During the 2014-2016 West-African Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak, some HCWs from Western countries became infected despite proper equipment and training on EVD infection prevention and control (IPC) standards. Despite their high awareness toward EVD, some of them could not recall the transmission routes. We explored these incidents by recalling the stories of infected Western HCWs who had no known directly exposures to blood/bodily fluids from EVD patients. We carried out conventional and unconventional literature searches through the web using the keyword "Ebola" looking for interviews and reports released by the infected HCWs and/or the healthcare organizations. We identified fourteen HCWs, some infected outside West Africa and some even classified at low EVD risk. None of them recalled accidents, unintentional exposures, or any IPC violation. Infection transmission was thus inexplicable through the acknowledged transmission routes. We formulated two hypotheses: inapparent exposures to blood/bodily fluids or transmission due to asymptomatic/mildly symptomatic carriers. This study is in no way intended to be critical with the healthcare organizations which, thanks to their interventions, put an end to a large EVD outbreak that threatened the regional and world populations.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5149594 | PMC |
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/8054709 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Simultaneous Blockade of CD209 and CD209L by Monoclonal Antibody Does Not Provide Sufficient Protection Against Multiple Viral Infections In Vivo.
Immunology
January 2025
The Key Laboratory for Human Disease Gene Study of Sichuan Province, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China.
Many virus species, including Ebola virus, Marburg virus, SARS-CoV-2, dengue virus (DENV) and Zika virus (ZIKV), exploit CD209 and CD209L as alternative or attachment receptors for viral cis- or trans-infection. Thus, CD209 and CD209L may be critical targets for the development of therapeutic monoclonal blocking antibody drugs to disrupt the infection process caused by multiple viruses. Here, we produced a human chimeric monoclonal blocking antibody that simultaneously blocks CD209 and CD209L, namely 7-H7-B1.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIs there sufficient evidence to inform personal protective equipment choices for healthcare workers caring for patients with viral hemorrhagic fevers?
Can Commun Dis Rep
January 2025
Centre for Communicable Disease and Infection Control, Public Health Agency of Canada, Ottawa, ON.
Background: Ugandan health authorities declared an outbreak of Ebola disease (EBOD), caused by the Sudan virus, in September 2022. A rapid review was conducted to update the Public Health Agency of Canada's guidelines for infection prevention and control measures for EBOD in healthcare settings to prepare for potential introduction of cases.
Objective: Summarize the available evidence on personal protective equipment (PPE) use by healthcare workers (HCWs) to prevent exposure to and transmission of viral hemorrhagic fevers (VHFs), including Ebola virus.
A Randomized, Blinded, Vehicle-Controlled Dose-Ranging Study to Evaluate and Characterize Remdesivir Efficacy Against Ebola Virus in Rhesus Macaques.
Viruses
December 2024
Gilead Sciences, Inc., Foster City, CA 94404, USA.
Ebola virus (EBOV) causes severe disease in humans, with mortality as high as 90%. The small-molecule antiviral drug remdesivir (RDV) has demonstrated a survival benefit in EBOV-exposed rhesus macaques. Here, we characterize the efficacy of multiple intravenous RDV dosing regimens on survival of rhesus macaques 42 days after intramuscular EBOV exposure.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFA Small-Particle Aerosol Model of Ebolavirus Zaire Infection in Ferrets.
Viruses
November 2024
Viral Immunology Branch, Virology Division, U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Frederick, MD 21702, USA.
The Ebola virus (EBOV) causes severe disease in humans, and animal models are needed to evaluate the efficacy of vaccines and therapeutics. While non-human primate (NHP) and rodent EBOV infection models have been well characterized, there is a growing need for an intermediate model. Here, we provide the first report of a small-particle aerosol (AE) EBOV ferret model and disease progression compared with the intramuscular (IM) EBOV ferret model.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSeroprevalence of Antibodies to Filoviruses with Outbreak Potential in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review to Inform Vaccine Development and Deployment.
Vaccines (Basel)
December 2024
IAVI, 125 Broad St, New York, NY 10004, USA.
: Orthoebolaviruses and orthomarburgviruses are filoviruses that can cause viral hemorrhagic fever and significant morbidity and mortality in humans. The evaluation and deployment of vaccines to prevent and control Ebola and Marburg outbreaks must be informed by an understanding of the transmission and natural history of the causative infections, but little is known about the burden of asymptomatic infection or undiagnosed disease. This systematic review of the published literature examined the seroprevalence of antibodies to orthoebolaviruses and orthomarburgviruses in sub-Saharan Africa.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWant AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!