Low IgG Seroconversion among Persons Vaccinated against Measles, Republic of Congo.

We report a low (38.7%; p<0.0001) level of IgG seroconversion in patients who were positive for measles virus IgM in the Republic of Congo, despite a history of vaccination.

The Development of Ebola Virus Outbreaks: A Review of Epidemiological Trends, Clinical Features, and Treatment Advances.

The Ebola virus, a filovirus that causes human Ebola virus disease (EVD), has caused multiple epidemics in the African continent for about 50 years. Wild animals were the source from which the virus was transmitted to humans, and it spread among people through direct contact. The majority of Ebola outbreaks occurred in African nations, particularly in Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Uganda, and Gabon.

Five Social Dynamics Influencing Cholera risks in the City of Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo: A qualitative Study.

Background: Cholera remains a major (and increasing) global public health problem. Goma, in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), has been a major cholera hotspot in Africa since 1994 and is currently experiencing one of the largest outbreaks in the world. This article contributes to the existing scholarship on cholera risk by utilizing a variety of qualitative research methods.

Clinical characteristics of suspected cases of human mpox (monkeypox) in Katako-Kombe, Democratic Republic of the Congo 2023: challenges and key responses.

Objectives: This study aimed to describe the clinical and epidemiologic characteristics of suspected cases of human mpox in one of the most affected health zones, Katako-Kombe, Sankuru Province, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Also, to identify key challenges to prevent and improve the health of the affected community.

Methods: Between January 26, 2023 and November 30, 2023, the DRC reported its highest incidence of mpox cases,with a total of 12,569 suspected cases in 156 health zones from 22 of the 26 country's provinces.

Bacterial contamination of mobile handwashing stations in hospital settings in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Background: As part of the containment of the COVID-19 pandemic, mobile handwashing stations (mHWS) were deployed in healthcare facilities in low-resource settings. We assessed mHWS in hospitals in the Democratic Republic of the Congo for contamination with Gram-negative bacteria.

Methods: Water and soap samples of in-use mHWS in hospitals in Kinshasa and Lubumbashi were quantitatively cultured for Gram-negative bacteria which were tested for antibiotic susceptibility.

Pregnancy and neonatal outcomes in Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo: a systematic review.

Background: Conflict is known to impact maternal and neonatal health in Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), an area of longstanding insecurity. We conducted a systematic review on pregnancy and neonatal outcomes in this region to provide a comprehensive overview of maternal and neonatal outcomes over a 20-year period.

Methods: We systematically searched databases, such as Medline, EMBASE, Global Health, ClinicalTrials.

Congo's mpox crisis.

For the second time in 2 years, a long-overlooked virus poses a global threat. Can it be contained?

Epidemiological and virological characteristics of people living with HIV on antiretroviral treatment for more than 6 months in virological failure in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo.

Virological failure is one of the main causes of failing to treat, and better management of HIV infection requires understanding and controlling the factors that contribute to this phenomenon. The main objective was to characterize the patients of the active file of the Brazzaville Outpatient Treatment Center in virological failure to identify predictive factors leading to virological failure. Conducted between June and December 2020, this was a cross-sectional study.

Validation of prognostic models predicting mortality or ICU admission in patients with COVID-19 in low- and middle-income countries: a global individual participant data meta-analysis.

Background: We evaluated the performance of prognostic models for predicting mortality or ICU admission in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 in the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Clinical Platform, a repository of individual-level clinical data of patients hospitalized with COVID-19, including in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

Methods: We identified eligible multivariable prognostic models for predicting overall mortality and ICU admission during hospital stay in patients with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 from a living review of COVID-19 prediction models. These models were evaluated using data contributed to the WHO Global Clinical Platform for COVID-19 from nine LMICs (Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Guinea, India, Niger, Nigeria, Zambia, and Zimbabwe).

Utility of colposcopy for the screening and management of cervical cancer in Africa: a cross-sectional analysis of providers' training and practices.

Introduction: Cervical cancer is a public health issue in Africa with devastating socioeconomic consequences due to the lack of organized screening programs. The success of screening programs depends on the appropriate investigation and management of women who test positive for screening. Colposcopic assessment following positive screening results is a noteworthy issue in Africa.

Chromosome-scale assembly of the African yam bean genome.

Genomics-informed breeding of locally adapted, nutritious, albeit underutilised African crops can help mitigate food and nutrition insecurity challenges in Africa, particularly against the backdrop of climate change. However, utilisation of modern genome-assisted crop improvement tools including genomic selection and genome editing for many African indigenous crops is hampered by the scarcity of genomic resources. Here we report on the assembly of the genome of African yam bean (Sphenostylis stenocarpa), a tuberous legume crop that is indigenous to Africa.

Ebola Outbreak Response in the DRC with rVSV-ZEBOV-GP Ring Vaccination.

Background: At the beginning of the 2018-2020 outbreak of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), no vaccine had been licensed. However, cluster-randomized evidence from Guinea in 2015 had indicated that ring vaccination around new cases (targeting contacts and contacts-of-contacts) with the use of single-dose live-replicating rVSV-ZEBOV-GP vaccine reduced EVD rates starting 10 days after vaccination. Thus, ring vaccination was added to the standard control measures for that outbreak.

Evaluation of Treatment Outcomes Among Individuals on Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

Despite access to antiretroviral therapy (ART), South Africa has a high human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) burden. Treatment outcomes among individuals on highly active ART (HAART) in KwaZulu-Natal, with a higher incidence of HIV, are not fully known. This study evaluated the impact of HAART outcomes and identified and analyzed the factors associated with the outcomes in people living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA) in the high-incidence region of KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa.

Phylodynamic Investigation of Yellow Fever Virus Sheds New Insight on Geographic Dispersal Across Africa.

Background: Molecular epidemiology has shown the presence of four genotypes circulating across Africa, a paucity of data exists regarding phylogeography of the African Yellow fever (YF) genotypes. The need to fill this gap with spatiotemporal data from continuous YF outbreaks in Africa conceptualized this study; which aims to investigate the most recent transmission events and directional spread of yellow fever virus (YFV) using updated genomic sequence data.

Methods: Yellow fever sequence data was utilized along with epidemiologic data from outbreaks in Africa, to analyze the case/fatality distribution and genetic diversity.

Monkeypox Outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo: A Comprehensive Review of Clinical Outcomes, Public Health Implications, and Security Measures.

Background: The Monkeypox virus (MPXV), a member of the Orthopoxvirus genus, is responsible for the zoonotic disease known as MPX. Primarily found in western and central Africa, emerging studies indicate a shift in transmission dynamics. Ongoing MPX outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have escalated into significant public health concerns.

Have you heard of Rift Valley fever? Findings from a multi-country study in East and Central Africa.

Introduction: Rift Valley Fever (RVF) has caused outbreaks in Africa, impacting human health and animal trade. Recently, sporadic detections among humans and animals in East Africa have replaced large-scale outbreaks. We assessed RVF knowledge levels in East and Central Africa across countries with different epidemiological profiles.

Concurrent outbreaks of mpox in Africa-an update.

In this Review, we examine the concurrent outbreaks of mpox in Africa, focusing on clade 1a, the newly emerged clade 1b, and clade 2b lineage A, and how they differ from the 2022 global outbreak caused by clade 2b lineage B.1. Historically, clades 1a and 2a have caused sporadic, small outbreaks in central and west Africa, respectively, primarily through zoonotic transmission.

Prevalence and factors related to psychological distress among Ebola survivors and healthcare workers in the Eastern DR Congo.

This article examines for the first-time prevalence and factors associated with psychological distress among Ebola survivors and healthcare workers (HCWs). A representative sample of 563 participants completed the survey (309 survivors; 202 HCWs; 52 survivors/HCWs). Prevalence of psychological distress was higher among survivors (85.

Advancing vaccine research in Africa: A comprehensive analysis of vaccine clinical trials landscape.

This study presents an in-depth analysis of vaccine clinical trials in Africa, emphasising the significance of local investments to address the continent's healthcare requirements. The research scrutinises vaccine trials across various African nations, focusing on trial distribution, phases, funding sources, recruitment sites, recruitment statuses, and age group participation. The findings suggest substantial trial activity in countries like Kenya, Ghana, and Gambia, whereas nations like the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Tunisia exhibit minimal representation.

Site climate more than soil properties and topography shape the natural arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis in maize and spore density within rainfed maize (Zea mays L.) cropland in the eastern DR Congo.

Rhizosphere microorganisms, particularly arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), play a vital role in enhancing sustainable maize production. However, uncertainty persist regarding the influence of climate variables and soil properties on mycorrhizal colonization (MC) of maize and the abundance of AM fungal spores in the field. This study aimed to explore the environmental factors such as site climate variables, soil physicochemical properties and topography and vegetation variable, affecting the natural MC of maize and the density of AMF spores.

Mentorship to strengthen health system leadership: A case study of the Walungu rural health zone in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

From 2015 to 2019, the "RIPSEC" program launched a mentorship program, transforming the Walungu health zone, in eastern crisis-affected Democratic Republic of Congo, into a "Learning and Research Zone" (LRZ). As part of the program, a local university was tasked with strengthening the LRZ manager's leadership capacities, including efforts to troubleshoot challenges related to the proliferation of informal healthcare facilities (IHFs). IHFs are unregulated healthcare structures operating on the fringes of the law, and claiming to offer cheaper, higher-quality care to the local population.