In early October 2014, 7 months after the 2014-2015 Ebola epidemic in West Africa began, a cluster of reported deaths in Koinadugu, a remote district of Sierra Leone, was the first evidence of Ebola virus disease (Ebola) in the district. Prior to this event, geographic isolation was thought to have prevented the introduction of Ebola to this area. We describe our initial investigation of this cluster of deaths and subsequent public health actions after Ebola was confirmed, and present challenges to our investigation and methods of overcoming them. We present a transmission tree and results of whole genome sequencing of selected isolates to identify the source of infection in Koinadugu and demonstrate transmission between its villages. Koinadugu's experience highlights the danger of assuming that remote location and geographic isolation can prevent the spread of Ebola, but also demonstrates how deployment of rapid field response teams can help limit spread once Ebola is detected.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6518841 | PMC |
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0950268819000104 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Association of gross domestic product with equitable access to childhood vaccines in 195 countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
BMJ Glob Health
January 2025
African Vaccinology Network, Buea, Cameroon.
Introduction: Gross domestic product (GDP) has been shown to affect government spending on various budget heads including healthcare and the purchase and distribution of vaccines. This vulnerable situation has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic which disrupted and exposed the fragile nature of equitable access to vaccines for childhood immunisation globally. A systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the association of country income status and GDP with vaccination coverage of vaccines for childhood immunisation and other major infectious diseases around the globe will inform global and national policy on equity in living standards and vaccine uptake.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDiscovery of anti-Ebola virus multi-target inhibitors from traditional Chinese medicine database using molecular screening, biophysical investigation, and binding free energy calculations.
J Infect Public Health
February 2025
Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, QU Health, Qatar University, P.O. Box 2713, Doha, Qatar. Electronic address:
Article Synopsis
- Ebola virus (EBOV) is a highly deadly RNA virus that currently lacks effective treatments or vaccines, necessitating the urgent need for new therapeutic solutions.
- In this study, researchers used in silico methods to evaluate natural products from traditional Chinese medicine against four critical EBOV proteins, employing molecular docking to assess their potential effectiveness.
- The findings identified eight promising compounds with strong inhibitory effects on EBOV proteins, indicating their potential as antiviral agents due to their favorable interaction with protein residues and acceptable pharmacokinetic profiles.
Is 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.
Self-amplifying RNA virus vectors for drug delivery.
Expert Opin Drug Deliv
January 2025
Research & Development, PanTherapeutics, Lutry, Switzerland.
Article Synopsis
- Self-amplifying RNA viruses are effective tools for delivering genetic information and enhancing antigen production against infectious diseases and cancers by amplifying RNA within host cells.
- Extensive research, including animal studies and clinical trials, has shown that these viral vectors can generate significant immune responses, with potential applications in treating tumors and protecting against pathogens.
- The promising results from preclinical studies have led to the approval of a vaccine using a self-amplifying RNA virus for Ebola, indicating their potential in therapeutic interventions and future research in areas like neurological disorders.
Article Synopsis
- - The study investigates the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of intensive care personnel in Rwanda regarding high-consequence infectious diseases (HCIDs) like Ebola, revealing that many staff have limited experience and training in infection prevention and control (IPC).
- - A survey conducted with 107 participants highlighted that while 58% felt knowledgeable and 72.9% adhered to hand hygiene, a significant number failed to consistently follow IPC measures, particularly in high-risk situations like aerosol-generating procedures.
- - The findings suggest that although staff perceive a high risk of infection, their moderate knowledge and inconsistent IPC compliance indicate a need for ongoing education and training to ensure better protection against preventable infections.
Want 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!