scholarly journals Being Pregnant during the Kivu Ebola Virus Outbreak in DR Congo: The rVSV-ZEBOV Vaccine and Its Accessibility by Mothers and Infants during Humanitarian Crises and in Conflict Areas

Vaccines ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 38 ◽  
Author(s):  
David A. Schwartz
Keyword(s):  
Ebola Virus ◽  
Virus Disease ◽  
Humanitarian Assistance ◽  
Lactating Women ◽  
Conflict Zone ◽  
Ring Vaccination ◽  
Humanitarian Crises ◽  
Republic Of The Congo ◽  
Violent Acts ◽  
Very High

The Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak that began in Kivu province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in July 2018 is the second largest in history. It is also the largest and most deadly of the ten Ebola outbreaks to occur in DRC, the country where Ebola was first identified during the 1976 Yambuku outbreak. The Kivu region is one of the most challenging locations in which to organize humanitarian assistance. It is an active conflict zone in which numerous armed groups are conducting violent acts, often directed against the inhabitants, healthcare and relief workers and peacekeepers. EVD has been especially problematic in pregnancy—previous outbreaks both in DRC and other countries have resulted in very high mortality rates among pregnant women and especially their infants, with maternal mortality in some outbreaks reaching over 90% and perinatal mortality 100%. The development and implementation of the Merck rVSV-ZEBOV vaccine for Ebola infection has been a tremendous public health advance in preventing EVD, being used successfully in both the West Africa Ebola epidemic and the Équateur DRC Ebola outbreak. But from the start of the Kivu outbreak, policy decisions had resulted in excluding pregnant and lactating women and their infants from receiving it during extensive ring vaccination efforts. In June 2019, this policy was reversed, 10 months after the start of the outbreak. Pregnant and lactating women are now permitted not only the rVSV-ZEBOV vaccine in the continuing Kivu outbreak but also the newly implemented Ad26.ZEBOV/MVA-BN vaccine.

scholarly journals The cost of insecurity: from flare-up to control of a major Ebola virus disease hotspot during the outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, 2019

2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Thibaut Jombart ◽  
Christopher I Jarvis ◽  
Samuel Mesfin ◽  
Nabil Tabal ◽  
Mathias Mossoko ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Community Engagement ◽  
Ebola Virus ◽  
Democratic Republic ◽  
Virus Disease ◽  
Response Strategy ◽  
Ring Vaccination ◽  
Additional Burden ◽  
Republic Of The Congo ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Security Incidents

The ongoing Ebola outbreak in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo is facing unprecedented levels of insecurity and violence. We evaluate the likely impact in terms of added transmissibility and cases of major security incidents in the Butembo coordination hub. We also show that despite this additional burden, an adapted response strategy involving enlarged ring vaccination around clusters of cases and enhanced community engagement managed to bring this main hotspot under control.

scholarly journals Analysis of Individual-Level Epidemic Data: Study of 2018-2020 Ebola Outbreak in Democratic Republic of the Congo

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harley Vossler ◽  
Pierre Akilimali ◽  
Yuhan Pan ◽  
Wasiur Khudabukhsh ◽  
Eben Kenah ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
At Risk ◽  
Ebola Virus ◽  
Democratic Republic ◽  
Virus Disease ◽  
Contact Tracing ◽  
Effective Population ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Ring Vaccination ◽  
Republic Of The Congo ◽  
The Individual

Abstract The 2018-2020 Ebola virus disease epidemic in Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) resulted in 3481 cases (probable and confirmed) and 2299 deaths. In this paper, we use a novel statistical method to analyze the individual-level incidence and hospitalization data on DRC Ebola victims. Our analysis suggests that an increase in the rate of quarantine and isolation by approximately 12% during the epidemic’s third and final wave was likely responsible for the eventual containment of the outbreak. The analysis further reveals that the total effective population size or the average number of individuals at risk for the disease exposure in three epidemic waves over the period of 24 months was around 19,000—a much smaller number than previously estimated and likely an evidence of at least partial protection of the population at risk through ring vaccination and contact tracing as well as adherence to strict quarantine and isolation policies.

scholarly journals PTSD, depression and anxiety in Ebola virus disease survivors in Beni town, Democratic Republic of the Congo

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Célestin Kaputu-Kalala-Malu ◽  
Eric Mafuta Musalu ◽  
Tim Walker ◽  
Olga Ntumba-Tshitenge ◽  
Steve Ahuka-Mundeke
Keyword(s):  
Ebola Virus ◽  
Democratic Republic ◽  
Short Term Memory ◽  
Virus Disease ◽  
Ebola Virus Disease ◽  
Depression And Anxiety ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Republic Of The Congo ◽  
Persistent Headache

Abstract Background Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) is a deadly and feared infectious disease, which can be responsible of debilitating physical and psychological sequelae in survivors including depression and anxiety disorders. Unfortunately, there are scarce data on survivor sequelae in Democratic Republic of the Congo. So this study assessed PTSD, depression and anxiety symptoms among EVD survivors enrolled in the follow-up program of the psychosocial care team of Beni town’s general hospital. Methods A cross-sectional study used consecutive sampling to recruit 144 Ebola virus disease survivors who came for follow up from October 23 to November 13; 2019. Basic socio-demographic data, presence of headache and short-term memory function were assessed. The Post-traumatic Checklist Scale and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale were used to assess psychological burden among participants. Descriptive statistics were used to summarized data and Pearson’s or likelihood chi-square were used to test association between psychiatric disorders and associated factors. Results The prevalence of PTSD, depression and anxiety was 24.3, 24.3 and 33.3% respectively. Being male (OR = 0.42, 95% CI: 0.16, 0.95, p = 0.049), suffering from persistent headache (OR = 2.62, 95% CI: 1.12, 6.14, p = 0.014), losing a loved one because of EVD (OR: 2.60, 95% CI: 1.11, 6.15, p = 0. 015) and being young − 18-24 years - (OR: 0. 261, 95% CI: 0. 08, 0.82, p = 0,026) were statistically associated with PTSD diagnosis. Having short-term memory impairment and suffering from persistent headache were statistically associated with depression and anxiety diagnoses (OR = 2.44, 95% CI: 1.03, 5.82, p = 0.026); (OR = 2.24, 95% CI: 1.04, 4.85, p = 0.025); (OR = 2.62, 95% CI: 1.12, 6.14, p = 0.014); (OR = 2.31, 95% CI: 1.06, 5.01, p = 0.020). Conclusion The prevalence of PTSD, depression and anxiety is high among EVD survivors. Development of specialized psychiatric services to sustain psychiatric and psychological health amongst survivors in the cultural context of the Eastern part of the DRC should be considered by the teams fighting against EVD in the DRC.

scholarly journals Contextual, Social and Epidemiological Characteristics of the Ebola Virus Disease Outbreak in Likati Health Zone, Democratic Republic of the Congo, 2017

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathryn E. L. Grimes ◽  
Bonaventure Fuamba Ngoyi ◽  
Kristen B. Stolka ◽  
Jennifer J. Hemingway-Foday ◽  
Leopold Lubula ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ebola Virus ◽  
Democratic Republic ◽  
Virus Disease ◽  
Disease Outbreak ◽  
Ebola Virus Disease ◽  
Republic Of The Congo ◽  
Health Zone ◽  
Epidemiological Characteristics

scholarly journals Ptsd, Depression and Anxiety In Ebola Virus Disease Survivors In Beni Town, Democratic Republic of the Congo

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
CELESTIN KAPUTU-KALALA-MALU ◽  
Eric Mafuta Musalu ◽  
Tim Walker ◽  
Olga Ntumba-Tshitenge ◽  
Steve Ahuka-Mundeke
Keyword(s):  
Ebola Virus ◽  
Democratic Republic ◽  
Short Term Memory ◽  
Virus Disease ◽  
Ebola Virus Disease ◽  
Depression And Anxiety ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Term Memory ◽  
Republic Of The Congo ◽  
Persistent Headache

Abstract Background Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) is a deadly and feared infectious disease, which can be responsible of debilitating physical and psychological sequelae in survivors including depression and anxiety disorders. Unfortunately, there are scarce data on survivor sequelae in Democratic Republic of the Congo. So this study assessed PTSD, depression and anxiety symptoms among EVD survivors enrolled in the follow-up program of the psychosocial care team of Beni town’s general hospital. Methods A cross-sectional study used consecutive sampling to recruit 144 Ebola virus disease survivors from October 23 to November 13; 2019. Basic socio-demographic data, presence of headache and short-term memory function were assessed. The Post-traumatic Checklist Scale and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale were used to assess psychological burden among participants. Descriptive statistics and a binary logistic regression model were used for analysis. Results The prevalence of PTSD, depression and anxiety was 24.3%, 24.3% and 33.3% respectively. Being male (p = 0.049 ; OR = 0. 42 (CI : 0. 16–0.95), suffering from persistent headache (p = 0. 014 OR = 2.62 CI (1.12–6.14), losing a loved one because of EVD (p = 0. 015 ; OR : 2.60 (CI : 1.11–6.15) and being young − 18–24 years - (p = 0,026 ; OR : 0. 261 (IC : 0. 018-0.055).) were statistically associated with PTSD diagnosis. Having short-term memory impairment and suffering from persistent headache were statistically associated with depression and anxiety diagnoses (p = 0.026 OR = 2,44 (CI : 1.03–5.82) ; (p = 0. 025 OR = 2.24 (CI : 1.04–4.85) ; (p = 0.014 OR = 2.62 (CI : 1.12–6.14) ; (p = 0. 020 OR = 2.31 (CI : 1.06–5.01) Conclusion The prevalence of PTSD, depression and anxiety is high among EVD survivors. Development of specialized psychiatric services to sustain psychiatric and psychological health amongst survivors in the cultural context of the Eastern part of the DRC should be considered by the teams fighting against EVD in the DRC.

2018 Ebola virus disease outbreak in Équateur Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo: a retrospective genomic characterisation

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (6) ◽  
pp. 641-647 ◽  
Author(s):  
Placide Mbala-Kingebeni ◽  
Catherine B Pratt ◽  
Michael R Wiley ◽  
Moussa M Diagne ◽  
Sheila Makiala-Mandanda ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ebola Virus ◽  
Democratic Republic ◽  
Virus Disease ◽  
Disease Outbreak ◽  
Ebola Virus Disease ◽  
Republic Of The Congo

scholarly journals Clinical Evaluation of QuickNaviTM-Ebola in the 2018 Outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Viruses ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 589 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sheila Makiala ◽  
Daniel Mukadi ◽  
Anja De Weggheleire ◽  
Shino Muramatsu ◽  
Daisuke Kato ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
West Africa ◽  
Diagnostic Tests ◽  
Ebola Virus ◽  
Democratic Republic ◽  
Virus Disease ◽  
Point Of Care ◽  
Rapid Diagnostic Tests ◽  
Ebola Virus Disease ◽  
Blood Samples ◽  
Republic Of The Congo

The recent large outbreaks of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in West Africa and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have highlighted the need for rapid diagnostic tests to control this disease. In this study, we clinically evaluated a previously developed immunochromatography-based kit, QuickNaviTM-Ebola. During the 2018 outbreaks in DRC, 928 blood samples from EVD-suspected cases were tested with QuickNaviTM-Ebola and the WHO-approved GeneXpert. The sensitivity and specificity of QuickNaviTM-Ebola, estimated by comparing it to GeneXpert-confirmed cases, were 85% (68/80) and 99.8% (846/848), respectively. These results indicate the practical reliability of QuickNaviTM-Ebola for point-of-care diagnosis of EVD.

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