The Angolan Pandemic Rapid Response Team: An Assessment, Improvement, and Development Analysis of the First Self-sufficient African National Response Team Curriculum

2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (03) ◽  
pp. 577-581 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael D. Owens ◽  
Jason Rice
Keyword(s):  
Ebola Virus ◽  
Virus Disease ◽  
National Level ◽  
Hemorrhagic Fever ◽  
Rapid Response Team ◽  
Rapid Response ◽  
World Health ◽  
Response Team ◽  
Significant Change ◽  
Health Organization

ABSTRACTObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to assess, through participant self-assessment, the effectiveness of a rapid response team curriculum based on the World Health Organization (WHO) Ebola Virus Disease Consolidated Preparedness Checklist, Revision 1.MethodsA pre-and-post survey for the purpose of process improvement assessment involving 44 individuals was conducted in Angola. The survey was conducted before and after a 6-day training workshop held in Luanda, Angola, in December 2017. A paired t-test was used to identify any significant change on six 7-point Likert scale questions with α <.05 (95% CI).ResultsTwo of the 6 questions, “I feel confident the team can effectively work together to accomplish its assigned goals and objectives during a suspected contagious hemorrhagic fever disease outbreak” and “I understand basic pandemic response concepts” changed significantly from the presurvey to the postsurvey. The 4 remaining questions had near statistical significant change or an upward trend.ConclusionThis Angolan rapid response team training curriculum based on WHO guidelines, After Action Reports, and internationally accepted standard operating procedures provides the nation of Angola with the confidence to rapidly respond at the national level to a highly infectious contagion in the region. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2019;13:577-581)

scholarly journals Ebola 2014 - unprecedented epidemic / Ebola 2014 – epidemija bez presedana

2015 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 11
Author(s):  
Darija Knežević ◽  
Duška Jović
Keyword(s):  
Ebola Virus ◽  
Virus Disease ◽  
Hemorrhagic Fever ◽  
Medical Personnel ◽  
Viral Disease ◽  
World Health ◽  
Effective Vaccine ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Imported Case ◽  
Health Organization

Ebola, previously known as Ebola hemorrhagic fever, is a rare and deadly disease caused by infection with one of the Ebola virus strains. Starting from February 2014, the Ebola virus outbreak had spread across West African countries within a few months and caused great concerns of the World Health Organization. Currently there are no effective vaccines and drugs that are available for the prevention and treatment of infection with Ebola virus. Medical personnel caring for patients with suspect or confirmed Ebola viral disease is particularly exposed to the risk of suffering from this dangerous disease. It is important for frontline medical providers to understand key aspects of Ebola virus disease to quickly recognize an imported case, provide appropriate medical care, and prevent transmission. This paper gives a brief overview of the epidemics and pandemics, the biological characteristics of Ebola virus, the potential antiviral drugs and vaccines, as well as preventive measures.* 31 . July 2015, is said to have discovered an effective vaccine against Ebola virus http://www.thelancet.com/pb/assets/raw/Lancet/pdfs/S0140673615611175.pdf (note editor).

scholarly journals Quarantine for Zika Virus? Where is the Science?

2016 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 704-706 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristi L. Koenig
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Zika Virus ◽  
Ebola Virus ◽  
Virus Disease ◽  
Rapid Test ◽  
Signs And Symptoms ◽  
World Health ◽  
Virus Infections ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Spread Of Infection

AbstractIn January 2016, the World Health Organization warned that Zika virus is “spreading explosively” in the Americas and that up to 4 million infections could be present worldwide within a year. Soon thereafter, some politicians and authors publicly advocated for quarantine of travelers returning from regions where mosquitoes carrying Zika virus are prevalent. The public health tool of quarantine can be used to prevent the spread of infection by restricting the movement of persons who have been exposed to a deadly disease that can be transmitted from person to person before symptom onset. With 80% of Zika virus infections being asymptomatic, no rapid test being available to detect the virus, and primary transmission being via the bites of certain mosquitoes, application of quarantine in this setting is not scientifically sound or practically feasible. Rather, public health interventions should focus on preventing bites from infected mosquitoes, counseling pregnant women on the risks of fetal microcephaly and other birth defects, and identifying patients with signs and symptoms of Guillain-Barré syndrome. As was seen in the Ebola virus disease outbreak of 2014, non-evidence-based factors can influence policy decisions. Public health experts must ensure that policy makers are informed that quarantine is not a scientifically sound approach for the control of Zika virus. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2016;0:1–3)

scholarly journals Impacts of Ebola on Supply Chains in MRB Countries

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 122-139
Author(s):  
Peter Davis Sumo
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chains ◽  
Ebola Virus ◽  
Virus Disease ◽  
World Health ◽  
Governmental Agencies ◽  
Gdp Growth Rate ◽  
Control And Prevention ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
And Control ◽  
The Impact

The purpose of this paper is to present a science-based narrative of the impact of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) on the supply chains of the major commodities of Liberia. Scientific literatures from appropriate journals, newspapers, trade data of applicable ministries and governmental agencies, data on Ebola from websites of World Health Organization (WHO), Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), Center for Disease and Control and Prevention (CDC), World Bank, the International Monetary Funds (IMF) and other relevant institutions are used extensively while also employing a market chain approach to represent the overall supply chains of these products. The review reveals, among others, the significant disruption to the flow of goods and the decrease in output of the main export commodities of Liberia. It also shows a fall in the real GDP growth rate of the Mano River Basin (MRB) countries during the Ebola years. The paper identifies that the specific mechanisms through which the supply chains were disrupted were as a result of fear and government’s regulation. Additionally, it provides a practical conduit for the diversification of the rubber industry. Given the complex web of supply chains of just a single product, this effort is in no way an exhaustive review on the impact of the EVD on supply chains of commodities dealt with herein, let alone the overall impact of EVD on the country as a whole. Obviously, this review is also limited in terms of scope and extent. This review is a useful introduction to investigators who might want to commit to research in this particular aspect of the impact of the EVD vis-a-vis its impact on supply chains in Liberia or on a broader level, the MRB Countries.

Reconsidering the Ethical Permissibility of the Use of Unregistered Interventions against Ebola Virus Disease

2015 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 366-369 ◽  
Author(s):  
JOSHUA T. LANDRY ◽  
THOMAS FOREMAN ◽  
MICHAEL KEKEWICH
Keyword(s):  
Ebola Virus ◽  
Virus Disease ◽  
Ebola Virus Disease ◽  
World Health ◽  
Ethical Considerations ◽  
Ethical Imperative ◽  
The World ◽  
Considerable Debate ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Do So

Abstract:Ethical considerations for the use of unregistered interventions for Ebola virus disease have sparked considerable debate among academic and clinical ethicists. In August 2014 the World Health Organization (WHO) convened a panel of experts to discuss approaches to the outbreak in West Africa, with the goal of determining "whether it is ethical to use unregistered interventions with unknown adverse effects for possible treatment or prophylaxis”.1 The panel concluded that there would be an ethical imperative to provide such unregistered interventions if specific criteria could be met. This paper evaluates the WHO conclusion and argues that although it may be reasonable to provide unregistered interventions considering the circumstance, there is no clear ethical imperative to do so.

scholarly journals Early transmission dynamics of Ebola virus disease (EVD), West Africa, March to August 2014

2014 ◽  
Vol 19 (36) ◽  
Author(s):  
H Nishiura ◽  
G Chowell
Keyword(s):  
Sierra Leone ◽  
Ebola Virus ◽  
Reproduction Number ◽  
Virus Disease ◽  
Ebola Virus Disease ◽  
World Health ◽  
Primary Case ◽  
Specific Data ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Country Specific

The effective reproduction number, Rt, of Ebola virus disease was estimated using country-specific data reported from Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone to the World Health Organization from March to August, 2014. Rt for the three countries lies consistently above 1.0 since June 2014. Country-specific Rt for Liberia and Sierra Leone have lied between 1.0 and 2.0. Rt<2 indicate that control could be attained by preventing over half of the secondary transmissions per primary case.

scholarly journals The 2014 Ebola virus disease outbreak in West Africa

2014 ◽  
Vol 95 (8) ◽  
pp. 1619-1624 ◽  
Author(s):  
Derek Gatherer
Keyword(s):  
West Africa ◽  
Ebola Virus ◽  
Virus Disease ◽  
Single Case ◽  
Atlantic Coast ◽  
Urban Setting ◽  
Ebola Virus Disease ◽  
World Health ◽  
The Republic ◽  
Health Organization

On 23 March 2014, the World Health Organization issued its first communiqué on a new outbreak of Ebola virus disease (EVD), which began in December 2013 in Guinée Forestière (Forested Guinea), the eastern sector of the Republic of Guinea. Located on the Atlantic coast of West Africa, Guinea is the first country in this geographical region in which an outbreak of EVD has occurred, leaving aside the single case reported in Ivory Coast in 1994. Cases have now also been confirmed across Guinea as well as in the neighbouring Republic of Liberia. The appearance of cases in the Guinean capital, Conakry, and the transit of another case through the Liberian capital, Monrovia, presents the first large urban setting for EVD transmission. By 20 April 2014, 242 suspected cases had resulted in a total of 147 deaths in Guinea and Liberia. The causative agent has now been identified as an outlier strain of Zaire Ebola virus. The full geographical extent and degree of severity of the outbreak, its zoonotic origins and its possible spread to other continents are sure to be subjects of intensive discussion over the next months.

scholarly journals 774. Sexual Behaviors and Attitudes of Intimate Partners of Ebola Survivors

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S431-S432
Author(s):  
Hannah M Cunningham ◽  
David Wohl ◽  
Sam Tozay ◽  
Edwina Reeves ◽  
Korto Pewu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Behaviors ◽  
Ebola Virus ◽  
Virus Disease ◽  
Sexual Transmission ◽  
World Health ◽  
Qualitative Assessment ◽  
Intimate Partners ◽  
Male Survivors ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Survey Responses

Abstract Background Sexual transmission of the Ebola virus (EBOV) from male survivors to their partners has been well-documented. While studies have characterized the sexual behaviors of male survivors of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), there is little focus on their intimate partners. This study seeks to describe the attitudes and sexual behaviors of women who have had condomless sex with male survivors of the 2014-16 Ebola outbreak in Liberia, West Africa. Methods Participants were recruited through voluntary referral by their sexual partners, all of whom were participants in a longitudinal EVD survivor cohort. From February to March 2020, 30 women (age range: 19-53 years) were enrolled and surveyed regarding their sexual behaviors with a focus on perceptions of risk for acquisition of Ebola from their partners and the measures taken to address this risk. Mix method quantitative and qualitative assessment of survey responses was completed. Content analysis was used to consider open-ended questionnaire responses. Results Few women reported full compliance with the 2016 World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations for safer sex with EVD survivor partners, but 50% described utilization of a safer se x strategy to reduce risk of transmission. Major themes identified include: (1) an inaccurate perception of no or low risk of sexual transmission of Ebola virus, (2) negative attitudes towards condoms, (3) a preference for abstinence among those seeking to avoid infection, and (4) positive attitudes towards health care worker advice. Conclusions Future outbreaks will benefit from intervention programs to address knowledge gaps among women and their male survivor partner regarding the risk of sexual transmission of Ebola and clear communication about effective strategies to reduce this risk. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

scholarly journals Clinical and epidemiological features of the disease caused by the Ebola virus, at the present stage: pathogenetic basis of therapy

2015 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 32-39
Author(s):  
O. I Kiselev ◽  
L. M Tsybalova ◽  
E. G Deeva ◽  
V. V Tsvetkov ◽  
G. S Golobokov ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
West Africa ◽  
Coming Out ◽  
Ebola Virus ◽  
Virus Disease ◽  
Disease Outbreaks ◽  
Multiple Organ ◽  
World Health ◽  
Pathogenetic Therapy ◽  
Sporadic Cases ◽  
Health Organization

Ebola virus disease (EVD), formerly known as Ebola haemorrhagic fever is severe acute infectious diseases accompanied by the development of severe systemic inflammatory response followed by the addition of disseminated intravascular coagulation and multiple organ failure. Since 1976 in Africa regularly observed disease outbreaks among humans caused by different types of Ebola virus. Modern epidemic in West Africa began in Guinea in February 2014 and is still going on, coming out of the country and distributed in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Nigeria. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) on December 14, 2014 recorded 18,603 cases of them confirmed EVD 11807, fatal 6915. From July 2014 to currently registered sporadic cases EVD among health care workers caring for patients, as well as among tourists returning from countries affected by the epidemic is already outside of West Africa. Due to the limited use of specific antiviral therapy with special attention to the management ofpatients with EVD should be paid to the intensive and timely pathogenetic therapy. Today, the only way to reduce morbidity and mortality among people from EVD is awareness on the risk factors of infection and the use ofpersonal protective measures.

scholarly journals Monitoring Symptoms of Infectious Diseases: Perspectives for Printed Wearable Sensors

Micromachines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 620
Author(s):  
Ala’aldeen Al-Halhouli ◽  
Ahmed Albagdady ◽  
Ja’far Alawadi ◽  
Mahmoud Abu Abeeleh
Keyword(s):  
Infectious Diseases ◽  
Ebola Virus ◽  
Virus Disease ◽  
Wearable Sensors ◽  
Vital Signs ◽  
Hemorrhagic Fever ◽  
Marburg Virus ◽  
World Health ◽  
Valley Fever ◽  
Design Modification

Infectious diseases possess a serious threat to the world’s population, economies, and healthcare systems. In this review, we cover the infectious diseases that are most likely to cause a pandemic according to the WHO (World Health Organization). The list includes COVID-19, Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF), Ebola Virus Disease (EBOV), Marburg Virus Disease (MARV), Lassa Hemorrhagic Fever (LHF), Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), Nipah Virus diseases (NiV), and Rift Valley fever (RVF). This review also investigates research trends in infectious diseases by analyzing published research history on each disease from 2000–2020 in PubMed. A comprehensive review of sensor printing methods including flexographic printing, gravure printing, inkjet printing, and screen printing is conducted to provide guidelines for the best method depending on the printing scale, resolution, design modification ability, and other requirements. Printed sensors for respiratory rate, heart rate, oxygen saturation, body temperature, and blood pressure are reviewed for the possibility of being used for disease symptom monitoring. Printed wearable sensors are of great potential for continuous monitoring of vital signs in patients and the quarantined as tools for epidemiological screening.

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