scholarly journals COVID-19 pandemic in Djibouti: Epidemiology and the response strategy followed to contain the virus during the first two months, 17 March to 16 May 2020

PLoS ONE ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (12) ◽  
pp. e0243698
Author(s):  
Mohamed Elhakim ◽  
Saleh Banoita Tourab ◽  
Ahmed Zouiten
Keyword(s):  
Response Strategy ◽  
Contact Tracing ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Military Health ◽  
Intervention Measures ◽  
First Case ◽  
Rapid Control ◽  
Early Case ◽  
Response Plan ◽  
Health Assets

First cases of COVID-19 were reported from Wuhan, China, in December 2019, and it progressed rapidly. On 30 January, WHO declared the new disease as a PHEIC, then as a Pandemic on 11 March. By mid-March, the virus spread widely; Djibouti was not spared and was hit by the pandemic with the first case detected on 17 March. Djibouti worked with WHO and other partners to develop a preparedness and response plan, and implemented a series of intervention measures. MoH together with its civilian and military partners, closely followed WHO recommended strategy based on four pillars: testing, isolating, early case management, and contact tracing. From 17 March to 16 May, Djibouti performed the highest per capita tests in Africa and isolated, treated and traced the contacts of each positive case, which allowed for a rapid control of the epidemic. COVID-19 data included in this study was collected through MoH Djibouti during the period from 17 March to 16 May 2020. A total of 1,401 confirmed cases of COVID-19 were included in the study with 4 related deaths (CFR: 0.3%) and an attack rate of 0.15%. Males represented (68.4%) of the cases, with the age group 31–45 years old (34.2%) as the most affected. Djibouti conducted 17,532 tests, and was considered as a champion for COVID-19 testing in Africa with 18.2 tests per 1000 habitant. All positive cases were isolated, treated and had their contacts traced, which led to early and proactive diagnosis of cases and in turn yielded up to 95–98% asymptomatic cases. Recoveries reached 69% of the infected cases with R0 (0.91). The virus was detected in 4 regions in the country, with the highest percentage in the capital (83%). Djibouti responded to COVID-19 pandemic following an efficient and effective strategy, using a strong collaboration between civilian and military health assets that increased the response capacities of the country. Partnership, coordination, solidarity, proactivity and commitment were the pillars to confront COVID-19 pandemic.

scholarly journals COVID-19 pandemic in Djibouti: epidemiology and the response strategy followed to contain the virus during the first two months, 17 March to 16 May 2020

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohamed Elhakim ◽  
Saleh Banoita Tourab ◽  
Ahmed Zouiten
Keyword(s):  
Response Strategy ◽  
Contact Tracing ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Military Health ◽  
Intervention Measures ◽  
First Case ◽  
Rapid Control ◽  
Early Case ◽  
Response Plan ◽  
Health Assets

Background: First cases of COVID-19 were reported from Wuhan, China, in December 2019, and it progressed rapidly. On 30 January, WHO declared the new disease as a PHEIC, then as a Pandemic on 11 March. By mid-March, the virus spread widely; Djibouti was not spared and was hit by the pandemic with the first case detected on 17 March. Djibouti worked with WHO and other partners to develop a preparedness and response plan, and implemented a series of intervention measures. MoH together with its civilian and military partners, closely followed WHO recommended strategy based on four pillars: testing, isolating, early case management, and contact tracing. From 17 March to 16 May, Djibouti performed the highest per capita tests in Africa and isolated, treated and traced the contacts of each positive case, which allowed for a rapid control of the epidemic. Methods: COVID-19 data included in this study was collected through MoH Djibouti during the period from 17 March to 16 May 2020. Results: A total of 1,401 confirmed cases of COVID-19 were included in the study with 4 related deaths (CFR: 0.3%) and an attack rate of 0.15%. Males represented (68.4%) of the cases, with the age group 31-45 years old (34.2%) as the most affected. Djibouti conducted 17,532 tests, and was considered as a champion for COVID-19 testing in Africa with 18.2 tests per 1000 habitant. All positive cases were isolated, treated and had their contacts traced, which led to early and proactive diagnosis of cases and in turn yielded up to 95-98% asymptomatic cases. Recoveries reached 69% of the infected cases with R0 (0.91). The virus was detected in 4 regions in the country, with the highest percentage in the capital (83%). Conclusion: Djibouti responded to COVID-19 pandemic following an efficient and effective strategy, using a strong collaboration between civilian and military health assets that increased the response capacities of the country. Partnership, coordination, solidarity, proactivity and commitment were the pillars to confront COVID-19 pandemic.

scholarly journals Epidemiology of Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVD-19)Outbreak Cases in Oyo State South West Nigeria March -April 2020

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aishat Bukola Usman ◽  
Olubunmi Ayinde ◽  
Akinfemi Akinyode ◽  
Abass Gbolahan ◽  
Wole Lawal ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Virus Disease ◽  
Case Fatality ◽  
Field Investigation ◽  
Capital City ◽  
Contact Tracing ◽  
Epidemic Curve ◽  
First Case ◽  
Early Case ◽  
And Control

Abstract Introduction: On March 17th, 2020, Oyo State recorded her first case of COVID-19 through a United Kingdom returnee. Oyo State Ministry of Health with the support of technical and development partners responded quickly and effectively to contain the outbreak. The outbreak was characterized by place, person and time.Methods: Field investigations were conducted and contact tracing and follow up done, all confirmed cases were identified, line-listed and analyzed using Epi-info version 7.Results: A total of 34confirmed cases were identified all within the capital city of Oyo State and two transferred from other states .The mean age was 49.1 ± 2.0 years with over 40% within the age group 50-59 years. There were 11(35.5%) health care workers infection. The case-fatality was 6.5%. The epidemic curve initially shows a typical propagated pattern, followed by a point source; though atypical.Conclusion: Outbreak of COVID-19 was confirmed in Oyo State. Field investigation provided information on the characteristics of persons, time and place. Intensified surveillance activities such as contact tracing and follow- up ,drive through testing and active case search were useful in early case detection and control of the outbreak

scholarly journals Mathematical modeling of COVID-19 transmission dynamics in Uganda: Implications of complacency and early easing of lockdown

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. e0247456
Author(s):  
Joseph Y. T. Mugisha ◽  
Joseph Ssebuliba ◽  
Juliet N. Nakakawa ◽  
Cliff R. Kikawa ◽  
Amos Ssematimba
Keyword(s):  
Contact Tracing ◽  
Infectious Period ◽  
Optimal Timing ◽  
Intervention Measures ◽  
First Case ◽  
Latently Infected ◽  
Imported Cases ◽  
The Government ◽  
Set Up ◽  
The Impact

Background Uganda has a unique set up comprised of resource-constrained economy, social-economic challenges, politically diverse regional neighborhood and home to long-standing refuge crisis that comes from long and protracted conflicts of the great lakes. The devastation of the on-going global pandemic outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is likely to be escalated by these circumstances with expectations of the impact of the disease being severe. Materials and methods In this study, we formulate a mathematical model that incorporates the currently known disease characteristics and tracks various intervention measures that the government of Uganda has implemented since the reporting of the first case in March 2020. We then evaluate these measures to understand levels of responsiveness and adherence to standard operating procedures and quantify their impact on the disease burden. Novel in this model was the unique aspect of modeling the trace-and-isolate protocol in which some of the latently infected individuals tested positive while in strict isolation centers thereby reducing their infectious period. Results The study findings show that even with elimination of all imported cases at any given time it would take up to nine months to rid Uganda of the disease. The findings also show that the optimal timing of easing of lockdowns while mitigating the possibility of re-emergence of a second epidemic wave requires avoiding the scenario of releasing too-many-too-soon. It is even more worrying that enhancing contact tracing would only affect the magnitude and timing of the second wave but cannot prevent it altogether. Conclusion We conclude that, given the prevailing circumstances, a phased-out lifting of lockdown measures, minimization of COVID-19 transmissibility within hospital settings, elimination of recruitment of infected individuals as well as enhanced contact tracing would be key to preventing overwhelming of the healthcare system that would come with dire consequences.

scholarly journals Development of a district level multifaceted first-response strategy to COVID–19 in a resource limited setting in Kerala, India

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (9) ◽  
pp. 3735
Author(s):  
Raman Swathy Vaman ◽  
Mathew J. Valamparambil ◽  
Ramdas A. V. ◽  
Manoj A. T. ◽  
Basil Varghese ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Disaster Preparedness ◽  
District Level ◽  
Response Strategy ◽  
Mitigation Measures ◽  
Contact Tracing ◽  
Health Authorities ◽  
Resource Limited ◽  
First Case ◽  
First Response ◽  
Before And After

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic that began in Wuhan in China has spread rapidly with cases currently confirmed in more than 200 countries worldwide. The first case of the outbreak in India was reported on 31st January 2020 in three medical students who returned to Kerala from Wuhan. We report the district level preparedness and response to the first case of COVID-19 infection confirmed in the district of Kasaragod, Kerala. The identification, diagnosis, clinical course and management of the case including surveillance and contact tracing are described. The district level actions before and after the identification of the first case provide a guidance to other resource limited settings regarding the preparedness and mitigation measures to be adopted in times of a pandemic. The evolution of strategies highlights the importance of coordination between district and state health authorities, district administration and line departments; rapid dissemination of health information, disaster preparedness and engagement of the community for surveillance support and home quarantine.

Assessment of COVID-19 Related Misinformation among the Community in Basrah, Iraq

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (CSI) ◽  
pp. 12-18
Author(s):  
Ali Al-Rubaye ◽  
Dhurgham Abdulwahid ◽  
Aymen Albadran ◽  
Abbas Ejbary ◽  
Laith Alrubaiy
Keyword(s):  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Bachelor's Degree ◽  
Public Knowledge ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Educational Levels ◽  
The Public ◽  
First Case ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Central District

Background: There has been a rapid rise in cases of COVID-19 infection and its mortality rate since the first case reported in February 2020. This led to the rampant dissemination of misinformation and rumors about the disease among the public. Objectives: To investigate the scale of public misinformation about COVID-19 in Basrah, Iraq. Methods: A cross-sectional study based on a 22-item questionnaire to assess public knowledge and understanding of information related to the COVID-19 infection. Results: A total of 483 individuals completed the questionnaire. The most frequent age group was 26–35 years (28.2%); there were 280 (58%) males and 203 (42%) females. Of the participants, 282 (58.4%) were with an education level below the Bachelor’s degree, 342 (70.8%) were married, and 311 (64%) were living in districts in Basra other than the central district. Overall, 50.8% (11.8/ 22 * 100%) of individuals had the correct information regarding COVID-19. There was a significant association between the level of COVID-19 related misinformation and participants’ educational levels and occupation (p <0.05). However, there was no significant difference found across sex, age group, marital state, and area of residence. Conclusions: Misinformation related to COVID-19 is widely spread and has to be addressed in order to control the pandemic. Keywords: COVID-19, misinformation, knowledge, Iraq

scholarly journals SARS-CoV-2 transmission across age groups in France and implications for control

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Cécile Tran Kiem ◽  
Paolo Bosetti ◽  
Juliette Paireau ◽  
Pascal Crépey ◽  
Henrik Salje ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Young Adults ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Deep Understanding ◽  
Transmission Dynamics ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Older Individuals ◽  
Targeted Intervention ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
Intervention Measures ◽  
Better Than

AbstractThe shielding of older individuals has been proposed to limit COVID-19 hospitalizations while relaxing general social distancing in the absence of vaccines. Evaluating such approaches requires a deep understanding of transmission dynamics across ages. Here, we use detailed age-specific case and hospitalization data to model the rebound in the French epidemic in summer 2020, characterize age-specific transmission dynamics and critically evaluate different age-targeted intervention measures in the absence of vaccines. We find that while the rebound started in young adults, it reached individuals aged ≥80 y.o. after 4 weeks, despite substantial contact reductions, indicating substantial transmission flows across ages. We derive the contribution of each age group to transmission. While shielding older individuals reduces mortality, it is insufficient to allow major relaxations of social distancing. When the epidemic remains manageable (R close to 1), targeting those most contributing to transmission is better than shielding at-risk individuals. Pandemic control requires an effort from all age groups.

scholarly journals Laparoscopic Radical Cholecystectomy for Primary or Incidental Early Gallbladder Cancer: The New Rules Governing the Treatment of Gallbladder Cancer

2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gaetano Piccolo ◽  
Guglielmo Niccolò Piozzi
Keyword(s):  
Gallbladder Cancer ◽  
Wedge Resection ◽  
Postoperative Mortality ◽  
Bile Leakage ◽  
Radical Cholecystectomy ◽  
First Case ◽  
Early Case ◽  
Routine Sampling ◽  
Parenchyma Sparing ◽  
Early Gallbladder Cancer

Aim. To evaluate the technical feasibility and oncologic safety of laparoscopic radical cholecystectomy (LRC) for primary or incidental early gallbladder cancer (GBC) treatment. Methods. Articles reporting LRC for GBC were reviewed from the first case reported in 2010 to 2015 (129 patients). 116 patients had a preoperative diagnosis of gallbladder cancer (primary GBC). 13 patients were incidental cases (IGBC) discovered during or after a laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Results. The majority of patients who underwent LRC were pT2 (62.7% GBC and 63.6% IGBC). Parenchyma-sparing operation with wedge resection of the gallbladder bed or resection of segments IVb-V were performed principally. Laparoscopic lymphadenectomy was carried out according to the reported depth of neoplasm invasion. Lymph node retrieved ranged from 3 to 21. Some authors performed routine sampling biopsy of the inter-aorto-caval lymph nodes (16b1 station) before the radical treatment. No postoperative mortality was documented. Discharge mean day was POD 5th. 16 patients had post operative morbidities. Bile leakage was the most frequent post-operative complication. 5 y-survival rate ranged from 68.75 to 90.7 months. Conclusion. Laparoscopy can not be considered as a dogmatic contraindication to GBC but a primary approach for early case (pT1b and pT2) treatment.

scholarly journals A prospect on the use of antiviral drugs to control local outbreaks of COVID-19

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Torneri ◽  
Pieter Libin ◽  
Joris Vanderlocht ◽  
Anne-Mieke Vandamme ◽  
Johan Neyts ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Control Measure ◽  
Health Care Systems ◽  
Significant Proportion ◽  
Antiviral Drug ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Contact Tracing ◽  
Final Size ◽  
Antiviral Compound ◽  
Intervention Measures ◽  
Care Systems

AbstractBackgroundCurrent outbreaks of COVID-19 are threatening the health care systems of several countries around the world. Control measures, based on isolation and quarantine, have been shown to decrease and delay the burden of the ongoing epidemic. With respect to the ongoing COVID-19 epidemic, recent modelling work shows that this intervention technique may be inadequate to control local outbreaks, even when perfect isolation is assumed. Furthermore, the effect of infectiousness prior to symptom onset combined with a significant proportion of asymptomatic infectees further complicates the use of contact tracing. Antivirals, which decrease the viral load and reduce the infectiousness, could be integrated in the control measures in order to augment the feasibility of controlling the epidemic.MethodsUsing a simulation-based model of viral transmission we tested the efficacy of different intervention measures for the control of COVID-19. For individuals that were identified through contact tracing, we evaluate two procedures: monitoring individuals for symptoms onset and testing of individuals. Moreover, we investigate the effect of a potent antiviral compound on the contact tracing process.FindingsThe use of an antiviral drug, in combination with contact tracing, quarantine and isolation, results in a significant decrease of the final size, the peak incidence, and increases the probability that the outbreak will fade out.InterpretationFor an infectious disease in which presymptomatic infections are plausible, an intervention measure based on contact tracing performs better when realized together with testing instead of monitoring, provided that the test is able to detect infections during the incubation period. In addition, in all tested scenarios, the model highlights the benefits of the administration of an antiviral drug in addition to quarantine, isolation and contact tracing. The resulting control measure, could be an effective strategy to control local and re-emerging out-breaks of COVID-19.

scholarly journals Estimating transmission dynamics and serial interval of the first wave of COVID-19 infections under different control measures: A statistical analysis in Tunisia from February 29 to May 5, 2020

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Khouloud Talmoudi ◽  
Mouna Safer ◽  
Hejer Letaief ◽  
Aicha Hchaichi ◽  
Chahida Harizi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emerging Diseases ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Transmission Dynamics ◽  
Contact Tracing ◽  
Epidemic Threshold ◽  
Illness Onset ◽  
Intervention Measures ◽  
Temporal Reproduction ◽  
Prevention Measure ◽  
Serial Interval

Abstract Background Describing transmission dynamics of the outbreak and impact of intervention measures are critical to planning responses to future outbreaks and providing timely information to guide policy makers decision. We estimate serial interval (SI) and temporal reproduction number (Rt) of SARS-CoV-2 in Tunisia. Methods We collected data of investigations and contact tracing between March 1, 2020 and May 5, 2020 as well as illness onset data during the period February 29-May 5, 2020 from National Observatory of New and Emerging Diseases of Tunisia. Maximum likelihood (ML) approach is used to estimate dynamics of Rt. Results 491 of infector-infectee pairs were involved, with 14.46% reported pre-symptomatic transmission. SI follows Gamma distribution with mean 5.30 days [95% CI 4.66–5.95] and standard deviation 0.26 [95% CI 0.23–0.30]. Also, we estimated large changes in Rt in response to the combined lockdown interventions. The Rt moves from 3.18 [95% CI 2.73–3.69] to 1.77 [95% CI 1.49–2.08] with curfew prevention measure, and under the epidemic threshold (0.89 [95% CI 0.84–0.94]) by national lockdown measure. Conclusions Overall, our findings highlight contribution of interventions to interrupt transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in Tunisia.

scholarly journals Estimating the impact of interventions against COVID-19: from lockdown to vaccination

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
James Thompson ◽  
Stephen Wattam
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Clustering ◽  
Herd Immunity ◽  
Contact Tracing ◽  
Agent Based Model ◽  
Seir Model ◽  
Agent Based ◽  
Resident Population ◽  
First Case ◽  
Equivalent Equation ◽  
The Impact

AbstractCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious disease of humans caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Since the first case was identified in China in December 2019 the disease has spread worldwide, leading to an ongoing pandemic. In this article, we present a detailed agent-based model of COVID-19 in Luxembourg, and use it to estimate the impact, on cases and deaths, of interventions including testing, contact tracing, lockdown, curfew and vaccination.Our model is based on collation, with agents performing activities and moving between locations accordingly. The model is highly heterogeneous, featuring spatial clustering, over 2000 behavioural types and a 10 minute time resolution. The model is validated against COVID-19 clinical monitoring data collected in Luxembourg in 2020.Our model predicts far fewer cases and deaths than the equivalent equation-based SEIR model. In particular, with R0 = 2.45, the SEIR model infects 87% of the resident population while our agent-based model results, on average, in only around 23% of the resident population infected. Our simulations suggest that testing and contract tracing reduce cases substantially, but are much less effective at reducing deaths. Lockdowns appear very effective although costly, while the impact of an 11pm-6am curfew is relatively small. When vaccinating against a future outbreak, our results suggest that herd immunity can be achieved at relatively low levels, with substantial levels of protection achieved with only 30% of the population immune. When vaccinating in midst of an outbreak, the challenge is more difficult. In this context, we investigate the impact of vaccine efficacy, capacity, hesitancy and strategy.We conclude that, short of a permanent lockdown, vaccination is by far the most effective way to suppress and ultimately control the spread of COVID-19.

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