Dysglycaemia in Ebola virus disease: a retrospective analysis from the 2018 to 2020 outbreak.

Background: Ebola virus disease (EVD) is associated with multisystem organ failure and high mortality. Severe hypoglycaemia is common, life-threatening, and correctable in critically ill patients, but glucose monitoring may be limited in EVD treatment units.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of patients admitted to EVD treatment units in Butembo and Katwa, Eastern DRC.

Rhabdomyolysis, Acute Kidney Injury, and Mortality in Ebola Virus Disease: Retrospective Analysis of Cases From the Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, 2019.

Background: Skeletal muscle injury in Ebola virus disease (EVD) has been reported, but its association with morbidity and mortality remains poorly defined.

Methods: This retrospective study included patients admitted to 2 EVD treatment units over an 8-month period in 2019 during an EVD epidemic in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Results: An overall 333 patients (median age, 30 years; 58% female) had at least 1 creatine kinase (CK) measurement (n = 2229; median, 5/patient [IQR, 1-11]).

Virus kinetics and biochemical derangements among children with Ebolavirus disease.

Background: A paucity of data is available on virologic and biochemical characteristics of paediatric Ebolavirus disease (EVD), compared to adults.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective chart review of children (<16 years old) and a comparator group of young adults (16-44 years) from two treatment centres during the 2018-2020 EVD epidemic in Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. Statistical methods included chi-squared and Fisher's exact tests (dichotomous and categorical variables), Mann-Whitney U-test (continuous variables), multivariable linear regression (for determinants of admission viral load), linear mixed-effects models (for analysis of longitudinal viral load), and Cox proportional hazard models (to examine risk factors for mortality).

Perceptions of ebola virus disease among the bambuti hunter group: a mixed-methods study.

The second largest Ebola virus disease (EVD) epidemic occurred in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) from 2018-20. The Bambuti, a hunter population in the Ituri Forest of the DRC, may be vulnerable to the zoonotic spread of EVD due to their frequent handling of forest animals. We conducted five focus group discussions and surveyed 113 Bambuti and 91 Bantu (control group), to discern how the Bambuti perceived and responded to EVD.

Review of Ebola virus disease in children - how far have we come?

Ebola virus (EBOV) causes an extremely contagious viral haemorrhagic fever associated with high mortality. While, historically, children have represented a small number of total cases of Ebolavirus disease (EVD), in recent outbreaks up to a quarter of cases have been in children. They pose unique challenges in clinical management and infection prevention and control.

Ebola crisis in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo: student-led community engagement.

The second largest outbreak of Ebolavirus is currently ongoing in Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and is characterized by lack of compliance with recommended control measures. Trusted local health agents, including medical students, may be valuable social mobilizers in this challenging context. We report a student-led educational campaign to increase community awareness and engagement in EVD control efforts, with evaluation of student and community satisfaction.

Prior vaccination with recombinant Vesicular Stomatitis Virus - Zaire Ebolavirus vaccine is associated with improved survival among patients with Ebolavirus infection.

The second largest Ebolavirus disease (EVD) outbreak ever recorded is currently ongoing in Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). This is the first outbreak for which the recombinant Vesicular Stomatitis Virus - Zaire Ebolavirus (rVSV-ZEBOV) candidate vaccine has been widely administered, using a ring vaccination strategy. We examined whether prior vaccination with rVSV-ZEBOV impacts viral load, organ impairment, and survival among patients with EVD admitted to Ebola Treatment Units (ETUs) in the DRC.

Social resistance drives persistent transmission of Ebola virus disease in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo: A mixed-methods study.

Background: The second largest Ebola virus disease (EVD) epidemic in history is currently raging in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Stubbornly persistent EVD transmission has been associated with social resistance, ranging from passive non-compliance to overt acts of aggression toward EVD reponse teams.

Methods: We explored community resistance using focus group discussions and assessed the prevalence of resistant views using standardized questionnaires.

'The cat that kills people:' community beliefs about Ebola origins and implications for disease control in Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The current Ebola epidemic in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has surpassed 1 700 deaths. Social resistance, a major barrier to control efforts, invites exploration of community beliefs around Ebola and its origins. We conducted a mixed-methods study, using four focus group discussions (FGDs) involving 20 participants, and a 19-item survey questionnaire, administered to a nonprobability sample of 286 community members throughout the outbreak zone.

Ebola epidemic in war-torn Democratic Republic of Congo, 2018: Acceptability and patient satisfaction of the recombinant Vesicular Stomatitis Virus - Zaire Ebolavirus Vaccine.

Background: The current Ebola outbreak in Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is the second largest in history and the first in which the recombinant Vesicular Stomatitis Virus - Zaire Ebolavirus (rVSV-ZEBOV) vaccine has been used at scale. We assessed side-effects, satisfaction, and attitudes toward the new vaccine.

Methods: Cross-sectional survey questionnaire from a convenience sample of 90 vaccine recipients and 96 community controls in Eastern DRC.

Use and disuse of malaria bed nets in an internally displaced persons camp in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: A mixed-methods study.

Introduction: Malaria is a major cause of morbidity and mortality among displaced populations in tropical zones. Bed nets are widely used to prevent malaria; however, few data are available on bed net distribution within displaced populations.

Methods: Mixed methods study in a single internally displaced persons (IDP) camp and neighboring community in Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

Is maternal education a social vaccine for childhood malaria infection? A cross-sectional study from war-torn Democratic Republic of Congo.

In zones of violent conflict in the tropics, social disruption leads to elevated child mortality, of which malaria is the leading cause. Understanding the social determinants of malaria transmission may be helpful to optimize malaria control efforts. We conducted a cross-sectional study of healthy children aged 2 months to 5 years attending well-child and/or immunization visits in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Lack of household clustering of malaria in a complex humanitarian emergency: implications for active case detection.

Background: Malaria contributes to elevated morbidity and mortality in populations displaced by conflict in tropical zones. In an attempt to reduce malaria transmission in an internally displaced persons (IDP) camp in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), we tested a strategy of active case detection of household contacts of malaria cases.

Methods: Prospective community-based survey.

Burden of malaria is higher among children in an internal displacement camp compared to a neighbouring village in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Background: In the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), violent conflict has caused the displacement of millions of people into camps where they are exposed to poor living conditions and high rates of infectious diseases. Malaria, in particular, is a major cause of mortality in children under five; however, the burden of disease in displacement camps has not previously been described.

Methods: Two cross-sectional surveys were performed.

Sexual violence toward children and youth in war-torn eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

Background: The epidemic of gender-based violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has garnered popular media attention, but is incompletely described in the medical literature to date. In particular, the relative importance of militarized compared to civilian rape and the impact on vulnerable populations merits further study. We describe a retrospective case series of sexual abuse among children and youth in eastern DRC.

Fistula and traumatic genital injury from sexual violence in a conflict setting in Eastern Congo: case studies.

The Eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is currently undergoing a brutal war. Armed groups from the DRC and neighbouring countries are committing atrocities and systematically using sexual violence as a weapon of war to humiliate, intimidate and dominate women, girls, their men and communities. Armed combatants take advantage with impunity, knowing they will not be held to account or pursued by police or judicial authorities.