Evaluating implementation of the Ebola response in Margibi County, Liberia

2018 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
pp. 510-518 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles E Sepers ◽  
Stephen B Fawcett ◽  
Ithar Hassaballa ◽  
Florence DiGennaro Reed ◽  
Jerry Schultz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Evaluation System ◽  
Ebola Virus ◽  
Virus Disease ◽  
Disease Outbreaks ◽  
Monitoring And Evaluation ◽  
Distinct Pattern ◽  
Control Disease ◽  
Key Events ◽  
Document Review

Summary Implementation of the Ebola response was credited with reducing incidence of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in West Africa; however little is known about the amount and kind of Ebola response activities that were ultimately successful in addressing the 2014 outbreak. We collaboratively monitored Ebola response activities and associated effects in Margibi County, Liberia, a rural county in Liberia deeply affected by the outbreak. We used a participatory monitoring and evaluation system, including key informant interviews and document review, to systematically document activities, code them, characterize their contextual features, and discover and communicate patterns in Ebola response activities to essential stakeholders. We also measured incidence of EVD over time. Results showed a distinct pattern in Ebola response activities and key events, which corresponded with subsequent decreased EVD incidence. These data are suggestive of the role of Ebola response activities played in reducing the incidence of EVD within Margibi County, which included implementing safe burials, social mobilization and community engagement and case management. Systematic monitoring and evaluation of response activities to control disease outbreaks holds lessons for implementing and evaluating similar comprehensive and multi-sectoral community health efforts.

Participatory Monitoring and Evaluation of Ebola Response Activities in Lofa County, Liberia: Some Lessons Learned

2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 57-66
Author(s):  
Ithar Hassaballa ◽  
Stephen Fawcett ◽  
Charles Sepers ◽  
Florence DiGennaro Reed ◽  
Jerry Schultz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Evaluation System ◽  
Quantitative Methods ◽  
Ebola Virus ◽  
Virus Disease ◽  
Monitoring And Evaluation ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Ebola Virus Disease ◽  
World Health ◽  
Response Effort ◽  
Participatory Monitoring

To address the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, the World Health Organization and the United Nations Children’s Fund led a multilevel and multisectoral intervention known as the Ebola response effort. Although surveillance systems were able to detect reduction in Ebola incidence, there was little understanding of the implemented activities within affected areas. To address this gap, this empirical case study examined (a) implementation of Ebola response activities and associated bending the curve of incidence of Ebola virus disease and (b) candidate factors associated with fuller implementation of the Ebola response effort. A mix of qualitative and quantitative methods were used to address these questions. A participatory monitoring and evaluation system was used to capture, code, characterize, and communicate nearly a hundred Ebola response activities implemented in Lofa County, a highly affected area in Liberia. The Ebola response effort was enabled by community engagement and collaboration across different sectors. Results showed fuller implementation corresponded with a marked reduction in Ebola virus disease. This report concludes with a discussion of how monitoring and evaluation can strengthen implementation of activities needed to address disease outbreaks.

scholarly journals Tolerance and Persistence of Ebola Virus in Primary Cells from Mops condylurus, a Potential Ebola Virus Reservoir

Viruses ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 2186
Author(s):  
Marcel Bokelmann ◽  
Uwe Vogel ◽  
Franka Debeljak ◽  
Ariane Düx ◽  
Silke Riesle-Sbarbaro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Potential Role ◽  
Ebola Virus ◽  
Virus Disease ◽  
Disease Outbreaks ◽  
Integral Membrane Protein ◽  
Reservoir Host ◽  
Primary Cells ◽  
Cytopathic Effects ◽  
Ebov Infection

Although there have been documented Ebola virus disease outbreaks for more than 40 years, the natural reservoir host has not been identified. Recent studies provide evidence that the Angolan free-tailed bat (Mops condylurus), an insectivorous microbat, is a possible ebolavirus reservoir. To investigate the potential role of this bat species in the ecology of ebolaviruses, replication, tolerance, and persistence of Ebola virus (EBOV) were investigated in 10 different primary bat cell isolates from M. condylurus. Varying EBOV replication kinetics corresponded to the expression levels of the integral membrane protein NPC1. All primary cells were highly tolerant to EBOV infection without cytopathic effects. The observed persistent EBOV infection for 150 days in lung primary cells, without resultant selective pressure leading to virus mutation, indicate the intrinsic ability of EBOV to persist in this bat species. These results provide further evidence for this bat species to be a likely reservoir of ebolaviruses.

scholarly journals Modeling the role of public health education in Ebola virus disease outbreaks in Sudan

2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 323-340 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin Levy ◽  
Christina Edholm ◽  
Orou Gaoue ◽  
Roselyn Kaondera-Shava ◽  
Moatlhodi Kgosimore ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Education ◽  
Ebola Virus ◽  
Virus Disease ◽  
Disease Outbreaks ◽  
Public Health Education ◽  
Ebola Virus Disease

Treatment of ebola and other infectious diseases: melatonin “goes viral”

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-57 ◽  
Author(s):  
Russel J Reiter ◽  
Qiang Ma ◽  
Ramaswamy Sharma
Keyword(s):  
Mortality Rate ◽  
Infectious Diseases ◽  
Hemorrhagic Shock ◽  
Safety Profile ◽  
Ebola Virus ◽  
Viral Infections ◽  
Virus Disease ◽  
Attractive Potential ◽  
Potential Treatment

This review summarizes published reports on the utility of melatonin as a treatment for virus-mediated diseases. Of special note are the data related to the role of melatonin in influencing Ebola virus disease. This infection and deadly condition has no effective treatment and the published works documenting the ability of melatonin to attenuate the severity of viral infections generally and Ebola infection specifically are considered. The capacity of melatonin to prevent one of the major complications of an Ebola infection, i.e., the hemorrhagic shock syndrome, which often contributes to the high mortality rate, is noteworthy. Considering the high safety profile of melatonin, the fact that it is easily produced, inexpensive and can be self-administered makes it an attractive potential treatment for Ebola virus pathology.  

Palliative care for children with communicable illnesses

2021 ◽  
pp. 304-322
Author(s):  
Michelle Meiring ◽  
Tonya Arscott-Mills
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
Ebola Virus ◽  
Virus Disease ◽  
Communicable Disease ◽  
Disease Outbreaks ◽  
Communicable Diseases ◽  
Humanitarian Response ◽  
Care Approach ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Communicable Illness

Whilst non-communicable diseases provided the impetus for the development of children’s palliative care (CPC) in the developed world, it was a single communicable illness human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) that was the catalyst for the development of many CPC programmes in the developing world. Whilst considerable gains have been made in preventing and controlling paediatric AIDS globally, there is still benefit to an integrated palliative care approach to the care of these children and especially for those living in countries without access to anti-retrovirals. Furthermore, there are many other communicable diseases associated with significant health-related suffering in children that could benefit from palliative care. This chapter proposes grouping these diseases using the well-known Association for Children with Terminal Conditions (ACT) categorization and discusses examples of important communicable diseases in each category. The need for improved CPC as part of the humanitarian response to acute communicable disease outbreaks such as Ebola virus disease is also explored.

scholarly journals Knowledge and perception of the role of water, sanitation and hygiene in containment of Ebola virus disease among secondary school students in Ibadan, Nigeria

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 635-643
Author(s):  
Faith I. Edoror ◽  
Elizabeth O. Oloruntoba ◽  
Shade J. Akinsete
Keyword(s):  
Secondary School ◽  
Secondary School Students ◽  
Ebola Virus ◽  
Virus Disease ◽  
Ebola Virus Disease ◽  
School Students ◽  
Hygiene Practices ◽  
Sanitation And Hygiene ◽  
Ibadan Nigeria

Abstract This study assessed the knowledge and perception of the role of water supply, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) in the containment of Ebola virus disease (EVD) among secondary school students in Ibadan, Nigeria. A cross-sectional study of 420 students from eight schools (public and private) in Ibadan was conducted. A semi-structured questionnaire and an observational checklist were used to collect data. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square test and logistic regression at 5% level of significance. Overall, 60% reported EVD was airborne. A majority (71%) of the respondents had good knowledge of EVD, while a majority (92%) had a good perception of the role of WASH in EVD containment. Class of respondents was significantly (p = 0.045) associated with knowledge of WASH. Although schools had satisfactory sanitary facilities, only a few (21%) sustained good hygiene practices at the end of the Ebola outbreak in Nigeria. Our findings revealed suboptimal knowledge on transmission of EVD, and unsustainable hygiene practices among secondary students post-Nigeria's EVD outbreak. High priority should be given to hygiene education among educators and students. Implementation of monitoring and evaluation of hygiene behaviour among secondary school students should also be a priority.

scholarly journals The Role of the Laboratory and Transfusion Service in the Management of Ebola Virus Disease

2017 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
pp. 149-153 ◽  
Author(s):  
Scott A. Koepsell ◽  
Anne M. Winkler ◽  
John D. Roback
Keyword(s):  
Ebola Virus ◽  
Virus Disease ◽  
Ebola Virus Disease

The Epidemiological Presentation Pattern of Ebola Virus Disease Outbreaks: Changes from 1976 to 2019

2020 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 247-253
Author(s):  
Pedro Arcos González ◽  
Ángel Fernández Camporro ◽  
Anneli Eriksson ◽  
Carmen Alonso Llada
Keyword(s):  
At Risk ◽  
Ebola Virus ◽  
Virus Disease ◽  
Disease Outbreaks ◽  
Case Fatality ◽  
Ebola Virus Disease ◽  
World Health ◽  
Study Objective ◽  
Population At Risk ◽  
Case Fatality Ratio

AbstractIntroduction:Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) is the international health emergency paradigm due to its epidemiological presentation pattern, impact on public health, resources necessary for its control, and need for a national and international response.Study Objective:The objective of this work is to study the evolution and progression of the epidemiological presentation profile of Ebola disease outbreaks since its discovery in 1976 to the present, and to explore the possible reasons for this evolution from different perspectives.Methods:Retrospective observational study of 38 outbreaks of Ebola disease occurred from 1976 through 2019, excluding laboratory accidents. United Nations agencies and programs; Ministries of Health; the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); ReliefWeb; emergency nongovernmental organizations; and publications indexed in PubMed, EmBase, and Clinical Key have been used as sources of data. Information on the year of the outbreak, date of beginning and end, duration of the outbreak in days, number of cases, number of deaths, population at risk, geographic extension affected in Km2, and time of notification of the first cases to the World Health Organization (WHO) have been searched and analyzed.Results:Populations at risk have increased (P = .024) and the geographical extent of Ebola outbreaks has grown (P = .004). Reporting time of the first cases of Ebola to WHO has been reduced (P = .017) and case fatality (P = .028) has gone from 88% to 62% in the period studied. There have been differences (P = .04) between the outbreaks produced by the Sudan and Zaire strains of the virus, both in terms of duration and case fatality ratio (Sudan strain 74.5 days on average and 62.7% of case fatality ratio versus Zaire strain with 150 days on average and 55.4% case fatality ratio).Conclusion:There has been a change in the epidemiological profile of the Ebola outbreaks from 1976 through 2019 with an increase in the geographical extent of the outbreaks and the population at risk, as well as a significant decrease in the outbreaks case fatality rate. There have been advances in the detection and management capacity of outbreaks, and the notification time to the WHO has been reduced. However, there are social, economic, cultural, and political obstacles that continue to greatly hinder a more efficient epidemiological approach to Ebola disease, mainly in Central Africa.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document