola virus disease began in West Africa in 2014. Although few cases were identified in the United States, the possibility of imported cases led US public health systems and health care facilities to focus on preparing the health care system to quickly and safely identify and respond to emerging infectious diseases. In New York City, early, coordinated planning among city and state agencies and the health care delivery system led to a successful response to a single case diagnosed in a returned health care worker. In this article we describe public health and health care system preparedness efforts in New York City to respond to Ebola and conclude that coordinated public health emergency response relies on joint planning and sustained resources for public health emergency response, epidemiology and laboratory capacity, and health care emergency management. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2017;11:370–374).

Download Full-text

Analysis of the management of the tenth Ebola virus disease outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo: developing a multidisciplinary response model to strengthen the healthcare system during disease outbreaks

Globalization and Health ◽

10.1186/s12992-021-00775-4 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 17 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Bives Mutume Vivalya ◽

Okesina Akeem Ayodeji ◽

Yves Tibamwenda Bafwa ◽

Louis Kasereka Muyisa ◽

Astride Lina Piripiri ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Emergency Response ◽

Ebola Virus ◽

Democratic Republic ◽

Democratic Republic Of Congo ◽

Virus Disease ◽

Public Health Emergency ◽

Ebola Virus Disease ◽

Healthcare Sector ◽

Republic Of Congo

AbstractThe declaration of any public health emergency in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is usually followed by the provision of technical and organizational support from international organizations, which build a parallel and short-time healthcare emergency response centered on preventing the extension of health emergencies across the countries and over the world. Previous Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreaks have highlighted the need to reinforce the healthcare sector in different countries.Based on the difficulty to implement the International Health Regulations (2005) to the local level of affected countries including the DRC, this paper proposes a multidisciplinary model based on the health zones through the strengthening of preparedness and response structures to public health emergencies vis-à-vis the existing weak health systems existing in DRC. A commitment to integrating the emergency response in the existing health system should work to reduce the tension that exists between local recruitment and its impact on the quality of daily healthcare in the region affected by EVD outbreak on one hand, and the involvement of international recruitment and its impact on the trust of the population on the emergency response on the other. This paper highlights the provision of a local healthcare workforce skilled to treat infectious diseases, the compulsory implementation of training programs focused on the emergency response in countries commonly affected by EVD outbreaks including the DRC. These innovations should reduce the burden of health problems prior to and in the aftermath of any public health emergency in DRC hence increasing the wellbeing of the community, especially the vulnerable people as well as the availability of trained healthcare providers able to early recognize and treat EVD.

Download Full-text

Simulating public health emergency response: A case study of the 2004 North Carolina State Fair E. Coli Outbreak

Proceedings of the 2009 Winter Simulation Conference (WSC) ◽

10.1109/wsc.2009.5429730 ◽

2009 ◽

Author(s):

Sharolyn A. Wynter ◽

Julie E. Ivy

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

North Carolina ◽

Emergency Response ◽

Public Health Emergency ◽

E Coli ◽

Public Health Emergency Response

Download Full-text

The reaction of American Luxury tourists visiting Rwanda during 2018-2019 Ebola outbreaks

International Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Studies ◽

10.31559/ijhts2020.1.2.7 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 1 (2) ◽

pp. 140-143

Author(s):

James Ngamije

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Ebola Virus ◽

Democratic Republic ◽

Democratic Republic Of Congo ◽

Virus Disease ◽

Public Health Emergency ◽

Ebola Virus Disease ◽

Virus Diseases ◽

North Kivu ◽

The Impact

Several cases of Ebola virus diseases (EVD), have been discovered in Africa. The 2018–2019 outbreak of the Ebola virus disease (EVD) in North Kivu and Ituri provinces has been declared International public health emergency. Rwanda as a neighboring country was on high alert, with the possibility of the disease crossing its borders. As a result, some countries, issued travel alerts to their citizens to avoid travel to Congo or nearby countries to include Rwanda. This study investigates the impact of Ebola outbreak on American Luxury tourists in Rwanda, evaluating its findings in light of the 2018–2019 outbreak of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in Democratic Republic of Congo. It concludes that this EVD did not discourage this target group of tourists from undertaking their planned itineraries in Rwanda.

Download Full-text

Screening at ports of entry for Ebola Virus Disease in England—a descriptive analysis of screening assessment data, 2014–2015

Journal of Public Health ◽

10.1093/pubmed/fdaa216 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Nicki L Boddington ◽

Sophia Steinberger ◽

Richard G Pebody

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

High Risk ◽

Secondary Care ◽

Ebola Virus ◽

Virus Disease ◽

Descriptive Analysis ◽

Health Assessment ◽

Ebola Virus Disease ◽

Screening Assessment

Abstract Background In response to the outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in West Africa in 2014 and evidence of spread to other countries, pre-entry screening was introduced by PHE at five major ports of entry in the England. Methods All passengers that entered the England via the five ports returning from Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leonne were required to complete a Health Assessment Form and have their temperature taken. The numbers, characteristics and outcomes of these passengers were analysed. Results Between 14 October 2014 and 13 October 2015, a total of 12 648 passengers from affected countries had been screened. The majority of passengers were assessed as having no direct contact with EVD cases or high-risk events (12 069, 95.4%), although 535 (4.2%) passengers were assessed as requiring public health follow-up. In total, 39 passengers were referred directly to secondary care, although none were diagnosed with EVD. One high-risk passenger was later referred to secondary care and diagnosed with EVD. Conclusions Collection of these screening data enabled timely monitoring of the numbers and characteristics of passengers screened for EVD, facilitated resourcing decisions and acted as a mechanism to inform passengers of the necessary public health actions.

Download Full-text