Biosecurity measures to reduce influenza infections in military barracks in Ghana.

Background: Military barracks in Ghana have backyard poultry populations but the methods used here involve low biosecurity measures and high risk zoonosis such as avian influenza A viruses or Newcastle disease. We assessed biosecurity measures intended to minimize the risk of influenza virus infection among troops and poultry keepers in military barracks.

Findings: We educated troops and used a questionnaire to collect information on animal populations and handling practices from 168 individuals within 203 households in military barracks.

Serological evidence of flaviviruses infection among acute febrile illness patients in Afghanistan.

Introduction: Current published reports on the causative agents of acute febrile illness (AFI) in Afghanistan are scarce, and the burden of disease due to flaviviruses is unknown.

Methodology: A hospital-based surveillance study for AFI was established in 2008 through 2010 to determine the seroepidemiology of West Nile virus (WNV), tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) and dengue viruses (DENV) using commercial ELISA kits. Due to major logistical challenges, only acute sera were collected.

Capacity building of public health laboratories in Afghanistan: challenges and successes (2007-2011).

The continuing state of conflict and the resulting devastation of infrastructure have made Afghanistan exceptionally vulnerable to disease epidemics. The paper reports initiatives by the United States Naval Medical Research Unit No. 3 to promote capacity building in a number of key medical laboratories and enable the Afghans to detect emerging and re-emerging diseases of public health importance.

Non-bacterial etiologies of diarrheal diseases in Afghanistan.

Background: Microbial diarrheal diseases are one of the leading causes of child morbidity and mortality in developing countries. This study aimed to identify the main causes of non-bacterial diarrhea in Afghanistan.

Methods: A total of 699 stools were collected from children aged under 5 years who presented with diarrhea at Indira Gandhi and Kandahar hospitals.

Enteric fever burden in North Jakarta, Indonesia: a prospective, community-based study.

Introduction: We undertook a prospective community-based study in North Jakarta, Indonesia, to determine the incidence, clinical characteristics, seasonality, etiologic agent, and antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of enteric fever.

Methodology: Following a census, treatment centre-based surveillance for febrile illness was conducted for two-years. Clinical data and a blood culture were obtained from each patient.