Clinical presentations and management of COVID-19 infected children seen in a district health facility in Kambia, northern Sierra Leone.

Studies reporting the clinical presentations of COVID-19 in children in sub-Saharan Africa are few, especially from resource-constrained countries. This case series reports the demographic and clinical characteristics and laboratory findings of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in children seen at a district hospital in Sierra Leone. This is a report of nine COVID-19 paediatric cases managed at a secondary level hospital in Kambia District, Northern Sierra Leone.

Cervical Cancer Screening Service Utilization and Associated Factors among Women in the Shabadino District, Southern Ethiopia.

Background: Cervical cancer is the major cause of morbidity and mortality among women worldwide with an estimated 528,000 new cases and 266,000 deaths annually. In Ethiopia, there are 7095 new cases and 4732 deaths of cervical cancer every year. But cervical cancer screening utilization remains limited.

Author Correction: The discovery of Bombali virus adds further support for bats as hosts of ebolaviruses.

In the version of this Article originally published, the bat species for 12 individuals were incorrectly identified in Supplementary Table 1 and 2. After resequencing the MT-CytB and MT-CO1 segments and reviewing the data, the authors have corrected the errors for these 12 animals. In the amended version of the Supplementary Information, Supplementary Tables 1 and 2 have been replaced to include the corrected host species information.

The discovery of Bombali virus adds further support for bats as hosts of ebolaviruses.

Here we describe the complete genome of a new ebolavirus, Bombali virus (BOMV) detected in free-tailed bats in Sierra Leone (little free-tailed (Chaerephon pumilus) and Angolan free-tailed (Mops condylurus)). The bats were found roosting inside houses, indicating the potential for human transmission. We show that the viral glycoprotein can mediate entry into human cells.

The influence of the Ebola outbreak on presumptive and active tuberculosis in Bombali District, Sierra Leone.

Bombali District, rural Sierra Leone. To compare the number of patients with presumptive tuberculosis (TB), the number of patients registered with TB (including testing for the human immunodeficiency virus [HIV] and initiation on antiretroviral therapy [ART]) and treatment outcomes during the pre-Ebola, Ebola and post-Ebola disease outbreak periods between 2013 and 2016. This was a cross-sectional study and retrospective cohort analysis of treatment outcomes.

Rapid outbreak sequencing of Ebola virus in Sierra Leone identifies transmission chains linked to sporadic cases.

To end the largest known outbreak of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in West Africa and to prevent new transmissions, rapid epidemiological tracing of cases and contacts was required. The ability to quickly identify unknown sources and chains of transmission is key to ending the EVD epidemic and of even greater importance in the context of recent reports of Ebola virus (EBOV) persistence in survivors. Phylogenetic analysis of complete EBOV genomes can provide important information on the source of any new infection.

Nosocomial transmission of Ebola virus disease on pediatric and maternity wards: Bombali and Tonkolili, Sierra Leone, 2014.

Background: In the largest Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak in history, nosocomial transmission of EVD increased spread of the disease. We report on 2 instances in Sierra Leone where patients unknowingly infected with EVD were admitted to a general hospital ward (1 pediatric ward and 1 maternity ward), exposing health care workers, caregivers, and other patients to EVD. Both patients died on the general wards, and were later confirmed as being infected with EVD.

Milk composition of three free-ranging African elephant (Loxodonta africana africana) cows during mid lactation.

Data are presented that indicate the dynamic changes of nutrients in milk from three free ranging African elephant (Loxodonta africana africana) cows during lactation. At the respective collection times of 12, 14 and 18 months of lactation the nutrient content was 47.3, 52.

Risk and spectrum of diseases in travelers to popular tourist destinations.

Background: Traveling to tropical regions is related to increased health risks. Travelers' diarrhea is the most frequent health problem, but the range of travel-related diseases also includes potential life-threatening diseases such as malaria. The actual risk of European travelers acquiring specific infectious diseases and other hazards in the tropics is to a large extent unknown and is therefore often adopted from that of the indigenous population.

Isolation and synthesis of a dimeric dihydrochalcone from Agapanthus africanus.

A new dimeric dihydrochalcone, rel-(1beta,2alpha)-di-(2,4-dihydroxybenzoyl)-rel-(3beta,4alpha)-di-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-cyclobutane, accompanied by its apparent precursor, the known chalcone isoliquiritigenin, have been isolated from the roots of Agapanthus africanus (Liliaceae). The structure is based on spectroscopic methods including extensive NMR analyses, mass spectrometry and circular dichroism. Conclusions regarding the structure and relative configuration are supported by synthesis of the dimeric dihydrochalcone via a pericyclic [(pi)2s + (pi)2s] photocyclo-addition of the corresponding chalcone and consideration of the molecular symmetry involved.

Phenolic metabolites from honeybush tea (Cyclopia subternata).

Cyclopia subternata is one of the 24 Cyclopia species that are used to brew honeybush tea, a unique South African herbal beverage with a pleasant taste and flavor. It contains various antioxidants, very low tannin content, and no caffeine. Many health properties are associated with regular consumption of the tea.

Polyphenols from Honeybush tea (Cyclopia intermedia).

The fermented leaves and stems of Cyclopia intermedia are used to brew Honeybush tea, a herbal tea indigenous to South Africa. The plant is also used to manufacture a sweet herbal infusion used for restorative properties such as soothing coughs and alleviating bronchial complaints including tuberculosis, pneumonia, and catarrh. It is claimed to have a low tannin content and no caffeine and contains various antioxidants.

Phenolic Compounds from Cyclopia intermedia (Honeybush Tea). 1.

The processed leaves and stems of Cyclopia intermedia contain 4-hydroxycinnamic acid, the isoflavones formononetin, afrormosin, calycosin, pseudobaptigen, and fujikinetin, the flavanones naringenin, eriodictyol, hesperitin, and hesperidin, the coumestans medicagol, flemichapparin, and sophoracoumestan B, the xanthones mangiferin and isomangiferin, the flavone luteolin, and the inositol (+)-pinitol.