Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Thomas M. Crea, K. Megan Collier, Elizabeth K. Klein, Stephen Sevalie, Bailah Molleh, Yusuf Kabba, Abdulai Kargbo, Joseph Bangura, Henry Gbettu, Stewart Simms, Clara O'Leary, Stacy Drury, John S. Schieffelin, Theresa S. Betancourt
Summary: This study found that social distancing and EVD-related stigma were prominent sources of distress among participants. These results suggest that coordinated responses are needed to prevent and mitigate additional psychosocial harm caused by isolation due to infection and enduring stigmatization of infected individuals and their families.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Yi-Jie Kuo, Yu-Pin Chen, Hsiao-Wen Wang, Chieh-hsiu Liu, Carol Strong, Mohsen Saffari, Nai-Ying Ko, Chung-Ying Lin, Mark D. Griffiths
Summary: This study investigated the association between fear of COVID-19 and preventive behaviors among older adults during community outbreaks of varying severity in Taiwan. The findings showed that as the severity of the COVID-19 outbreak increased, older adults experienced higher levels of fear and engaged in fewer preventive behaviors, with a significant correlation between the two.
FRONTIERS IN MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Claudia Fontsere, Peter Frandsen, Jessica Hernandez-Rodriguez, Jonas Niemann, Camilla Hjorth Scharff-Olsen, Dominique Vallet, Pascaline Le Gouar, Nelly Menard, Arcadi Navarro, Hans R. Siegismund, Christina Hvilsom, M. Thomas P. Gilbert, Martin Kuhlwilm, David Hughes, Tomas Marques-Bonet
Summary: This study investigated the genetic impact of an Ebola outbreak on the western lowland gorilla population, finding no changes in genetic diversity or microbial community composition between survivors and non-survivors. Although limited by low power, the study identified six nominally significant missense mutations in four genes that may be linked to increased survival chances.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Amy Whitesell, Nirma D. Bustamante, Miles Stewart, Jeff Freeman, Amber M. Dismer, Walter Alarcon, Aaron Kofman, Amen Ben Hamida, Stuart T. Nichol, Inger Damon, Dana L. Haberling, Mory Keita, Gisele Mbuyi, Gregory Armstrong, Derek Juang, Jason Dana, Mary J. Choi
Summary: During an Ebola virus outbreak, a bilingual smartphone application was developed to assist field investigators in determining the exposure window of confirmed cases. Endorsed by the DRC Ministry of Health, the application has been incorporated into trainings for field staff and continues to be downloaded even after the outbreak was resolved.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Stephan M. Funk, Julia E. Fa, Stephanie N. Ajong, Edem A. Eniang, Daniele Dendi, Massimiliano Di Vittorio, Fabio Petrozzi, NioKing Amadi, Godfrey C. Akani, Luca Luiselli
Summary: The study found that the Ebola outbreak led to a sharp decline in wild meat sales in Nigeria, especially for reptiles. However, after the Ebola epidemic, there was a recovery in the sales of certain animal groups, such as ungulates, rodents, and carnivores. Surveys showed significant differences in wild meat consumption and attitudes among rural versus urban areas and different age groups.
BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION
(2021)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Jean Ndjomou, Scott Shearrer, Brendan Karlstrand, Carmen Asbun, Jesse Coble, Jane S. Alam, Mar P. Mar, Lance Presser, Scott Poynter, Julia M. Michelotti, Nadia Wauquier, Casey Ross, Sharon Altmann
Summary: The West Africa Ebola virus outbreak from 2014 to 2016 revealed the weaknesses in the public health systems of Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia, including inadequate training and equipment. Affected countries urgently sought international assistance to strengthen their public health systems. A successful laboratory capacity building program in Guinea improved bio-surveillance capabilities.
FRONTIERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Dawn M. Zimmerman, Emily Hardgrove, Sara Sullivan, Stephanie Mitchell, Eddy Kambale, Julius Nziza, Benard Ssebide, Chantal Shalukoma, Mike Cranfield, Pranav S. Pandit, Sean P. Troth, Taylor Callicrate, Philip Miller, Kirsten Gilardi, Robert C. Lacy
Summary: Ebola virus is highly lethal for great apes, and an outbreak could severely impact the endangered mountain gorilla population. Simulation modeling suggests that contact rates among gorilla groups are high enough for rapid spread of Ebola, leading to low survival rates. Vaccination strategies have limited success in preventing widespread infection, but vaccinating at least half the habituated gorillas within 3 weeks of the first case can result in survival rates greater than 50%.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Antoine Oloma Tshomba, Daniel-Ricky Mukadi-Bamuleka, Anja De Weggheleire, Olivier M. Tshiani, Richard O. Kitenge, Charles T. Kayembe, Bart K. M. Jacobs, Lutgarde Lynen, Placide Mbala-Kingebeni, Jean-Jacques Muyembe-Tamfum, Steve Ahuka-Mundeke, Dieudonne N. Mumba, Desire D. Tshala-Katumbay, Sabue Mulangu
Summary: The study developed prediction scores to aid healthcare workers in improving decision-making for Ebola virus disease (EVD) suspect-cases during outbreaks. The extended clinical prediction score (ECPS) outperformed the clinical prediction score (CPS) in diagnosing EVD and reducing unnecessary isolation. These tools show promise in enhancing triage decisions during EVD outbreaks but require further validation and evaluation before widespread use.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Simone E. Carter, Steve Ahuka-Mundeke, Jerome Pfaffmann Zambruni, Carlos Navarro Colorado, Esther van Kleef, Pascale Lissouba, Sophie Meakin, Olivier le Polain de Waroux, Thibaut Jombart, Mathias Mossoko, Dorothee Bulemfu Nkakirande, Marjam Esmail, Giulia Earle-Richardson, Marie-Amelie Degail, Chantal Umutoni, Julienne Ngoundoung Anoko, Nina Gobat
Summary: This study introduces the practice of CASS social science analytical cell working in collaboration with epidemiologists during the 2018-2020 Ebola outbreak in Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, providing a method to integrate evidence from social and behavioural sciences to better explain outbreak dynamics. The importance of socially relevant research questions, rapid research conduct, and systematic presentation of findings to partners for decision makers is highlighted.
Article
Economics
Elisa M. Maffioli
Summary: This study finds that political incentives may affect the government's response to a health epidemic and subsequently influence citizens' voting behavior. Misallocation of resources towards electoral swing villages during the 2014 Ebola outbreak in Liberia led to voters rewarding the national incumbent party in those areas. Voters may react to resource allocation by showing support or discontent towards the government in power.
JOURNAL OF DEVELOPMENT ECONOMICS
(2021)
News Item
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Saima May Sidik
Summary: A variant of H5N1 influenza that can spread between mammals may increase the risk of transmission.
Article
Mathematics
Danielle Burton, Suzanne Lenhart, Christina J. Edholm, Benjamin Levy, Michael L. Washington, Bradford R. Greening, K. A. Jane White, Edward Lungu, Obias Chimbola, Moatlhodi Kgosimore, Faraimunashe Chirove, Marilyn Ronoh, M. Helen Machingauta
Summary: Contact tracing plays a vital role in controlling and ending Ebola virus outbreaks, and modeling this process can help improve tracking efforts and highlight its importance. Results indicate that implementing a larger scale contact tracing program could reduce the death toll of outbreaks.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Harley Vossler, Pierre Akilimali, Yuhan Pan, Wasiur R. KhudaBukhsh, Eben Kenah, Grzegorz A. Rempala
Summary: In this study, a novel statistical method was used to analyze individual-level incidence and hospitalization data of Ebola victims in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) between 2018 and 2020. The analysis suggests that the increase in quarantine and isolation rate during the third and final wave of the epidemic, which shortened the infectiousness period, was likely responsible for eventually containing the outbreak. The study also reveals that the total effective population size of individuals at risk during the 24-month period was much smaller than previously estimated, indicating partial protection of the population through ring vaccination, contact tracing, and strict quarantine policies.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Substance Abuse
Sotirios Roussos, Dimitrios Paraskevis, Mina Psichogiou, Evangelia Georgia Kostaki, Eleni Flountzi, Theodoros Angelopoulos, Savvas Chaikalis, Martha Papadopoulou, Ioanna D. Pavlopoulou, Meni Malliori, Eleni Hatzitheodorou, Magdalini Pylli, Chrissa Tsiara, Dimitra Paraskeva, Apostolos Beloukas, George Kalamitsis, Angelos Hatzakis, Vana Sypsa
Summary: This study assessed the trends in HIV prevalence and associated factors among people who inject drugs in Athens, Greece. They found an increase in HIV prevalence, deterioration in socio-economic conditions, increased cocaine use, reduced access to needle and syringe programs, and stable low levels of HIV testing. These factors may contribute to the ongoing transmission of HIV.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Fulton Quincy Shannon II, Luke L. Bawo, John A. Crump, Katrina Sharples, Richard Egan, Philip C. Hill
Summary: The current EVD surveillance system in Liberia shows some deficiencies in its structure, core functions, support functions, and quality indicators at various levels. There are gaps in performance in case detection, reporting, and managing patients with EVD. Limited resources, stock out of sample collection materials, and staff attrition pose major challenges to the system's operations. Specific improvements and regular evaluations are needed, and standardized patient studies are crucial for evaluating surveillance systems for rarely occurring diseases that require early detection.