Publications by authors named "Amy N Whitesell"
Ebola disease outbreaks are major public health events because of human-to-human transmission and high mortality. These outbreaks are most often caused by Ebola virus, but at least three related viruses can also cause the disease. In 2022, Sudan virus re-emerged causing more than 160 confirmed and probable cases.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFOn December 19, 2019, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved rVSVΔG-ZEBOV-GP Ebola vaccine (ERVEBO, Merck) for the prevention of Ebola virus disease (EVD) caused by infection with Ebola virus, species Zaire ebolavirus, in adults aged ≥18 years. In February 2020, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommended preexposure vaccination with ERVEBO for adults aged ≥18 years in the United States who are at highest risk for potential occupational exposure to Ebola virus because they are responding to an outbreak of EVD, work as health care personnel at federally designated Ebola treatment centers in the United States, or work as laboratorians or other staff members at biosafety level 4 facilities in the United States (1).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: Navajo Nation is disproportionately affected by hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome (HCPS), a severe respiratory disease that can quickly progress to respiratory failure and cardiogenic shock. The initial signs and symptoms of HCPS are indistinguishable from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, this distinction is critical, as the disease course differs greatly, with most patients with COVID-19 experiencing mild to moderate illness.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- - The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends the rVSVΔG-ZEBOV-GP Ebola vaccine (Ervebo) for use in the U.S., specifically for adults aged 18 and older who are at high risk of exposure to the Ebola virus.
- - Ervebo is the first and only FDA-approved vaccine for preventing Ebola virus disease (EVD), but individuals with a severe allergic reaction to rice protein should not receive it.
- - Future guidelines will adapt as new data emerges or as new vaccines are approved, with ACIP planning to discuss Ervebo's use for other at-risk populations.
Article Synopsis
- * In a study involving dried blood samples from children in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, researchers identified 10 confirmed cases and various others through polymerase chain reaction testing.
- * All infected individuals were confirmed to be Duffy-negative, supporting the idea that infections can occur in those without the Duffy antigen; further research is needed to explore the relationship between these isolates and samples from other regions.
Background: Rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) account for more than two-thirds of malaria diagnoses in Africa. Deletions of the Plasmodium falciparum hrp2 (pfhrp2) gene cause false-negative RDT results and have never been investigated on a national level. Spread of pfhrp2-deleted P.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: In an effort to improve surveillance for epidemiological and clinical outcomes, rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) have become increasingly widespread as cost-effective and field-ready methods of malaria diagnosis. However, there are concerns that using RDTs specific to Plasmodium falciparum may lead to missed detection of other malaria species such as Plasmodium malariae and Plasmodium ovale.
Methods: Four hundred and sixty six samples were selected from children under 5 years old in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) who took part in a Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) in 2013-14.