scholarly journals PO 8581 ZOONOTIC VIRAL ANTIGENS SURVEILLANCE IN HEALTHY POPULATIONS LIVING IN LAMBARÉNÉ, GABON

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (Suppl 3) ◽  
pp. A58.2-A58
Author(s):  
Emmanuel Bache ◽  
Marguerite M Loembe ◽  
Selidji T Agnandji
Keyword(s):  
Disease Transmission ◽  
Disease Surveillance ◽  
Vaccine Trial ◽  
Viral Rna ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Surveillance Systems ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
Zoonotic Infections ◽  
Viral Antigens ◽  
Sub Saharan

BackgroundWorldwide, viral zoonotic infections such as filoviruses, flaviviruses, nairoviruses and arenaviruses cause self-limiting to severe diseases. They are endemic in sub-Saharan Africa, causing sporadic outbreaks warranting the development of sustainable surveillance systems. In Gabon, Ebola outbreaks occurred from 1994 to 2002 causing 214 human cases and 150 deaths, while Dengue, Zika and Chikungunya virus outbreaks occurred between 2007 and 2010. Beyond these outbreaks, little is known about the epidemiology. Recently, in collaboration with the Japanese government, the Research and Health Ministries of Gabon supported the implementation of a biosecurity level-3 (BSL-3) laboratory at CERMEL in Lambaréné as a zoonotic disease surveillance unit. Start-off involved antigen detection and characterisation of circulating antibodies to targeted viral antigens in healthy populations. This study reports data from healthy participants (18–50 years) in a phase I rVSV-ZEBOV-GP Ebola vaccine trial.MethodsHundred-six (106) baseline samples were screened for Ebola, Dengue (serotypes) 1–4 and Chikungunya viral RNA by RT-PCR on serum. IgG ELISA on plasma was used to identify antibodies against: Zaire-Ebola-(EBOV-GP and EBOV-VP40), Marburg-(MARV-GP and MARV-VP40), Crimean Congo Haemorrhagic Fever-(CCHFV-GP), Lasa-(LASV-GPC and LASV-NP), Yellow Fever-(YFV-NS1), West-Nile-(WNV-NS1), Zika virus-(ZIKV-NS1), Chikungunya-(CHIKV-VLP) and Dengue-(DENV1-NS1,DENV2-NS1,DENV3-NS1,DENV4-NS1) virus antigens.ResultsNo viral RNA was isolated by RT-PCR in 106 samples. About 9% (10/106), 3% (3/106), 6% (6/106), 24% (25/106), 51% (54/106), 38% (40/106) and 36% (38/106) participants were seropositive for antibodies specific to EBOV-GP, MARV-GP, CCHFV-GP, YFV-NS1, WNV-NS1, ZIKV-NS1 and CHIKV-VLP, respectively. Twelve percent (12%; 13/106) of participants possessed antibodies specific to Zika, Chikungunya and Dengue 1–4 antigens. Six percent (6%; 6/106) of participants were seropositive for EBOV-GP and CCHFV-GP.ConclusionWe found antibodies to viral zoonotic infections among our healthy volunteers. Further assays, including neutralisation assays are being performed to ascertain the specificity of the antibodies. These findings, once confirmed, will provide insights into disease surveillance, vaccine trial designs, evaluation of post-vaccine immune responses, variability in adverse events and overall disease transmission patterns.

scholarly journals COVID-19 Crisis in Africa: Revisiting the Contributing Factors

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 64-67
Author(s):  
Ugochukwu A Eze ◽  
Kingsley I Ndoh ◽  
Kehinde K Kanmodi
Keyword(s):  
Disease Surveillance ◽  
Democratic Republic Of Congo ◽  
The United States ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Surveillance Systems ◽  
Contributing Factors ◽  
African Countries ◽  
The World ◽  
Control And Prevention ◽  
Sub Saharan

Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic has been a major threat to people and healthcare systems around the world. Each region of the world has had unique factors such as culture, demographics, socioeconomic and the political landscape that has either fueled or mitigated the severity of the pandemic. For example, the 2021 Indian Kumbh Mela festival fueled a devastating wave of the pandemic in India. Similarly, the pandemic in the United States has in part been fueled an epidemic of disinformation that led to a growing number of anti-vaxxers, and those who are opposed to COVID-19 prevention guidelines set by agencies like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In Africa, burial practices in Liberia and the Democratic Republic of Congo once fueled the Ebola epidemic. Likewise, in the context of COVID-19, there are factors that are unique to Africa that may have either fueled or mitigated the severity of the pandemic. The anti-COVID-19 measures in many African countries significantly affected household income without commensurate deployment of palliative measures to cushion the effect. Fortunately, the pandemic has run a relatively milder course in sub-Saharan Africa—defying earlier devastating projections. Therefore, to be prepared for the next pandemic, African governments must involve critical stakeholders such as religious and traditional leaders, strengthen current disease surveillance systems and invest in systems that encourage private investments in local vaccine manufacturing.

scholarly journals Nowcasting Influenza-like Illness Trends in Cameroon

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elaine O. Nsoesie ◽  
Olubusola Oladeji ◽  
Aristide S. Abah Abah ◽  
Martial L. Ndeffo-Mbah
Keyword(s):  
Disease Surveillance ◽  
Respiratory Infections ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Digital Data ◽  
Surveillance Systems ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Influenza Like Illness ◽  
Search Data ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Google Search

ABSTRACTAlthough acute respiratory infections are a leading cause of mortality in sub-Saharan Africa, surveillance of diseases such as influenza is mostly neglected. Evaluating the usefulness of influenza-like illness (ILI) surveillance systems and developing approaches for forecasting future trends is important for pandemic preparedness. We applied statistical and machine learning models to forecast 2012 to 2018 trends in ILI cases reported by the Cameroon Ministry of Health (MOH), using Google searches for influenza symptoms, treatments, natural or traditional remedies as well as, infectious diseases with a high burden (i.e., AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis). The variance explained by the models based on Google search data were 87.7%, 79.1% and 52.0% for the whole country, the Littoral and Centre regions respectively. Our study demonstrates the need for developing contextualized approaches when using digital data for disease surveillance and demonstrates the potential usefulness of search data for monitoring ILI in sub-Saharan African countries.

Integrating technology and data in public health disease surveillance in Africa: case study of the AVADAR program (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chinedu Ejike Anarado ◽  
Loveth Metiboba ◽  
Faye Simmonds ◽  
Tope Falodun
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Disease Surveillance ◽  
Data Gathering ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Surveillance Systems ◽  
Wild Poliovirus ◽  
Timely Response ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Traditional Surveillance

BACKGROUND Sub-saharan Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan are the last frontiers with the prevalence of wild poliovirus (WPV). Following joint efforts and partnerships some of which were instituted in the last 20 years, Africa was declared free of WPV in August 2020. While efforts now focus on eliminating circulating vaccine derived poliovirus (cVDPV), it is important to review some of the interventions that resulted in a polio-free certification for the continent. OBJECTIVE The Auto-visual AFP detection and response (AVADAR) program was one of such interventions. AVADAR helped with a more focused, technology and data driven campaign, to ensure that surveillance was broad, inclusive, and responsive. With the infusion of mobile health technology, the project became a success as it reported, investigated and confirmed more cases of AFP compared to the existing traditional surveillance systems. This study attempts a review of the AVADAR intervention with a view to understand the role played by technology and data. METHODS This study comparatively reviewed the data generated over a three year period, across nine countries where the AVADAR project was implemented. It sought to understand how AVADAR was an improvement over traditional surveillance systems. RESULTS The AVADAR program confirmed more reported AFP cases, when compared with the traditional (paper-based) system. It was found that more true AFP cases were found through the AVADAR system. AVADAR accounted for 76% of cases reported across eight countries. CONCLUSIONS Evidently, data and technology - in this case - the AVADAR tool, addressed most of the challenges of Public Health Surveillance in the target countries. The challenge of erratic surveillance data gathering, and feedback was reduced as the AVADAR program demonstrated coordinated data gathering, active case search, timely response to alerts, and ultimately, improved confirmation of true cases. It contributes lessons that could be useful in enhancing surveillance systems across the developing world particularly in Africa.

scholarly journals Peste des petits ruminants virus infection of goats in Bangladesh: Pathological investigation, molecular detection and isolation of the virus

1970 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
MA Rahman ◽  
I Shadmin ◽  
M Noor ◽  
R Parvin ◽  
EH Chowdhury ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lymph Node ◽  
Vero Cells ◽  
Viral Rna ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Tissue Homogenate ◽  
Clinical Samples ◽  
Peste Des Petits Ruminants ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Bronchial Lymph Node

Peste des petits ruminants (PPR), an economically important morbillivirus infection of sheep and goats, is widely distributed in sub-Saharan Africa, Middle East and western and southern Asia including Bangladesh.  A small flock of Black Bengal goats contracted PPR following introduction of new animals. A pathological investigation was conducted on the outbreak, the viral RNA corresponding to F gene was detected by RT-PCR and the virus was isolated in Vero cells. Out of 37 goats 19 (51%) developed clinnical disease, of which 5 (13.5%) died. Goats under one year of age had highest morbidity and mortality with typical signs and lesions of PPR. Viral RNA should be detected in mesenteric and bronchial lymph node tissues. Typical cytopathic effects (CPE) in Vero cells following inoculation of lymph node tissue homogenate were visible at the third passage. However, the replication of virus in cel culture was detected by RT-PCR at the first and second passage in the absence of visible CPE. RT-PCR appears to be a very useful and sensitive tool not only for the detection of PPR virus in clinical samples but also for monitoring the growth or virus in cell culture following inoculation.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bvet.v28i1.8808 Bangl. vet. 2011. Vol. 28, No. 1, 1–7

scholarly journals Evaluation of influenza surveillance systems in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review protocol

BMJ Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. e023335 ◽  
Author(s):  
Evanson Zondani Sambala ◽  
Duduzile Edith Ndwandwe ◽  
Loveness M Imaan ◽  
Charles S Wiysonge
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Disease Surveillance ◽  
Database Search ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Influenza Surveillance ◽  
Free Text ◽  
Surveillance Systems ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Sensitivity Specificity

IntroductionInfluenza infrastructure systems are crucial for maintaining surveillance operations, and for mitigating and responding to the disease. The role of surveillance is to isolate and identify as rapidly as possible any new influenza strains and collate this information for the preparedness for, and response to, an impending influenza activity in humans. However, sources of surveillance information, particularly in Africa, are meagre. This systematic review will critically evaluate the existing influenza surveillance systems in sub-Saharan Africa.Method and analysisWe will build multiple electronic database search strategies for use in PubMed, Scopus, African Journal Online, Web of Science and Google scholar to identify as many studies as possible. The medical subject heading and keywords will include a wide range of synonyms, both in index terms and free-text words. Database search will be followed by hand searching of reference lists of all relevant studies. We will include eligible full-text studies published from 2002 in order to coincide with the establishment of the integrated disease surveillance and response system in Africa by WHO. We will examine the influenza surveillance performance systems using the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines on evaluating public health surveillance systems. Our outcome measures will include surveillance system attributes such as timeliness, sensitivity, specificity, acceptability, representativeness, simplicity and usefulness. We will conduct a narrative synthesis of all studies.Ethics and disseminationThis study does not require ethics approval because it uses publicly available data. Our findings will be published in a peer review journal and disseminated to policy makers.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42018103042.

Crowdsourcing Covid-19 signals in sub-Saharan Africa: Leveraging digital contributor networks for participatory surveillance of Covid-19 symptoms and deaths (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ngozi A Erondu ◽  
Sagal A Ali ◽  
Mohamed Ali ◽  
Schadrac C Agbla
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Specific Information ◽  
Surveillance Systems ◽  
Health Seeking ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Local Networks ◽  
The World ◽  
Sub Saharan

BACKGROUND In sub-Saharan Africa, underreporting of cases and deaths has been attributed to various factors including, weak disease surveillance, low health-seeking behaviour of flu like symptoms, and stigma of Covid-19. There is evidence that SARS-CoV-2 spread mimics transmission patterns of other countries across the world. Since the Covid-19 pandemic has changed the way research can be conducted and in light of restrictions on travel and risks to in-person data collection, innovative approaches to collecting data must be considered. Nearly 50% of Africa’s population is a unique mobile subscriber and it is one of the fastest growing smart-phone marketplaces in the world; hence, mobile phone platforms should be considered to monitor Covid-19 trends in the community. OBJECTIVE We demonstrate the use of digital contributor platforms to survey individuals about cases of flu-like symptoms and instances of unexplained deaths in Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, Somalia, and Zimbabwe. METHODS Rapid cross-sectional survey of individuals with severe flu and pneumonia symptoms and unexplained deaths in Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, Somalia and Zimbabwe RESULTS Using a non-health specific information platform, we found COVID-19 signals in five African countries, specifically: •Across countries, nearly half of the respondents (n=739) knew someone who had severe flu or pneumonia symptoms in recent months. •One in three respondents from Somalia and one in five from Zimbabwe respondents said they knew more than five people recently displaying flu and/or pneumonia symptoms. •In Somalia there were signals that a large number of people might be dying outside of health facilities, specifically in their homes or in IDP or refugee camps. CONCLUSIONS Existing digital contributor platforms with local networks are a non-traditional data source that can provide information from the community to supplement traditional government surveillance systems and academic surveys. We demonstrate that using these distributor networks to for community surveys can provide periodic information on rumours but could also be used to capture local sentiment to inform public health decision-making; for example, these insights could be useful to inform strategies to increase confidence in Covid19 vaccine. As Covid-19 continues to spread somewhat silently across sub-Saharan Africa, regional and national public health entities should consider expanding event-based surveillance sources to include these systems.

Interactions between ecological and socio-economic drivers of Buruli ulcer burden in Sub-Saharan Africa: opportunities for an improved control

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andes Garchitorena ◽  
Matthew H. Bonds ◽  
Jean-Francois Guégan ◽  
Benjamin Roche
Keyword(s):  
Socioeconomic Factors ◽  
Disease Transmission ◽  
Access To Health Care ◽  
Buruli Ulcer ◽  
Mycobacterium Ulcerans ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Aquatic Environments ◽  
Human Populations ◽  
Complex Interactions ◽  
Sub Saharan

This chapter provides an overview of the complex interactions between ecological and socioeconomic factors for the development and control of Buruli ulcer in Sub-Saharan Africa. We review key ecological and evolutionary processes driving the environmental persistence and proliferation of Mycobacterium ulcerans, the causative agent, within aquatic environments, as well as transmission processes from these aquatic environments to human populations. We also outline key socioeconomic factors driving the economic and health burden of Buruli ulcer in endemic regions, revealed by reciprocal feedbacks between poverty, disease transmission from exposure aquatic environments and disease progression to severe stages owing to low access to health care. The implications of such insights for disease control, both in terms of limitations of current strategies and directions for the future, are discussed.

scholarly journals Mobilising community-based research on zoonotic infections: A case study of longitudinal cohorts in Vietnam

2015 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-42 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen Saylors ◽  
Tue Ngo Tri ◽  
Toan Tran Khanh ◽  
Kiet Bach Tuan ◽  
Heiman FL Wertheim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rural Communities ◽  
Participatory Research ◽  
Disease Transmission ◽  
Disease Surveillance ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Community Based Research ◽  
Zoonotic Infections ◽  
Response Capacity ◽  
Domestic Livestock ◽  
Study Sites

We initiated the Vietnam Initiative on Zoonotic Infections (VIZIONS) research program to better understand the epidemiology of disease transmission at the human–animal interface in Vietnamese rural communities and to integrate One Health approaches to disease surveillance. We established a longitudinal community cohort study of individuals with occupational exposure to animals, which involves concurrent targeted sampling from domestic livestock species and follow-up monitoring of human clinical cases. The project was implemented by government agencies at the provincial and district levels of the public health and animal health sectors in Vietnam. Engaging with rural communities builds response capacity at the grassroots level, and has improved dialogue between local stakeholders responsible for monitoring human and animal health. Here we describe the process of initiating participatory research and cohort field implementation over the first year in two study sites in Vietnam.Keywords: Vietnam, participatory research, zoonoses, field epidemiology

scholarly journals More appropriate disease control policies for the developing world : policy and trade issues

2009 ◽  
Vol 76 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
J.C. Mariner
Keyword(s):  
Disease Control ◽  
Critical Points ◽  
Disease Transmission ◽  
Disease Surveillance ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Surveillance Systems ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Market Effects ◽  
Disease Impact ◽  
Health Situation

Investment in disease control should be targeted to critical points that provide the greatest benefit to the livelihoods of livestock-dependent stakeholders. Risk-based targeting should balance the impacts of diseases against the feasibility of their control. This requires sensitive and specific surveillance systems that provide representative overviews of the animal health situation for accurate assessment of disease impact and transmission patterns. Assessment of impact should include household and market effects. The key in surveillance is involving livestock owners using active methods that ensure their disease priorities are addressed. Epidemiological targeting of interventions to critical points in disease transmission cycles should be done to obtain maximal disease reduction. Interventions should be delivered in full partnership with both private and community-based stakeholders to assure high uptake and sustainability. In developing countries, approaches such as participatory disease surveillance and community-based animal health programs have been effective and comply with international animal health standards.

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