Article
Infectious Diseases
Young Eun Kim
Summary: This study assessed the impact of the Ebola virus disease outbreak on child mortality in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone from 2014 to 2016. The results showed that the child mortality rate decreased significantly for children born after the outbreak, but the association with the increase in Ebola cases remained strong. Additionally, there were variations in the utilization of maternal health services after the outbreak.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Mosoka Fallah, Stephen Lavalah, Tina Gbelia, Myers Zondo, Morris Kromah, Lucy Tantum, Gartee Nallo, Joseph Boakai, Kemoh Sheriff, Laura Skrip, S. Harris Ali
Summary: Based on research conducted in Liberia, we found that individuals traveled during the Ebola outbreak for various reasons, such as avoiding stigmatization, fear of the disease, and attending burial rites. Improvements in infectious disease response could be made through personalizing public health messaging, activating community surveillance systems, and involving local leaders and community members.
PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Cuong Duy Do, Vuong Minh Nong, An Van Ngo, Tra Thu Doan, Tuan Quang Nguyen, Phuong Thai Truong, Linus Olson, Mattias Larsson
Summary: Following a coronavirus outbreak at Bach Mai Hospital in Hanoi, Vietnam's public health response involving rapid case screening, extensive testing, prompt quarantines, contact tracing, and social distancing effectively contained the hospital outbreak, preventing further community transmission.
EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Daniel Mukadi-Bamuleka, Fabrice Mambu-Mbika, Anja De Weggheleire, Francois Edidi-Atani, Junior Bulabula-Penge, Meris Matondo Kua Mfumu, Anais Legand, Antoine Nkuba-Ndaye, Yannick Tutu Tshia N'kasar, Placide Mbala-Kingebeni, John D. Klena, Joel M. Montgomery, Jean-Jacques Muyembe-Tamfum, Pierre Formenty, Johan van Griensven, Kevin K. Arien, Steve Ahuka-Mundeke
Summary: During the 10th outbreak of Ebola virus disease in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Institut National de Recherche Biomedicale strategically positioned 13 decentralized field laboratories with dedicated equipment to quickly detect cases as the outbreak evolved. The laboratories were operated by national staff, who quickly handed over competencies and skills to local persons to successfully manage future outbreaks. Laboratories ana-lyzed approximate to 230,000 Ebola diagnostic samples under stringent biosafety measures, documentation, and database man-agement. Field laboratories diversified their activities (di-agnosis, chemistry and hematology, survivor follow-up, and genomic sequencing) and shipped 127,993 samples from the field to a biorepository in Kinshasa under good conditions. Deploying decentralized and well-equipped laboratories run by local personnel in at-risk countries for Ebola virus disease outbreaks is an efficient response; all activities are quickly conducted in the field.
EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Ronan F. Arthur, Lily M. Horng, Amos F. Tandanpolie, John R. Gilstad, Lucy K. Tantum, Stephen P. Luby
Summary: The majority of disease transmission during the 2014-16 West Africa Ebola epidemic was driven by difficult-to-change community-based behaviors influenced by misinformation, denial, and distrust of government. A 2018 study conducted in Liberia found that some behaviors adopted during Ebola persisted, while others reverted, and distrust of the government and denial of the epidemic continued. This suggests a persistent lack of trust in the biomedical paradigm and government health institutions in Liberia.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Amelia J. Brandt, Bonnie Katalenich, David W. Seal
Summary: Rumors and misperceptions posed a persistent challenge during the 2014-2016 Ebola Virus Disease outbreak. Organizations utilized various approaches to address rumors, including community-led actions and drama performances. Interpersonal and community-led methods were deemed effective by participants and hold promise for future outbreaks.
GLOBAL HEALTH-SCIENCE AND PRACTICE
(2021)
Article
Economics
Darin Christensen, Oeindrila Dube, Johannes Haushofer, Bilal Siddiqi, Maarten Voors
Summary: Research suggests that skepticism about the quality of health systems in developing countries contributes to higher mortality rates. By improving the perceived quality of healthcare through interventions, it is possible to promote community health and enhance the resilience of health systems during crises like epidemics.
QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF ECONOMICS
(2021)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Ronan F. Arthur, Lily M. Horng, Fatorma K. Bolay, Amos Tandanpolie, John R. Gilstad, Lucy K. Tantum, Stephen P. Luby
Summary: Behavior change was crucial during the West African Ebola epidemic in Liberia. Trust in the government was associated with compliance, while hardships related to Ebola were linked to lower trust. Trust in international NGOs was consistently higher than trust in the government. Trust decreased significantly during the peak of the epidemic, especially in the hardest-hit community. Increase in Ebola awareness and knowledge positively influenced trust, while exposure to the epidemic reinforced mistrust of government institutions.
PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Keith L. Gray, Naomi F. Walker, Frederick Martineau, Nahid Bhadelia, Wahdae-mai Harmon-Gray, Laura A. Skrip, Jean DeMarco, Patrick Konwloh, Nelson Dunbar
Summary: Interrupted time-series analyses were conducted in Liberia to estimate the impact of the 2014-2015 Ebola virus disease epidemic on tuberculosis care services. Findings showed a significant decline in presumptive TB cases during the EVD outbreak, with increases in treatment success rates. The study suggests that the Ebola outbreak negatively affected TB care services.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Sachin Agnihotri, Charles Alpren, Brima Bangura, Sarah Bennett, Yelena Gorina, Jadnah D. Harding, Sara Hersey, Ansumana S. Kamara, Mohamed A. M. Kamara, John D. Klena, Fiona McLysaght, Nishi Patel, Lance Presser, John T. Redd, Thomas T. Samba, Alexander K. Taylor, Mohamed A. Vandi, Scott Van Heest
Summary: This study details the process of consolidating epidemic records and establishing a database during the 2014-2016 Ebola outbreak in West Africa, with a focus on assisting families in locating the graves of loved ones who passed away during the epidemic through the SLED Family Reunification Program. The project aimed to create a data source for epidemiological research and highlighted the characteristics, strengths, and limitations of this unique information source for public health research.
ANNALS OF EPIDEMIOLOGY
(2021)
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.
Article
Mathematics, Applied
Lages Nadege Mouanguissa, Abdul A. Kamara, Xiangjun Wang
Summary: This paper analyzes a modified SEIDR model for Ebola disease, incorporating deterministic equations and noise covariance matrix. Numerical analysis and statistical hypothesis testing are used to demonstrate the importance of post-death transmission.
MATHEMATICAL METHODS IN THE APPLIED SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Ashley Hazel, Michelle C. Davidson, Abu Rogers, M. Bailor Barrie, Adams Freeman, Mohamed Mbayoh, Mohamed Kamara, Seth Blumberg, Thomas M. Lietman, George W. Rutherford, James Holland Jones, Travis C. Porco, Eugene T. Richardson, J. Daniel Kelly
Summary: This study examines the spread of the Ebola virus within social networks in Sukudu village. Although no evidence explaining the decline of the epidemic was found, the study excludes potential reasons and identifies three social interactions in Ebola transmission.
OPEN FORUM INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Soka J. Moses, Ian Wachekwa, Collin Van Ryn, Greg Grandits, Alice Pau, Moses Badio, Stephen B. Kennedy, Michael C. Sneller, Elizabeth S. Higgs, H. Clifford Lane, Mosoka Fallah, Stephen A. Migueles, Cavan Reilly
Summary: Two cohorts in Liberia showed higher HIV prevalence and incidence rates compared to national estimates in 2018, highlighting the need for further research to address knowledge gaps and improve care for HIV-positive individuals in the country.
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)