Ethics review of studies during public health emergencies - the experience of the WHO ethics review committee during the Ebola virus disease epidemic

BackgroundIn this piece, we translate insights from our study of routine coordination in the Ebola virus disease response operation by Uganda Red Cross Society (URCS) for managing long-lasting public health emergencies. We further show how these lessons are relevant to the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic. Commonly, emergency response organisations, like the URCS or hospitals, are ill equipped to handle longer lasting emergencies. These emergencies require special measures that combine ad-hoc action, continuous awareness over longer time periods, and the collaboration of multiple actors such as the government, public health institutions and other non-governmental organisations (NGOs).ResultsFrom our study we can translate seven lessons learnt which are important for managing long-term public health emergencies such as pandemics: (1) centralised pooling and management of resources; (2) engagement of local communities in response efforts; (3) the need to continuously recruit and train staff; (4) the establishment of adjusted working patterns to prevent staff exhaustion; (5) cooperation of involved agencies with security for enforcing measures; (6) the revision of funding frameworks; and (7) the use of global positioning system (GPS) data to identify population movement patterns.ConclusionAlthough still speculative at this stage, we apply these lessons to the current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. We argue that immediate action in the areas of resource pooling and control over critical resources, in the engagement of trusted and respected individuals in risk communication, in the continuous training and hiring of new staff, and in the appropriation of GPS tracking data is called for in managing SARS-CoV-2 by policy makers, NGOs and other involved agencies.

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The influence and enlightenment of five public health emergencies on public psychology since new century: A systematic review

International Journal of Social Psychiatry ◽

10.1177/00207640211002222 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 002076402110022

Author(s):

Zhifeng Wang ◽

Dongmei Wang

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Ebola Virus ◽

Psychological Intervention ◽

Virus Disease ◽

H1n1 Influenza ◽

Psychological State ◽

Wild Animals ◽

Post Traumatic Stress ◽

Public Health Emergencies ◽

The People

Background: Since the 21st century, humans have experienced five public health emergencies: the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), type A H1N1 influenza (H1N1), Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), Ebola virus disease (EVD), and the new coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19). They caused a large number of casualties and a wider psychological crisis, which might cause severe consequences such as post-traumatic stress disorder and suicide. Aims: To reveal the law of formation of public psychological crisis in public health emergencies, and draw lessons from it. To provide ideas for effectively deal with these psychological crisis problems and fundamentally curbing the occurrence of public health emergencies. Method: Through the method of literature research, ‘public health incidents’, ‘psychological crisis’, ‘mental health’, ‘psychological intervention’, ‘SARS’, ‘H1N1’, ‘MERS’, ‘EVD’, and ‘COVID-19’ were used to search literatures in the databases such as PubMed, Springer, and Sciencedirect, and the literatures were summarized, sorted, and studied. Results: (1) The public health emergencies caused a universal psychological crisis. The main manifestations were depression, compulsion, despair, etc. The people involved mainly include patients, suspected isolated patients, medical staff, and the general public in the epidemic situation. (2) People’s psychological state often experienced stress stage, shock stage, acceptance, and reorganization. Only some susceptible individuals couldn’t complete effective psychological reconstruction, resulting in serious psychological disorders. Individual susceptibility is related to genetic factors, adversity, and traumatic stimuli experienced in early life. Conclusion: To reduce these psychological crisis problems, we should establish and improve the psychological crisis intervention or rescue system of public health emergencies, it was still necessary to live in harmony with nature, get rid of the inappropriate habit of preying on wild animals, in order to prevent the cross-species transmission of the virus between wild animals and humans, and to fundamentally avoid the occurrence of major infectious diseases.

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Screening at ports of entry for Ebola Virus Disease in England—a descriptive analysis of screening assessment data, 2014–2015

Journal of Public Health ◽

10.1093/pubmed/fdaa216 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Nicki L Boddington ◽

Sophia Steinberger ◽

Richard G Pebody

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

High Risk ◽

Secondary Care ◽

Ebola Virus ◽

Virus Disease ◽

Descriptive Analysis ◽

Health Assessment ◽

Ebola Virus Disease ◽

Screening Assessment

Abstract Background In response to the outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in West Africa in 2014 and evidence of spread to other countries, pre-entry screening was introduced by PHE at five major ports of entry in the England. Methods All passengers that entered the England via the five ports returning from Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leonne were required to complete a Health Assessment Form and have their temperature taken. The numbers, characteristics and outcomes of these passengers were analysed. Results Between 14 October 2014 and 13 October 2015, a total of 12 648 passengers from affected countries had been screened. The majority of passengers were assessed as having no direct contact with EVD cases or high-risk events (12 069, 95.4%), although 535 (4.2%) passengers were assessed as requiring public health follow-up. In total, 39 passengers were referred directly to secondary care, although none were diagnosed with EVD. One high-risk passenger was later referred to secondary care and diagnosed with EVD. Conclusions Collection of these screening data enabled timely monitoring of the numbers and characteristics of passengers screened for EVD, facilitated resourcing decisions and acted as a mechanism to inform passengers of the necessary public health actions.

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Molecular detection and point-of-care testing in Ebola virus disease and other threats: a new global public health framework to stop outbreaks

Expert Review of Molecular Diagnostics ◽

10.1586/14737159.2015.1079776 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 15 (10) ◽

pp. 1245-1259 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Gerald J Kost ◽

William Ferguson ◽

Anh-Thu Truong ◽

Jackie Hoe ◽

Daisy Prom ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Ebola Virus ◽

Molecular Detection ◽

Virus Disease ◽

Point Of Care ◽

Ebola Virus Disease ◽

Global Public Health ◽

Point Of Care Testing

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First FDA-approved vaccine for the prevention of Ebola virus disease, marking a critical milestone in public health preparedness and response

Case Medical Research ◽

10.31525/cmr-24ab0c1 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Ebola Virus ◽

Virus Disease ◽

Ebola Virus Disease ◽

Public Health Preparedness

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Doctors’ Knowledge of Viral Haemorrhagic Fevers

Acute Medicine Journal ◽

10.52964/amja.0413 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 14 (2) ◽

pp. 47-52

Author(s):

Clifford Lisk ◽

◽

Luke Snell ◽

Michael Haji-Coll ◽

Jayne Ellis ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Risk Factors ◽

At Risk ◽

West Africa ◽

Ebola Virus ◽

Healthcare Professionals ◽

Virus Disease ◽

Ebola Virus Disease ◽

Poor Knowledge ◽

Online Study

Viral Haemorrhagic Fevers (VHF) such as Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) are of increasing concern of increasing concern to clinicians and public heath bodies across Europe and America due to the on-going epidemic in West Africa. We conducted an online study to assess clinicians’ knowledge of VHF across six hospital sites in London. This showed suboptimal knowledge of Public Health England guidance, EVD epidemiology and the risk factors for acquiring VHF. Knowledge about VHF was dependent on seniority of grade with the most junior grade of doctors performing worse in several areas of the survey. Poor knowledge raises concerns that those at risk of VHF will be inappropriately risk stratified and managed. Education of doctors and other healthcare professionals about VHF is necessary to address these knowledge gaps.

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