scholarly journals The deuce-ace of Lassa Fever, Ebola virus disease and COVID-19 simultaneous infections and epidemics in West Africa: clinical and public health implications

2021 ◽  
Vol 49 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nnabueze Darlington Nnaji ◽  
Helen Onyeaka ◽  
Rine Christopher Reuben ◽  
Olivier Uwishema ◽  
Chinasa Valerie Olovo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Disease Surveillance ◽  
Ebola Virus ◽  
Virus Disease ◽  
Healthcare Systems ◽  
Lassa Fever ◽  
Ebola Virus Disease ◽  
Simultaneous Occurrence ◽  
Population Mobility ◽  
Health Concerns

AbstractGlobally, the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic has caused unprecedented clinical and public health concerns with increasing morbidity and mortality. Unfortunately, the burden of COVID-19 in Africa has been further exacerbated by the simultaneous epidemics of Ebola virus disease (EVD) and Lassa Fever (LF) which has created a huge burden on African healthcare systems. As Africa struggles to contain the spread of the second (and third) waves of the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of reported cases of LF is also increasing, and recently, new outbreaks of EVD. Before the pandemic, many of Africa’s frail healthcare systems were already overburdened due to resource limitations in staffing and infrastructure, and also, multiple endemic tropical diseases. However, the shared epidemiological and pathophysiological features of COVID-19, EVD and LF as well their simultaneous occurrence in Africa may result in misdiagnosis at the onset of infection, an increased possibility of co-infection, and rapid and silent community spread of the virus(es). Other challenges include high population mobility across porous borders, risk of human-to-animal transmission and reverse zoonotic spread, and other public health concerns. This review highlights some major clinical and public health challenges toward responses to the COVID-19 pandemic amidst the deuce-ace of recurrent LF and EVD epidemics in Africa. Applying the One Health approach in infectious disease surveillance and preparedness is essential in mitigating emerging and re-emerging (co-)epidemics in Africa and beyond.

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

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.

scholarly journals The Threat of Ebola Virus Disease: a Call to Integrate all Sectors in Surveillance Activities in Ghana

2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dennis O. Laryea ◽  
Yaw Amoako ◽  
Dan V. Armooh ◽  
Emmanuel P. Abbeyquaye ◽  
Bernice N. Amartey
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Service ◽  
West Africa ◽  
Health System ◽  
Disease Surveillance ◽  
Ebola Virus ◽  
Virus Disease ◽  
Public Health Importance ◽  
Ghana Health ◽  
Ghana Health Service

Surveillance for communicable diseases of public health importance is critical in preventing and controlling outbreaks. In Ghana, this responsibility lies with the Disease Surveillance Department of the Ghana Health Service (GHS). However, the structure of Ghana's health system means surveillance activities by the department are concentrated in GHS facilities. Active surveillance in non-GHS facilities usually occur during outbreaks. In light of the recent Ebola outbreak in West Africa, there is the need to integrate the surveillance activities to include all health facilities to ensure the prompt identification of cases.

scholarly journals An Outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease in the Lassa Fever Zone

2016 ◽  
Vol 214 (suppl 3) ◽  
pp. S110-S121 ◽  
Author(s):  
Augustine Goba ◽  
S. Humarr Khan ◽  
Mbalu Fonnie ◽  
Mohamed Fullah ◽  
Alex Moigboi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ebola Virus ◽  
Virus Disease ◽  
Lassa Fever ◽  
Ebola Virus Disease

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

2017 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Emilie Alirol ◽  
Annette C. Kuesel ◽  
Maria Magdalena Guraiib ◽  
Vânia de la Fuente-Núñez ◽  
Abha Saxena ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Ebola Virus ◽  
Virus Disease ◽  
Ebola Virus Disease ◽  
Review Committee ◽  
Public Health Emergencies ◽  
Ethics Review

scholarly journals Use of Peripheral Health Units in Low-Transmission Ebola Virus Disease Surveillance

2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alyssa J. Young ◽  
Allison Connolly ◽  
Adam Hoar ◽  
Brooke Mancuso ◽  
John Mark Esplana ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sierra Leone ◽  
Surveillance System ◽  
Disease Surveillance ◽  
Ebola Virus ◽  
Virus Disease ◽  
Malaria Prevalence ◽  
Ebola Virus Disease ◽  
Alert System ◽  
Community Based

Surveillance strategies for Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in Sierra Leone use a centralized "live alert" system to refer suspect cases from the community to specialized Ebola treatment centers. As EVD case burden declined in Port Loko District, Sierra Leone so did the number of reported alerts. Because EVD presents similarly to malaria, the number of alerts should remain consistent with malaria prevalence in malaria-endemic areas, irrespective of the reduction in true EVD cases. A community-based EVD surveillance system with improved symptom recording and follow-up of malaria-confirmed patients at PHUs was implemented in order to strengthen the sensitivity of EVD reporting.

scholarly journals Avian Flu, Ebola, MERS, and Other Emerging Challenges for Influenza Surveillance Practitioners

2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alan Siniscalchi ◽  
Brooke Evans
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Disease Surveillance ◽  
Ebola Virus ◽  
Virus Disease ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Emerging Diseases ◽  
Influenza Surveillance ◽  
Surveillance Systems ◽  
Public Health Agencies ◽  
Public Health Practitioners

Public health agencies strive to develop and maintain cost-effective disease surveillance systems to better understand the burden of disease within their jurisdiction. The emergence of novel avian influenza and other respiratory viruses such as MERS-CoV along with other emerging diseases including Ebola virus disease offer new challenges to public health practitioners. The authors conducted a series of surveys of influenza surveillance coordinators to identify and define these challenges. The results emphasize the importance of maintaining sufficient infrastructure and the trained personnel needed to operate these surveillance systems for optimal disease detection and public health preparedness and response readiness.

scholarly journals Ebola, Enterovirus, MERS, Novel Flu, and other Challenges for Public Health Surveillance Practitioners

2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alan Siniscalchi ◽  
Brooke Evans
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Disease Surveillance ◽  
Ebola Virus ◽  
Virus Disease ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Emerging Diseases ◽  
Influenza Surveillance ◽  
Surveillance Systems ◽  
Public Health Agencies ◽  
Public Health Practitioners

Public health agencies strive to develop and maintain cost-effective disease surveillance systems to better understand the burden of disease within their jurisdiction. The emergence of novel influenza and other respiratory viruses such as MERS-CoV along with other emerging diseases including Ebola virus disease offer new challenges to public health practitioners. The authors conducted a series of surveys of influenza surveillance coordinators to identify and define these challenges. The results emphasize the importance of maintaining sufficient infrastructure and the trained personnel needed to operate these surveillance systems for optimal disease detection and public health preparedness and response readiness.

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