scholarly journals Emergence of Lassa Fever Disease in Northern Togo: Report of Two Cases in Oti District in 2016

2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Akouda Akessiwe Patassi ◽  
Dadja Essoya Landoh ◽  
Agballa Mebiny-Essoh Tchalla ◽  
Wemboo Afiwa Halatoko ◽  
Hamadi Assane ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Professionals ◽  
Ebola Virus ◽  
Clinical Symptoms ◽  
Fatal Outcome ◽  
Delayed Diagnosis ◽  
Hemorrhagic Fever ◽  
Lassa Fever ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Infection Prevention And Control ◽  
First Case

Background. Lassa fever belongs to the group of potentially fatal hemorrhagic fevers, never reported in Togo. The aim of this paper is to report the first two cases of Lassa fever infection in Togo. Case Presentation. The two first Lassa fever cases occurred in two expatriate’s health professionals working in Togo for more than two years. The symptoms appeared among two health professionals of a clinic located in Oti district in the north of the country. The absence of clinical improvement after antimalarial treatment and the worsening of clinical symptoms led to the medical evacuation. The delayed diagnosis of the first case led to a fatal outcome. The second case recovered under ribavirin treatment. Conclusion. The emergence of this hemorrhagic fever confirms the existence of Lassa fever virus in Togo. After a period of intensive Ebola virus transmission from 2013 to 2015, this is an additional call for the establishment and enhancement of infection prevention and control measures in the health care setting in West Africa.

A point-of-care diagnostic for differentiating Ebola from endemic febrile diseases

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (471) ◽  
pp. eaat0944 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Sebba ◽  
Alexander G. Lastovich ◽  
Melody Kuroda ◽  
Eric Fallows ◽  
Joshua Johnson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ebola Virus ◽  
Clinical Symptoms ◽  
Point Of Care ◽  
Hemorrhagic Fever ◽  
Diagnostic Methods ◽  
Outbreak Detection ◽  
Molecular Diagnostic ◽  
Clinical Samples ◽  
Live Virus ◽  
And Control

Hemorrhagic fever outbreaks such as Ebola are difficult to detect and control because of the lack of low-cost, easily deployable diagnostics and because initial clinical symptoms mimic other endemic diseases such as malaria. Current molecular diagnostic methods such as polymerase chain reaction require trained personnel and laboratory infrastructure, hindering diagnostics at the point of need. Although rapid tests such as lateral flow can be broadly deployed, they are typically not well-suited for differentiating among multiple diseases presenting with similar symptoms. Early detection and control of Ebola outbreaks require simple, easy-to-use assays that can detect and differentiate infection with Ebola virus from other more common febrile diseases. Here, we developed and tested an immunoassay technology that uses surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) tags to simultaneously detect antigens from Ebola, Lassa, and malaria within a single blood sample. Results are provided in <30 min for individual or batched samples. Using 190 clinical samples collected from the 2014 West African Ebola outbreak, along with 163 malaria positives and 233 negative controls, we demonstrated Ebola detection with 90.0% sensitivity and 97.9% specificity and malaria detection with 100.0% sensitivity and 99.6% specificity. These results, along with corresponding live virus and nonhuman primate testing of an Ebola, Lassa, and malaria 3-plex assay, indicate the potential of the SERS technology as an important tool for outbreak detection and clinical triage in low-resource settings.

scholarly journals IN VITRO DIAGNOSIS FOR EBOLA VIRUS DISEASE. A COMPARISON OF CURRENT TECHNIQUES AND DIAGNOSTIC ASSAYS

2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 105-116
Author(s):  
A. O. Sementsova ◽  
V. G. Dedkov ◽  
V. A. Ternovoy ◽  
E. V. Chub ◽  
S. A. Pyankov ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ebola Virus ◽  
Clinical Symptoms ◽  
Virus Disease ◽  
Hemorrhagic Fever ◽  
Multiple Organ ◽  
Ebola Virus Disease ◽  
Diagnostic Assays ◽  
Natural Foci ◽  
Forested Areas

Ebola virus disease is dangerous viral infection, occurring in the form of hemorrhagic fever, characterized by acute clinical symptoms and high mortality rate due to multiple organ failure. Ebola virus natural foci are located in forested areas of the central and western parts of Africa. It was believed for many years, the incidence of Ebola virus disease has been sporadic and the burden of it is true only in endemic areas. However, the unprecedented Ebola epidemic caused by Zaire virus in 2013 — 2016, has significantly changed our understanding of this disease and the patterns of its distribution. We have also identified weaknesses in the organization of anti-epidemic measures, the effectiveness of which was not very effective at the onset of the epidemic, in particular due to weak development of in vitro diagnostics (IVD). However, during the elimination of the epidemic in West Africa, anti-epidemic system has been modified substantially, largely due to quickly developed IVD kits. This review is devoted to analysis of trends in IVD for Ebola virus disease based on the experience obtained in the course of the West-African epidemic in 2013 — 2016.

An Overview of Newly Emerging Viral Plagues: The Hemorrhagic Fevers and a Newly Mysterious Suspect of Viral Disease, Acute Flaccid Paralysis

2020 ◽  
pp. 203-214
Author(s):  
Michael B. A. Oldstone
Keyword(s):  
Ebola Virus ◽  
Signs And Symptoms ◽  
Hemorrhagic Fever ◽  
Viral Disease ◽  
Lassa Fever ◽  
Pericardial Cavity ◽  
Blood Flows ◽  
Acute Flaccid Myelitis ◽  
Lassa Fever Virus ◽  
Serious Disease

This chapter highlights three of the recently identified viruses: Lassa fever virus, Ebola virus, and hantavirus. All three are equally lethal infectious agents, but they are members of different viral families. They share the ability to cause hemorrhagic fever. Once infected with any of these viruses, the victim soon suffers profuse breaks in small blood vessels, causing blood to ooze from the skin, mouth, gastrointestinal tract, and rectum. Internally, blood flows into the pleural cavity where the lungs are located, into the pericardial cavity surrounding the heart, into the abdomen, and into organs like the liver, kidney, heart, spleen, and lungs. Eventually, this uncontrolled bleeding causes unconsciousness and death. There is currently no established vaccine to prevent these potential plagues, although several are in various stages of development, and an Ebola vaccine is currently undergoing trial in Africa. The chapter also considers a newly emerging and undefined but serious disease of children, which arose primarily in 2014. Based on clinical observations, the disease is identified by the signs and symptoms of acute flaccid myelitis.

Favipiravir: A New Medication for the Ebola Virus Disease Pandemic

2014 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 79-81 ◽  
Author(s):  
Takashi Nagata ◽  
Alan K. Lefor ◽  
Manabu Hasegawa ◽  
Masami Ishii
Keyword(s):  
Ebola Virus ◽  
H1n1 Virus ◽  
Virus Disease ◽  
Hemorrhagic Fever ◽  
Lassa Fever ◽  
Clinical Use ◽  
Experimental Drugs ◽  
Argentine Hemorrhagic Fever ◽  
Antiviral Medication ◽  
Pandemic Influenza H1n1

AbstractThe purpose of this report is to advocate speedy approval and less stringent regulations for the use of experimental drugs such as favipiravir in emergencies. Favipiravir is a new antiviral medication that can be used in emerging viral pandemics such as Ebola virus, 2009 pandemic influenza H1N1 virus, Lassa fever, and Argentine hemorrhagic fever. Although favipiravir is one of the choices for the treatment of patients with Ebola virus, several concerns exist. First, a clinical trial of favipiravir in patients infected with the Ebola virus has not yet been conducted, and further studies are required. Second, favipiravir has a risk for teratogenicity and embryotoxicity. Therefore, the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Labor of Japan has approved this medication with strict regulations for its production and clinical use. However, owing to the emerging Ebola virus epidemic in West Africa, on August 15, 2014, the Minister of Health, Welfare and Labor of Japan approved the use of favipiravir, if needed. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2014;0:1-3)

scholarly journals Knowledge and Perception of COVID-19 Pandemic During the First Wave (Feb-May 2020): a Web Based Survey Among Italian Healthcare Workers

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caterina Rizzo ◽  
Ilaria Campagna ◽  
Elisabetta Pandolfi ◽  
Ileana Croci ◽  
Luisa Russo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Practice ◽  
General Practitioners ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Hand Washing ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Infection Prevention And Control ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Precautionary Measures

Abstract Background Italy was the first country in Europe to face the coronavirus pandemic. Healthcare workers (HCWs) were at higher risk of contracting COVID-19, because of their closer contact with patients. The present study aimed to analyze HCWs’ knowledge, practices, and attitude towards COVID-19.MethodsWe set up a cross-sectional survey through SurveyMonkey® and circulated the link in Facebook and Whatsapp closed groups. It was conducted in Italy from the end of February to the first week of May 2020. The study participants were general practitioners, pediatricians and other health professionals. Data were collected using a well-structured questionnaire including demographic, scope of knowledge, awareness and practice assessment section.ResultsA total of 958 participants were included. Of these, 320 (33.4%) were general practitioners, 248 (25.9%) were pediatricians and 390 (40.7%) were other health professionals. The highest response rate was from Northern Italy (48.1%), followed by the Center (29.9%) and Southern Italy (22.0%). The reported risk of having contact with a patient affected by Covid-19 was higher in the lockdown period than the pre-lockdown period (19.4% vs 10.2%, p=0.002). Respondents reported to have changed their clinical practice, more during lockdown period (81.1%) than in the pre-lockdown (46.3%). Particularly, they increased the use of masks (87.1%, p<0.001), disinfection and sanitization of doctors’ offices (75.8%, p<0.001), the use of protective glasses (71.2%, p<0.001), alcoholic hand solution (71.2%, p<0.001), and hand washing (31.8%, p=0.028).ConclusionsThe majority of HCWs felt prepared to face the pandemic, and increased significantly their knowledge on infection prevention and control measures less known in the routine clinical practice (such as use of protective glasses and alcoholic hand solution), compared to other well-known measures (such as hand washing). HCWs are at high risk of infection and need extensive knowledge and awareness of the disease to take adequate precautionary measures and they are crucial to disseminate good practices.

scholarly journals Metagenomic Next-Generation Sequencing of the 2014 Ebola Virus Disease Outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

2019 ◽  
Vol 57 (9) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tony Li ◽  
Placide Mbala-Kingebeni ◽  
Samia N. Naccache ◽  
Julien Thézé ◽  
Jerome Bouquet ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Next Generation Sequencing ◽  
Ebola Virus ◽  
Democratic Republic ◽  
Clinical Symptoms ◽  
Virus Disease ◽  
Hemorrhagic Fever ◽  
Next Generation ◽  
Qrt Pcr ◽  
Republic Of The Congo ◽  
Generation Sequencing

ABSTRACT We applied metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) to detect Zaire Ebola virus (EBOV) and other potential pathogens from whole-blood samples from 70 patients with suspected Ebola hemorrhagic fever during a 2014 outbreak in Boende, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and correlated these findings with clinical symptoms. Twenty of 31 patients (64.5%) tested in Kinshasa, DRC, were EBOV positive by quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR (qRT-PCR). Despite partial degradation of sample RNA during shipping and handling, mNGS followed by EBOV-specific capture probe enrichment in a U.S. genomics laboratory identified EBOV reads in 22 of 70 samples (31.4%) versus in 21 of 70 (30.0%) EBOV-positive samples by repeat qRT-PCR (overall concordance = 87.1%). Reads from Plasmodium falciparum (malaria) were detected in 21 patients, of which at least 9 (42.9%) were coinfected with EBOV. Other positive viral detections included hepatitis B virus (n = 2), human pegivirus 1 (n = 2), Epstein-Barr virus (n = 9), and Orungo virus (n = 1), a virus in the Reoviridae family. The patient with Orungo virus infection presented with an acute febrile illness and died rapidly from massive hemorrhage and dehydration. Although the patient’s blood sample was negative by EBOV qRT-PCR testing, identification of viral reads by mNGS confirmed the presence of EBOV coinfection. In total, 9 new EBOV genomes (3 complete genomes, and an additional 6 ≥50% complete) were assembled. Relaxed molecular clock phylogenetic analysis demonstrated a molecular evolutionary rate for the Boende strain 4 to 10× slower than that of other Ebola lineages. These results demonstrate the utility of mNGS in broad-based pathogen detection and outbreak surveillance.

Emerging Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers

2001 ◽  
Vol 7 (S2) ◽  
pp. 166-167
Author(s):  
Sherif R. Zaki ◽  
Cynthia S. Goldsmith
Keyword(s):  
Ebola Virus ◽  
Democratic Republic Of Congo ◽  
Hemorrhagic Fever ◽  
Lassa Fever ◽  
Valley Fever ◽  
Hemorrhagic Fevers ◽  
Vascular Regulation ◽  
Imported Cases ◽  
Clinical Pictures ◽  
Systemic Infections

Clinically, the combination of fever and hemorrhage can be caused by many pathogens, including viruses, rickettsiae, bacteria, protozoans, and fungi. However, the term viral hemorrhagic fever (VHF) is usually reserved for systemic infections characterized by fever and hemorrhage caused by a special group of viruses that belong to four different families: Filoviridae, Arenaviridae, Bunyaviridae, and Flaviviridae. All members are lipid-enveloped RNA viruses; except for filoviruses, where the resorvoir remains unknown, these viruses are transmitted to humans by arthropods and rodents. The VHFs are characterized by abnormal vascular regulation and damage. The VHFs all have similar clinical pictures with mortality rates of 15-30% or in the case of Ebola virus, up to 80%. Between 1993 and 2001, more different VHFs and related diseases were reported than during any comparable period over the past several decades. These diseases include Ebola VHF in Uganda in 2000, in Zaire in 1995 and in Gabon between 1994 and 1996; ongoing cases of Marburg hemorrhagic fever in the Democratic Republic of Congo beginning in 1998; Rift Valley fever in Saudi Arabia and Yemen in 2000 and in Kenya in 1997; Lassa fever in Sierra Leone in 1997; hantavirus pulmonary syndrome in the Americas since 1993; and imported cases of dengue hemorrhagic fever from Central and South America, and yellow fever from Africa during the 1990s.

scholarly journals Involvement of the central nervous system in dengue fever: three serologically confirmed cases from Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil

1998 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 35-40 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pedro F. C. VASCONCELOS ◽  
Amélia P. A. TRAVASSOS DA ROSA ◽  
Ivo C. B. COELHO ◽  
Dalgimar B. MENEZES ◽  
Elizabeth S. TRAVASSOS DA ROSA ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Central Nervous System ◽  
Nervous System ◽  
Blood Sample ◽  
Dengue Fever ◽  
Fatal Outcome ◽  
Hemorrhagic Fever ◽  
Nuchal Rigidity ◽  
First Case ◽  
Igm Elisa ◽  
The Central Nervous System

Three cases of dengue fever involving the central nervous system (CNS) are reported. All occurred in 1994 during a dengue (DEN) epidemic caused by serotypes DEN-1 and DEN-2. The first case examined was a 17-year-old girl who complained of fever, nuchal rigidity and genital bleeding. Three blood samples were positive by anti-dengue IgM ELISA and showed hemagglutination-inhibition (HI) test titers <FONT FACE="Symbol">³</font> 1,280. The second case concerned a 86-year-old woman with fever, muscle and joint pains, altered consciousness, syncope, nuchal rigidity and meningismus. Her blood sample showed an HI titer of 1:320 for flaviviruses, and an IgM ELISA positive for dengue. The third case was a 67-year-old woman with fever, abnormal behaviour, seizures, tremor of extremities, thrombocytopenia, increased hematocrit and leukopenia. The patient suffered a typical case of dengue hemorrhagic fever with ensuing shock and a fatal outcome. A single blood sample showed HI antibodies of <FONT FACE="Symbol">³</font> 1,280 and an IgM ELISA positive for dengue. No virus could be isolated from any patient by inoculation of blood into C6/36 cells and suckling mice. No other agent of disease was encountered in the patient.

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