scholarly journals Operationalizing genomic epidemiology during the Nord-Kivu Ebola outbreak, Democratic Republic of the Congo

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eddy Kinganda-Lusamaki ◽  
Allison Black ◽  
Daniel Mukadi ◽  
James Hadfield ◽  
Placide Mbala-Kingebeni ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ebola Virus ◽  
Democratic Republic ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Sequence Data ◽  
Virus Disease ◽  
Scientific Progress ◽  
Outbreak Response ◽  
Genomic Epidemiology ◽  
Epidemiologic Surveillance ◽  
Republic Of The Congo

AbstractThe Democratic Republic of the Congo declared its tenth Ebola virus disease outbreak in July 2018, which has circulated primarily in the Nord Kivu province. In addition to standard epidemiologic surveillance and response efforts, the Institut National de Recherche Biomédicale implemented an end-to-end genomic surveillance system, including sequencing, bioinformatic analysis, and dissemination of genomic epidemiologic results to frontline public health workers. Here we report 538 new genomes from this outbreak; together with previously available sequence data (n = 48 genomes), this represents an unprecedented 17% of all laboratory-confirmed infections. To support outbreak response efforts, we reconstructed spatiotemporal transmission dynamics at broad and at fine scales as new data were available and disseminated the results via an interactive narrative-based platform. Our innovative system enables actionable information sharing between scientists and epidemiologists coordinating the day-to-day response on the time scales necessary to guide response efforts. The development of this genomic surveillance pipeline, within a resource-limited setting, represents significant technological and scientific progress in genomic epidemiology. Here we present a phylodynamic analysis of the outbreak as of February 2020, and describe the types of epidemiologic dynamics that we monitor the genomic data for, including resolution of co-circulating transmission chains, detection of superspreading events, inference of regions that act as transmission sources and sinks, and differentiation of closely linked cases versus propagated transmission. These findings have ameliorated the current outbreak response and are directly applicable to future outbreaks.

scholarly journals Show solidarity with the Congolese people in the 10th Ebola outbreak declared a health emergency of international concern: understand a qualitative study of variables of hospital activities on infection control practices in Kinshasa city

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guyguy Kabundi Tshima ◽  
Kaleb Tshimungu Kalala
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Infection Control ◽  
Ebola Virus ◽  
Democratic Republic ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Virus Disease ◽  
The Other ◽  
Ebola Virus Disease ◽  
Republic Of The Congo ◽  
North Kivu

AbstractHealth workers play an important role during epidemics, but there is limited research on hospital activities on infection control practices in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and how health workers can cope during a probable health epidemic in Kinshasa city. The determinants of the current Ebola Virus Disease in the geographical distribution remain poorly understood. The World Health Organization’s Health Regulation Committee decided on Wednesday July 17th, 2019 to declare the Ebola haemorrhagic fever epidemic in the provinces of North Kivu and Ituri as a health emergency of international concern. The country struggles to control it against a backdrop of a health system that is already overburdened. To test the influence of the challenges of a contamination in the context of an Ebola outbreak that may face health workers and their coping strategies in thirteen hospitals of reference in Kinshasa, we conducted a survey hoping to educate or remember good practices for health workers in Kinshasa that is also available for health workers in the East Area of the country in which the ongoing Ebola outbreak progress is spreading (North Kivu and Ituri). For the ongoing outbreak, we obtained data from the Ministère de la Santé Publique of the Democratic Republic of the Congo where cases are classified as suspected, probable, or confirmed using national case definitions. We found that the ongoing Ebola virus outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has similar epidemiological features to previous Ebola virus disease outbreak in Sierra Leone that was well described. For the qualitative study about the biosecurity in thirteen hospitals of reference in Kinshasa, we found that the Bondeko-Ngaliema Monkole group has occupied the first rank, while the group Kintambo-King Baudouin-Ndjili-Makala occupied the other end of the scale; the other health facilities occupied an intermediate position. Among the 7 hospitals which were placed at the top of this classification of biosecurity, 5 were massively subsidized by international NGO, which explains to a great extent their performances in one hand, another hand finding its explanation in the quality of their management. It is the case of Bondeko, Monkole, Kalembe-Lembe, St Joseph and Kingasani 2.Author summaryThe determinants of the transmission are poorly understood, but a growing body of evidence supports an important role of the lack of prevention in the dissemination of Ebola virus. The results of our study conducted in 13 hospitals of reference in Kinshasa suggest that the biosecurity measures—which were introduced in Kinshasa hospitals policies through prevention since Ebola outbreaks—have been respected by 75% and had 25% of parameters to be improved. Biosecurity is an important concept; it seems to be a vector for the prevention of Ebola Virus Disease. In addition, the lack of biosecurity observation may have a role in the contamination of Ebola Virus Disease in local populations found in invaded areas. This study provides knowledge into the preventive measures influencing Ebola Virus Disease populations, thereby determining in perspective a study on meat consumption of animals found dead in forests that will be a risk for human infection as the Democratic Republic of the Congo has many forests.

scholarly journals PTSD, depression and anxiety in Ebola virus disease survivors in Beni town, Democratic Republic of the Congo

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Célestin Kaputu-Kalala-Malu ◽  
Eric Mafuta Musalu ◽  
Tim Walker ◽  
Olga Ntumba-Tshitenge ◽  
Steve Ahuka-Mundeke
Keyword(s):  
Ebola Virus ◽  
Democratic Republic ◽  
Short Term Memory ◽  
Virus Disease ◽  
Ebola Virus Disease ◽  
Depression And Anxiety ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Republic Of The Congo ◽  
Persistent Headache

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.

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

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

scholarly journals Ptsd, Depression and Anxiety In Ebola Virus Disease Survivors In Beni Town, Democratic Republic of the Congo

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
CELESTIN KAPUTU-KALALA-MALU ◽  
Eric Mafuta Musalu ◽  
Tim Walker ◽  
Olga Ntumba-Tshitenge ◽  
Steve Ahuka-Mundeke
Keyword(s):  
Ebola Virus ◽  
Democratic Republic ◽  
Short Term Memory ◽  
Virus Disease ◽  
Ebola Virus Disease ◽  
Depression And Anxiety ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Term Memory ◽  
Republic Of The Congo ◽  
Persistent Headache

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 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 and a binary logistic regression model were used for analysis. Results The prevalence of PTSD, depression and anxiety was 24.3%, 24.3% and 33.3% respectively. Being male (p = 0.049 ; OR = 0. 42 (CI : 0. 16–0.95), suffering from persistent headache (p = 0. 014 OR = 2.62 CI (1.12–6.14), losing a loved one because of EVD (p = 0. 015 ; OR : 2.60 (CI : 1.11–6.15) and being young − 18–24 years - (p = 0,026 ; OR : 0. 261 (IC : 0. 018-0.055).) were statistically associated with PTSD diagnosis. Having short-term memory impairment and suffering from persistent headache were statistically associated with depression and anxiety diagnoses (p = 0.026 OR = 2,44 (CI : 1.03–5.82) ; (p = 0. 025 OR = 2.24 (CI : 1.04–4.85) ; (p = 0.014 OR = 2.62 (CI : 1.12–6.14) ; (p = 0. 020 OR = 2.31 (CI : 1.06–5.01) 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.

2018 Ebola virus disease outbreak in Équateur Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo: a retrospective genomic characterisation

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (6) ◽  
pp. 641-647 ◽  
Author(s):  
Placide Mbala-Kingebeni ◽  
Catherine B Pratt ◽  
Michael R Wiley ◽  
Moussa M Diagne ◽  
Sheila Makiala-Mandanda ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ebola Virus ◽  
Democratic Republic ◽  
Virus Disease ◽  
Disease Outbreak ◽  
Ebola Virus Disease ◽  
Republic Of The Congo

scholarly journals Clinical Evaluation of QuickNaviTM-Ebola in the 2018 Outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Viruses ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 589 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sheila Makiala ◽  
Daniel Mukadi ◽  
Anja De Weggheleire ◽  
Shino Muramatsu ◽  
Daisuke Kato ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
West Africa ◽  
Diagnostic Tests ◽  
Ebola Virus ◽  
Democratic Republic ◽  
Virus Disease ◽  
Point Of Care ◽  
Rapid Diagnostic Tests ◽  
Ebola Virus Disease ◽  
Blood Samples ◽  
Republic Of The Congo

The recent large outbreaks of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in West Africa and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have highlighted the need for rapid diagnostic tests to control this disease. In this study, we clinically evaluated a previously developed immunochromatography-based kit, QuickNaviTM-Ebola. During the 2018 outbreaks in DRC, 928 blood samples from EVD-suspected cases were tested with QuickNaviTM-Ebola and the WHO-approved GeneXpert. The sensitivity and specificity of QuickNaviTM-Ebola, estimated by comparing it to GeneXpert-confirmed cases, were 85% (68/80) and 99.8% (846/848), respectively. These results indicate the practical reliability of QuickNaviTM-Ebola for point-of-care diagnosis of EVD.

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