Epidemiologic and Clinical Aspects of the Ebola Virus Epidemic in Mosango, Democratic Republic of the Congo, 1995

Abstract Background Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) is a deadly and feared infectious disease, which can be responsible of debilitating physical and psychological sequelae in survivors including depression and anxiety disorders. Unfortunately, there are scarce data on survivor sequelae in Democratic Republic of the Congo. So this study assessed PTSD, depression and anxiety symptoms among EVD survivors enrolled in the follow-up program of the psychosocial care team of Beni town’s general hospital. Methods A cross-sectional study used consecutive sampling to recruit 144 Ebola virus disease survivors who came for follow up from October 23 to November 13; 2019. Basic socio-demographic data, presence of headache and short-term memory function were assessed. The Post-traumatic Checklist Scale and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale were used to assess psychological burden among participants. Descriptive statistics were used to summarized data and Pearson’s or likelihood chi-square were used to test association between psychiatric disorders and associated factors. Results The prevalence of PTSD, depression and anxiety was 24.3, 24.3 and 33.3% respectively. Being male (OR = 0.42, 95% CI: 0.16, 0.95, p = 0.049), suffering from persistent headache (OR = 2.62, 95% CI: 1.12, 6.14, p = 0.014), losing a loved one because of EVD (OR: 2.60, 95% CI: 1.11, 6.15, p = 0. 015) and being young − 18-24 years - (OR: 0. 261, 95% CI: 0. 08, 0.82, p = 0,026) were statistically associated with PTSD diagnosis. Having short-term memory impairment and suffering from persistent headache were statistically associated with depression and anxiety diagnoses (OR = 2.44, 95% CI: 1.03, 5.82, p = 0.026); (OR = 2.24, 95% CI: 1.04, 4.85, p = 0.025); (OR = 2.62, 95% CI: 1.12, 6.14, p = 0.014); (OR = 2.31, 95% CI: 1.06, 5.01, p = 0.020). Conclusion The prevalence of PTSD, depression and anxiety is high among EVD survivors. Development of specialized psychiatric services to sustain psychiatric and psychological health amongst survivors in the cultural context of the Eastern part of the DRC should be considered by the teams fighting against EVD in the DRC.

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Possible Seasonal Pattern of Ebola Virus Disease in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Epidemiology Open Access ◽

10.4172/2161-1165.1000245 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 6 (3) ◽

Author(s):

Diego Mpia Elenge

Keyword(s):

Ebola Virus ◽

Democratic Republic ◽

Virus Disease ◽

Seasonal Pattern ◽

Ebola Virus Disease ◽

Republic Of The Congo

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1666. Community Beliefs about Ebola and Implications for Disease Control in Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo

Open Forum Infectious Diseases ◽

10.1093/ofid/ofz360.1530 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 6 (Supplement_2) ◽

pp. S609-S609

Author(s):

Qaasim Mian ◽

Kasereka Masumbuko Claude ◽

Michael Hawkes

Keyword(s):

Ebola Virus ◽

Democratic Republic ◽

Traditional Healers ◽

Control Measures ◽

Community Members ◽

Group Discussions ◽

Major Barrier ◽

Modes Of Transmission ◽

Infection Control Measures ◽

Republic Of The Congo

Abstract Background The current Ebola epidemic in Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has surpassed 1,300 cases and 800 deaths. Social resistance is a major barrier to control efforts, and invites an exploration of community beliefs around Ebola and its origins. Methods Mixed-methods study, using focus group discussions (FGDs) with key community informants and a 19-item survey questionnaire broadly sampling the outbreak zone. Results Between 4 to 17 August, 2018, we conducted 4 FGDs (20 participants) and surveyed 286 community members across Eastern DRC. FGDs revealed a widespread rumor in Mangina early in the epidemic of two twins bewitched by their aunt after eating her cat, who developed bleeding symptoms and triggered the epidemic. However, this myth appeared to dissipate as the epidemic progressed and biomedical transmission became generally accepted (medical syncretism). In our survey, 6% of respondents endorsed supernatural origins of Ebola. This subgroup did not differ from other respondents in terms of knowledge of biomedical modes of transmission or resistant attitudes toward infection control measures, but was more likely to believe that traditional healers could cure Ebola. Wild animals of the forest were recognized as sources of the Ebola virus by 53% of survey respondents. Our findings suggest that skepticism and/or denial of the biomedical discourse, coupled with and mistrust and fear of ETUs may fuel “underground” transmission of Ebola outside western-style medical facilities, as patients seek care from traditional healers, who are ill-equipped to deal with a highly contagious biohazard. Conclusion A deeper understanding of beliefs around Ebola origins may illuminate strategies to engage communities in control efforts. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.

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Contextual, Social and Epidemiological Characteristics of the Ebola Virus Disease Outbreak in Likati Health Zone, Democratic Republic of the Congo, 2017

Frontiers in Public Health ◽

10.3389/fpubh.2020.00349 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

Author(s):

Kathryn E. L. Grimes ◽

Bonaventure Fuamba Ngoyi ◽

Kristen B. Stolka ◽

Jennifer J. Hemingway-Foday ◽

Leopold Lubula ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Ebola Virus ◽

Democratic Republic ◽

Virus Disease ◽

Disease Outbreak ◽

Ebola Virus Disease ◽

Republic Of The Congo ◽

Health Zone ◽

Epidemiological Characteristics

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Tweeting about Ebola: Analysis of Tweets from Africa, Europe and the United States During Two Months of the 2019 Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) Epidemic in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

2019 International Conference on Information and Communication Technologies for Disaster Management (ICT-DM) ◽

10.1109/ict-dm47966.2019.9032979 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Chad Priest ◽

Doyle Groves

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Ebola Virus ◽

Democratic Republic ◽

Virus Disease ◽

The United States ◽

Ebola Virus Disease ◽

Republic Of The Congo

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Characterisation of infectious Ebola virus from the ongoing outbreak to guide response activities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: a phylogenetic and in vitro analysis

The Lancet Infectious Diseases ◽

10.1016/s1473-3099(19)30291-9 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 19 (9) ◽

pp. 1023-1032 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

Laura K McMullan ◽

Mike Flint ◽

Ayan Chakrabarti ◽

Lisa Guerrero ◽

Michael K Lo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Ebola Virus ◽

Democratic Republic ◽

Republic Of The Congo ◽

Vitro Analysis ◽

In Vitro Analysis

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Psychological distress among adults from the urban and rural areas affected by the Ebola virus disease in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology ◽

10.1007/s00127-020-01904-x ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Jude Mary Cénat ◽

Sara- Emilie McIntee ◽

Mireille Guerrier ◽

Daniel Derivois ◽

Cécile Rousseau ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Psychological Distress ◽

Rural Areas ◽

Ebola Virus ◽

Democratic Republic ◽

Virus Disease ◽

Ebola Virus Disease ◽

Republic Of The Congo ◽

Urban And Rural Areas

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The Impact of Different Types of Violence on Ebola Virus Transmission During the 2018–2020 Outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

The Journal of Infectious Diseases ◽

10.1093/infdis/jiaa163 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 222 (12) ◽

pp. 2021-2029

Author(s):

John Daniel Kelly ◽

Sarah Rae Wannier ◽

Cyrus Sinai ◽

Caitlin A Moe ◽

Nicole A Hoff ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Time Series ◽

Ebola Virus ◽

Democratic Republic ◽

Linear Time ◽

Series Data ◽

Absolute Increase ◽

Republic Of The Congo ◽

Health Zone ◽

The Impact ◽

Violent Events

Abstract Background Our understanding of the different effects of targeted versus nontargeted violence on Ebola virus (EBOV) transmission in Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is limited. Methods We used time-series data of case counts to compare individuals in Ebola-affected health zones in DRC, April 2018–August 2019. Exposure was number of violent events per health zone, categorized into Ebola-targeted or Ebola-untargeted, and into civilian-induced, (para)military/political, or protests. Outcome was estimated daily reproduction number (Rt) by health zone. We fit linear time-series regression to model the relationship. Results Average Rt was 1.06 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.02–1.11). A mean of 2.92 violent events resulted in cumulative absolute increase in Rt of 0.10 (95% CI, .05–.15). More violent events increased EBOV transmission (P = .03). Considering violent events in the 95th percentile over a 21-day interval and its relative impact on Rt, Ebola-targeted events corresponded to Rt of 1.52 (95% CI, 1.30–1.74), while civilian-induced events corresponded to Rt of 1.43 (95% CI, 1.21–1.35). Untargeted events corresponded to Rt of 1.18 (95% CI, 1.02–1.35); among these, militia/political or ville morte events increased transmission. Conclusions Ebola-targeted violence, primarily driven by civilian-induced events, had the largest impact on EBOV transmission.

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