Viral Haemorrhagic Fevers and Malaria Co-Infections Among Febrile Patients Seeking Health Care in Tanzania

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sima Rugarabamu ◽  
Susan F. Rumisha ◽  
Gaspary O. Mwanyika ◽  
Calvin Sindato ◽  
Hee-Young Lim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Ebola Virus ◽  
Virus Disease ◽  
Marburg Virus ◽  
Immunoglobulin M ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Infection Prevalence ◽  
Haemorrhagic Fever ◽  
Rapid Diagnostics ◽  
Valley Fever

Abstract Background: In recent years there have been reports of viral haemorrhagic fever (VHF) epidemics in Sub-Saharan Africa where malaria is endemic. VHF and malaria have overlapping clinical presentations making differential diagnosis a challenge. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of selected zoonotic VHFs and malaria co-infections among febrile patients seeking health care in Tanzania. Methods: This facility-based cross-section study was carried out in Buhigwe, Kalambo, Kyela, Kilindi, Kinondoni, Kondoa, Mvomero, and Ukerewe districts in Tanzania. The study involved febrile patients seeking health care from primary healthcare facilities. Blood samples were collected and tested for infections due to malaria, Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF), Ebola virus disease (EVD), Marburg virus disease (MVD), Rift Valley fever (RVF) and yellow fever (YF). Malaria infections were tested using rapid diagnostics tests while exposure to VHFs was determined by screening for immunoglobulin M antibodies using commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Results: A total of 308 participants (mean age=35±18.9 years) were involved in the study. Of these, 54 (17.5%) had malaria infection and 15 (4.8%) were positive for IgM antibodies against VHFs (RVF=8; CCHF=2; EBV=3; MBV=1; YF=1). Six (1.9%) individuals had both VHF (RVF=2; CCHF=1; EVD=2; MVD=1) and malaria infections. The highest co-infection prevalence (0.6%), was observed among individuals aged 46-60 years (p<0.05). District was significantly associated with co-infection (p<0.05) with the highest prevalence recorded in Buhigwe (1.2%) followed by Kinondoni (0.9%) districts. Headache (100%) and muscle, bone, back and joint pains (83.3%) were the most significant complaints among those infected with both VHFs and malaria (p=0.001). Conclusions: Co-infections of VHF and malaria are prevalent in Tanzania and affect more the older than the younger population. Since the overlapping symptoms in co-infected individuals may challenge accurate diagnosis, adequate laboratory diagnosis should be emphasized in the management of febrile illnesses.

scholarly journals Monitoring Symptoms of Infectious Diseases: Perspectives for Printed Wearable Sensors

Micromachines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 620
Author(s):  
Ala’aldeen Al-Halhouli ◽  
Ahmed Albagdady ◽  
Ja’far Alawadi ◽  
Mahmoud Abu Abeeleh
Keyword(s):  
Infectious Diseases ◽  
Ebola Virus ◽  
Virus Disease ◽  
Wearable Sensors ◽  
Vital Signs ◽  
Hemorrhagic Fever ◽  
Marburg Virus ◽  
World Health ◽  
Valley Fever ◽  
Design Modification

Infectious diseases possess a serious threat to the world’s population, economies, and healthcare systems. In this review, we cover the infectious diseases that are most likely to cause a pandemic according to the WHO (World Health Organization). The list includes COVID-19, Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF), Ebola Virus Disease (EBOV), Marburg Virus Disease (MARV), Lassa Hemorrhagic Fever (LHF), Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), Nipah Virus diseases (NiV), and Rift Valley fever (RVF). This review also investigates research trends in infectious diseases by analyzing published research history on each disease from 2000–2020 in PubMed. A comprehensive review of sensor printing methods including flexographic printing, gravure printing, inkjet printing, and screen printing is conducted to provide guidelines for the best method depending on the printing scale, resolution, design modification ability, and other requirements. Printed sensors for respiratory rate, heart rate, oxygen saturation, body temperature, and blood pressure are reviewed for the possibility of being used for disease symptom monitoring. Printed wearable sensors are of great potential for continuous monitoring of vital signs in patients and the quarantined as tools for epidemiological screening.

Filoviruses

2020 ◽  
pp. 870-877
Author(s):  
Jan H. ter Meulen
Keyword(s):  
Ebola Virus ◽  
Rna Viruses ◽  
Great Apes ◽  
Marburg Virus ◽  
Haemorrhagic Fever ◽  
Viral Haemorrhagic Fever ◽  
Zoonotic Viruses ◽  
Bush Meat ◽  
Mode Of Transmission ◽  
Respiratory Droplets

Filoviruses are large RNA viruses, of which Ebola virus and Marburg virus cause the most severe forms of viral haemorrhagic fever and have been best-studied because of fear of their misuse as bioterrorism agents. These are zoonotic viruses with reservoirs, most likely fruit-eating bats, in the rainforests of tropical Africa, where they cause sporadic infections and outbreaks among great apes and humans. The primary mode of transmission of Ebola virus to humans often involves contact of hunters with dead animals that serve as amplifying hosts, especially gorillas, chimpanzees, and forest antelopes, whose meat is consumed as ‘bush meat’. Contact with bats has been implicated for both Marburg and Ebola virus. However, the viruses are highly infectious and are transmitted from the index case and subsequently from person to person by all body fluids, including sweat, respiratory droplets, and semen. The viruses can persist in convalescent patients for many months.

scholarly journals The Ebola virus disease outbreak in Tonkolili district, Sierra Leone: a retrospective analysis of the Viral Haemorrhagic Fever surveillance system, July 2014–June 2015

2019 ◽  
Vol 147 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alessandro Miglietta ◽  
Angelo Solimini ◽  
Ghyslaine Bruna Djeunang Dongho ◽  
Carla Montesano ◽  
Giovanni Rezza ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sierra Leone ◽  
Symptom Onset ◽  
Surveillance System ◽  
Ebola Virus ◽  
Virus Disease ◽  
Multivariable Analysis ◽  
Data Availability ◽  
Ebola Virus Disease ◽  
Haemorrhagic Fever ◽  
Viral Haemorrhagic Fever

AbstractIn Sierra Leone, the Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak occurred with substantial differences between districts with someone even not affected. To monitor the epidemic, a community event-based surveillance system was set up, collecting data into the Viral Haemorrhagic Fever (VHF) database. We analysed the VHF database of Tonkolili district to describe the epidemiology of the EVD outbreak during July 2014–June 2015 (data availability). Multivariable analysis was used to identify risk factors for EVD, fatal EVD and barriers to healthcare access, by comparing EVD-positive vs. EVD-negative cases. Key-performance indicators for EVD response were also measured. Overall, 454 EVD-positive cases were reported. At multivariable analysis, the odds of EVD was higher among those reporting contacts with an EVD-positive/suspected case (odds ratio (OR) 2.47; 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.44–2.50; P < 0.01) and those attending funeral (OR 1.02; 95% CI 1.01–1.04; P < 0.01). EVD cases from Kunike chiefdom had a lower odds of death (OR 0.22; 95% CI 0.08–0.44; P < 0.01) and were also more likely to be hospitalised (OR 2.34; 95% CI 1.23–4.57; P < 0.05). Only 25.1% of alerts were generated within 1 day from symptom onset. EVD preparedness and response plans for Tonkolili should include social-mobilisation activities targeting Ebola/knowledge-attitudes-practice during funeral attendance, to avoid contact with suspected cases and to increase awareness on EVD symptoms, in order to reduce delays between symptom onset to alert generation and consequently improve the outbreak-response promptness.

scholarly journals COVID-19 Response in Sub-Saharan Africa: Lessons From Uganda

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. e46-e48 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ivan Lumu
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Ebola Virus ◽  
Virus Disease ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Disease Spread ◽  
East African ◽  
Limited Disease ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Response Team ◽  
Sub Saharan

ABSTRACTThe prolongation of the Ebola epidemic may have allowed some countries to prepare and respond to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak. In Uganda, the surveillance structure built for Ebola virus disease (EVD) has become a pillar in the COVID-19 response. This testing and tracing apparatus has limited disease spread to clusters with zero mortality compared with the neighboring East African countries. As more sub-Saharan countries implement social distancing to contain the outbreak, the interventions should be phased and balanced with health risk and socioeconomic situation. However, having a decision-making matrix would better guide the response team. These initial lessons from EVD-experienced Uganda may be helpful to other countries in the region.

Understanding the Predictors that Contribute to Liberian Health Care Workers Feeling Protected From Ebola While at Work

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Kayla Enriquez ◽  
Kanagasabai Udhayashankar ◽  
Michelle Niescierenko
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Ebola Virus ◽  
Virus Disease ◽  
Infection Prevention And Control ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Returning To Work ◽  
Care Worker ◽  
And Control

ABSTRACT Objective: To assess Liberian health care workers’ feelings around safety in returning to work in the setting of the Ebola virus disease outbreak of 2014–2015 after receiving infection prevention and control (IPC) training. Methods: Academic Consortium Combating Ebola in Liberia (ACCEL) training surveys were done at 21 public, Liberian hospitals to understand health care workers’ attitudes surrounding Ebola and whether they felt safe while at work based on multiple factors. Logistic regression was used for analysis. Results: We found that health care workers feeling safe at work during the Ebola outbreak was primarily predicted by the number of IPC/Ebola trainings received pre-ACCEL interventions. Health care workers felt increasingly safer and motivated to return to work as trainings approached 3 (OR 8, p-value < 0.001); however, more than 3 trainings resulted in decreased safety and motivation. In addition, health care workers who reported washing their hands before and after patient contact were 3.4 times more likely to understand how to protect themselves from Ebola. Conclusions: These results help to better understand the utility of repeated trainings on health care worker practice attitudes and the importance of IPC policies within hospitals, such as hand hygiene promotion and education, when coordinating humanitarian efforts.

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