Outbreak Investigation of Typhoid Fever in the District of Gabes, South of Tunisia.

Typhoid fever is a significant public health concern in many parts of the world, particularly in developing countries with poor sanitation and hygiene conditions. In July 2016, an outbreak of typhoid fever occurred in Ghannouche, located in the south of Tunisia. This paper reports the results of a field investigation undertaken to identify possible transmission pathways and risk factors in order to propose control and preventive measures.

[Clinical and epidemiological features of COVID-19-related deaths in Tunisia before the emergence of VOCs (March 2020-February 2021)].

Introduction: the purpose of this study was to describe the clinical and epidemiological features of COVID-19-related deaths in Tunisia notified at the ONMNE (National Observatory of New and emerging Diseases) between 2 March 2020 and 28 February 2021 and to compare COVID-19-related deaths recorded in Tunisia with the international data.

Methods: we conducted a national prospective longitudinal descriptive study of data collected from the National Surveillance System of SARS-CoV-2 infection of the ONMNE, Ministry of Health. All COVID-19-related deaths that occurred in Tunisia between March 2020 and February 2021 were included in this study.

Humoral and Cellular Immunogenicity of Six Different Vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 in Adults: A Comparative Study in Tunisia (North Africa).

Background: The mass vaccination campaign against SARS-CoV-2 was started in Tunisia on 13 March 2021 by using progressively seven different vaccines approved for emergency use. Herein, we aimed to evaluate the humoral and cellular immunity in subjects aged 40 years and over who received one of the following two-dose regimen vaccines against SARS-CoV-2, namely mRNA-1273 or Spikevax (Moderna), BNT162B2 or Comirnaty (Pfizer-BioNTech), Gam-COVID-Vac or Sputnik V (Gamaleya Research Institute), ChAdOx1-S or Vaxzevria (AstraZeneca), BIBP (Sinopharm), and Coronavac (Sinovac).

Material And Methods: For each type of vaccine, a sample of subjects aged 40 and over was randomly selected from the national platform for monitoring COVID-19 vaccination and contacted to participate to this study.

Epidemiologic patterns of hepatitis A infection during the pre-vaccination era: A population-based survey in Tunisia in 2015.

Background: In the 1980s, Tunisia was considered a country of high endemicity for hepatitis A virus (HAV). Since 2000, an epidemiologic shift has led to an increased incidence of symptomatic and severe forms of HAV infection.

Objectives: In 2015, we conducted a cross-sectional nationwide household-based hepatitis A virus (HAV) seroprevalence study in the total population regardless of age, sex, or geographic origin using a stratified sampling design to make an overview of the HAV epidemiologic situation in Tunisia before vaccine implementation.

Identification of transmission chains and clusters associated with COVID-19 in Tunisia.

Background: The aim of this study was to characterize the transmission chains and clusters of COVID-19 infection in Tunisia.

Methods: All cases were confirmed by Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction of a nasopharyngeal specimen. Contact tracing is undertaken for all confirmed cases in order to identify close contacts that will be systematically screened and quarantined.

Characteristics and prognostic factors of COVID-19 among infected cases: a nationwide Tunisian analysis.

Background: The outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues to constitute an international public health concern. Few data are available on the duration and prognostic factors of the disease. We aimed to study the recovery time among a Tunisian cohort of COVID-19 confirmed patients and identify the prognostic factors.

Estimating transmission dynamics and serial interval of the first wave of COVID-19 infections under different control measures: a statistical analysis in Tunisia from February 29 to May 5, 2020.

Background: Describing transmission dynamics of the outbreak and impact of intervention measures are critical to planning responses to future outbreaks and providing timely information to guide policy makers decision. We estimate serial interval (SI) and temporal reproduction number (R) of SARS-CoV-2 in Tunisia.

Methods: We collected data of investigations and contact tracing between March 1, 2020 and May 5, 2020 as well as illness onset data during the period February 29-May 5, 2020 from National Observatory of New and Emerging Diseases of Tunisia.

Cost estimation of medical care management of lung cancer in Tunisia.

Background: Lung cancer management is very expensive for the Tunisian healthcare system.

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the direct costs of treating lung cancer in Tunisia, and to identify the main treatment of high expenditure.

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted in 2012 including all patients admitted between 2008 and 2010 for lung cancer management.

Modeling zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis incidence in central Tunisia from 2009-2015: Forecasting models using climate variables as predictors.

Transmission of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ZCL) depends on the presence, density and distribution of Leishmania major rodent reservoir and the development of these rodents is known to have a significant dependence on environmental and climate factors. ZCL in Tunisia is one of the most common forms of leishmaniasis. The aim of this paper was to build a regression model of ZCL cases to identify the relationship between ZCL occurrence and possible risk factors, and to develop a predicting model for ZCL's control and prevention purposes.

Zoonotic Cutaneous Leishmaniasis Prevalence Among Farmers in Central Tunisia, 2014.

Objective: Zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ZCL) is endemic in central Tunisia and is more prevalent in rural agricultural areas. The aim of this work was to determine ZCL prevalence among farmers and to test their availability to take ownership of the problem and participate actively to fight and address the disease.

Methods: A sample of farmers from Sidi Bouzid, central Tunisia, was selected randomly.

Psychological and Psychosocial Consequences of Zoonotic Cutaneous Leishmaniasis among Women in Tunisia: Preliminary Findings from an Exploratory Study.

Background: The incidence of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ZCL) makes it the most widespread parasitic disease in Tunisia and the Arab world. Yet, few studies have addressed its psychological and psychosocial effects. The purpose of this study was to examine the psychosocial impact of ZCL scars among Tunisian women.

[Emergency department visits for respiratory symptoms in greater Tunisia, 2007 and 2010].

Background: Asthma and Chronic Obstructive pulmonary Disease (COPD) are considered as a major public health problem worldwide. They are characterized by a progressive evolution with episodes of exacerbations.

Objective: The aim of this work was to describe the emergency department visits for asthma and COPD according to sociodemographic characteristics of patients and to assess trends over time.

[High risk areas for echinococcosis-hydatidosis in Tunisia].

Aim: The study was conducted in order to identify high risk areas for hydatidosis in Tunisia witch would be eligible for a Hydatidosis control program initiation.

Methods: The most recent epidemiological investigation on surgical incidence of hydatidosis was used to classify governorates according to their incidence rate. A "global hydatidosis risk score" was calculated for each governorate, combining some parameters related to the hygiene conditions of the population, the literacy rate, the canine density and livestock census.

Monitoring and evaluating progress towards Universal Health Coverage in Tunisia.

This paper is a country case study for the Universal Health Coverage Collection, organized by WHO. Mohamed Kouni Chahed and colleagues illustrate progress towards UHC and its monitoring and evaluation in Tunisia.

Status of vitamins A and E in schoolchildren in the centre west of Tunisia: a population-based study.

Objective: The present study was undertaken to assess the status of vitamins A and E (VA and VE, respectively) and their main determinants in Tunisian children.

Design: Cross-sectional population-based study.

Setting: Kasserine Governorate in the centre west of Tunisia.

[Difficulty in dating primary infections by Toxoplasma gondii in pregnant women in Tunisia].

In Tunisia, serological diagnosis of toxoplasmosis in pregnant women is generally ordered on the first prenatal consultation. As primary tools, IgG and IgM tests are done. Subsequent serological testing is performed to date infection in case of IgM positivity.