scholarly journals The reaction of American Luxury tourists visiting Rwanda during 2018-2019 Ebola outbreaks

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 140-143
Author(s):  
James Ngamije
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Ebola Virus ◽  
Democratic Republic ◽  
Democratic Republic Of Congo ◽  
Virus Disease ◽  
Public Health Emergency ◽  
Ebola Virus Disease ◽  
Virus Diseases ◽  
North Kivu ◽  
The Impact

Several cases of Ebola virus diseases (EVD), have been discovered in Africa. The 2018–2019 outbreak of the Ebola virus disease (EVD) in North Kivu and Ituri provinces has been declared International public health emergency. Rwanda as a neighboring country was on high alert, with the possibility of the disease crossing its borders. As a result, some countries, issued travel alerts to their citizens to avoid travel to Congo or nearby countries to include Rwanda. This study investigates the impact of Ebola outbreak on American Luxury tourists in Rwanda, evaluating its findings in light of the 2018–2019 outbreak of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in Democratic Republic of Congo. It concludes that this EVD did not discourage this target group of tourists from undertaking their planned itineraries in Rwanda.

scholarly journals Analysis of the management of the tenth Ebola virus disease outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo: developing a multidisciplinary response model to strengthen the healthcare system during disease outbreaks

2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bives Mutume Vivalya ◽  
Okesina Akeem Ayodeji ◽  
Yves Tibamwenda Bafwa ◽  
Louis Kasereka Muyisa ◽  
Astride Lina Piripiri ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Emergency Response ◽  
Ebola Virus ◽  
Democratic Republic ◽  
Democratic Republic Of Congo ◽  
Virus Disease ◽  
Public Health Emergency ◽  
Ebola Virus Disease ◽  
Healthcare Sector ◽  
Republic Of Congo

AbstractThe declaration of any public health emergency in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is usually followed by the provision of technical and organizational support from international organizations, which build a parallel and short-time healthcare emergency response centered on preventing the extension of health emergencies across the countries and over the world. Previous Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreaks have highlighted the need to reinforce the healthcare sector in different countries.Based on the difficulty to implement the International Health Regulations (2005) to the local level of affected countries including the DRC, this paper proposes a multidisciplinary model based on the health zones through the strengthening of preparedness and response structures to public health emergencies vis-à-vis the existing weak health systems existing in DRC. A commitment to integrating the emergency response in the existing health system should work to reduce the tension that exists between local recruitment and its impact on the quality of daily healthcare in the region affected by EVD outbreak on one hand, and the involvement of international recruitment and its impact on the trust of the population on the emergency response on the other. This paper highlights the provision of a local healthcare workforce skilled to treat infectious diseases, the compulsory implementation of training programs focused on the emergency response in countries commonly affected by EVD outbreaks including the DRC. These innovations should reduce the burden of health problems prior to and in the aftermath of any public health emergency in DRC hence increasing the wellbeing of the community, especially the vulnerable people as well as the availability of trained healthcare providers able to early recognize and treat EVD.

scholarly journals Spillover of ebolaviruses into people in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo prior to the 2018 Ebola virus disease outbreak

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tracey Goldstein ◽  
Manjunatha N. Belaganahalli ◽  
Eddy K. Syaluha ◽  
Jean-Paul K. Lukusa ◽  
Denise J. Greig ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Human Exposure ◽  
Ebola Virus ◽  
Democratic Republic ◽  
Democratic Republic Of Congo ◽  
Virus Disease ◽  
Marburg Virus ◽  
Ebola Virus Disease ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Republic Of Congo ◽  
North Kivu

Abstract Background The second largest Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak began in the Democratic Republic of Congo in July 2018 in North Kivu Province. Data suggest the outbreak is not epidemiologically linked to the 2018 outbreak in Equateur Province, and that independent introduction of Ebola virus (EBOV) into humans occurred. We tested for antibodies to ebolaviruses in febrile patients seeking care in North Kivu Province prior to the EVD outbreak. Methods Patients were enrolled between May 2017 and April 2018, before the declared start of the outbreak in eastern DRC. Questionnaires were administered to collect demographic and behavioural information to identify risk factors for exposure. Biological samples were evaluated for ebolavirus nucleic acid, and for antibodies to ebolaviruses. Prevalence of exposure was calculated, and demographic factors evaluated for associations with ebolavirus serostatus. Results Samples were collected and tested from 272 people seeking care in the Rutshuru Health Zone in North Kivu Province. All patients were negative for filoviruses by PCR. Intial screening by indirect ELISA found that 30 people were reactive to EBOV-rGP. Results were supported by detection of ebolavirus reactive linear peptides using the Serochip platform. Differential screening of all reactive serum samples against the rGP of all six ebolaviruses and Marburg virus (MARV) showed that 29 people exhibited the strongest reactivity to EBOV and one to Bombali virus (BOMV), and western blotting confirmed results. Titers ranged from 1:100 to 1:12,800. Although both sexes and all ages tested positive for antibodies, women were significantly more likely to be positive and the majority of positives were in February 2018. Conclusions We provide the first documented evidence of exposure to Ebola virus in people in eastern DRC. We detected antibodies to EBOV in 10% of febrile patients seeking healthcare prior to the declaration of the 2018–2020 outbreak, suggesting early cases may have been missed or exposure ocurred without associated illness. We also report the first known detection of antibodies to BOMV, previously detected in bats in West and East Africa, and show that human exposure to BOMV has occurred. Our data suggest human exposure to ebolaviruses may be more frequent and geographically widespread.

scholarly journals 2017 Outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease in Northern Democratic Republic of Congo

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Justus Nsio ◽  
Jimmy Kapetshi ◽  
Sheila Makiala ◽  
Frederic Raymond ◽  
Gaston Tshapenda ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ebola Virus ◽  
Democratic Republic ◽  
Democratic Republic Of Congo ◽  
Virus Disease ◽  
Ebola Virus Disease ◽  
Republic Of Congo

Ebola virus outbreak in North Kivu and Ituri provinces, Democratic Republic of Congo, and the potential for further transmission through commercial air travel

2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ashleigh R Tuite ◽  
Alexander G Watts ◽  
Kamran Khan ◽  
Isaac I Bogoch
Keyword(s):  
Ebola Virus ◽  
Democratic Republic ◽  
Democratic Republic Of Congo ◽  
Virus Disease ◽  
Vulnerability Index ◽  
Time Frame ◽  
Air Travel ◽  
Republic Of Congo ◽  
Final Destination ◽  
North Kivu

Abstract Background The 2018–2019 Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak in North Kivu and Ituri provinces, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), continues to spread. The recent discovery of cases in Uganda and in Goma, a major city in the eastern DRC, raises concern for potential EVD transmission in distant locales via commercial air travel. Methods We examined air travel patterns from the affected region with itinerary-level data from the International Air Transport Association for the year 2018 between July and October, inclusive. We focused on three scenarios: (i) travel from Beni airport, (ii) travel from Beni, Goma and Bunia airports and (iii) travel from Beni, Goma and Bunia, and Kigali airports. We evaluated country-level Infectious Disease Vulnerability Index (IDVI) scores for traveller destinations. Results There were 2255 commercial air passengers departing from Beni Airport during the specified time frame, all with domestic destinations, and 55% of which were to Goma. A total of 29 777 passengers travelled from Beni, Bunia and Goma airports during this time frame, with most travel (94.6%) departing from Goma Airport. A total of 72.4% of passengers’ final destination from these three airports were within the DRC, primarily to Kinshasa. There were 166 281 outbound passengers from Beni, Bunia, Goma and Kigali airports with the majority (82.1%) of passengers departing from Kigali. The most frequent destinations from these airports were Nairobi, Kinshasa and Entebbe. Eight of the 10 destinations with greatest passenger volumes are to countries with IDVI scores less than 0.4. Conclusion There is little commercial airline connectivity from the current EVD-affected area; however, larger cities in DRC and throughout East Africa should be aware of the low potential for EVD importation through this route. Most countries at greatest risk for EVD importation have limited capacity to manage these cases.

scholarly journals Ebola Virus Disease in the Democratic Republic of Congo

2014 ◽  
Vol 371 (22) ◽  
pp. 2083-2091 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gaël D. Maganga ◽  
Jimmy Kapetshi ◽  
Nicolas Berthet ◽  
Benoît Kebela Ilunga ◽  
Felix Kabange ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ebola Virus ◽  
Democratic Republic ◽  
Democratic Republic Of Congo ◽  
Virus Disease ◽  
Ebola Virus Disease ◽  
Republic Of Congo

scholarly journals Infection Prevention and Control Capacity Building During 2018–2019 Democratic Republic of Congo Ebola Virus Disease Outbreak

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. s300-s300
Author(s):  
April Baller ◽  
Kevin Ousman ◽  
Maria Clara Padoveze ◽  
Charles Basilubo ◽  
Rodrigue Bobwa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Prevention And Control ◽  
Infection Prevention ◽  
Ebola Virus ◽  
Democratic Republic ◽  
Democratic Republic Of Congo ◽  
Virus Disease ◽  
Ebola Virus Disease ◽  
Infection Prevention And Control ◽  
And Control ◽  
Level Training

Background: As of July 1, 2019, ~18% of all cases in the Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) were healthcare-associated (ie, nosocomial) infections (HAIs) and healthcare worker (HCW) infections. Although progress has been achieved, gaps remained in infection prevention and control (IPC), specifically, a need to reinforce standardized, evidence-based IPC practices to effectively address HAIs. The Ministry of Health (MOH), in collaboration with partners, developed an IPC tool kit consisting of >70 documents (ie, terms of reference, standard operating procedures, training modules, etc) to improve HCW IPC knowledge and practices at healthcare facilities among staff. The tool kit incorporated international IPC standards, DRC-specific experiences, and best practices. Thus, it serves as a technical and operational package, covering general guidance (standard precautions) and EVD specific issues. Methods: A decentralized rollout approach was used to disseminate the tool kit content at the various health-system levels over several months. Initially, national-level training of trainers was held, followed by subnational-level training of IPC supervisors and key IPC implementers, and lastly, training of healthcare facility (HCF) IPC focal persons. The 5-day training adhered to the MOH standard of 60% theory and 40% practice. Participants completed evaluations before and after training; changes in knowledge between the pre- and posttraining tests were analyzed and the results of the statistical tests were reported (P < .05 was considered statistically significant). Results: In total, 294 IPC supervisors were trained across 7 subnational commissions. Data were analyzed for 138 participants. Participants were 60.9% IPC supervisors, 8% WASH supervisors, and 31% others. MOH representation was 52.9% The average results before the test were 66% (19.8 of 30), the average posttest results were 72% (21.6 of 30)—a significant improvement. The worst-performing pretest IPC domain was IPC approach, and facility closure was the worst performing for posttest. As of November 11, 15.7% of all cases were HAIs. Conclusions: The IPC training program initiated during an outbreak can increase knowledge and potentially improve practices and confidence. An association with the downward HAI trend is yet to be validated. The MOH anticipates that this tool kit will be the go-to resource for future Ebola outbreaks and that it will be incorporated into the preservice medical curriculum to ensure a resilient heath system.Funding: NoneDisclosures: None

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