Rapid response to meningococcal disease cluster in Foya district, Lofa County, Liberia January to February 2018
| Autor: | Ali Ahmed Yahaya, Bernice Dahn, Alpha Tamba, Formenty Pierre, Williams Desmound, Ambrose Talisuna, Lavele Kortimai, Emmanuel Musa Onuche, Joseph Okeibunor Chukwudi, Ibrahima Socé Fall, Mouhamoud Nuha, Julius Monday Rude, Alex Gasasira, Fallah Mosoka, Tolbert Nyenswah, Thomas Nagbe, Soatiana Rajatonirina, Richard Mulbah, Baller April, Victoria Katawera |
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| Rok vydání: | 2019 |
| Předmět: |
Male
Adolescent 030231 tropical medicine Attack rate Population Foya Meningitis Meningococcal Neisseria meningitidis Disease cluster Meningococcal disease Disease Outbreaks meningitis belt Sierra leone Lofa 03 medical and health sciences 0302 clinical medicine Ciprofloxacin Case fatality rate medicine Humans rapid response Klemabendu 030212 general & internal medicine Child education Aged 80 and over education.field_of_study business.industry Research Incidence (epidemiology) Outbreak General Medicine Middle Aged Liberia medicine.disease Anti-Bacterial Agents Meningococcal Infections Child Preschool Population Surveillance Female business Demography |
| Zdroj: | The Pan African Medical Journal |
| ISSN: | 1937-8688 |
| Popis: | Introduction Early detection of disease outbreaks is paramount to averting associated morbidity and mortality. In January 2018, nine cases including four deaths associated with meningococcal disease were reported in three communities of Foya district, Lofa County, Liberia. Due to the porous borders between Lofa County and communities in neighboring Sierra Leone and Guinea, the possibility of epidemic spread of meningococcal disease could not be underestimated. Methods The county incidence management system (IMS) was activated that coordinated the response activities. Daily meetings were conducted to review response activities progress and challenges. The district rapid response team (DRRT) was the frontline responders. The case based investigation form; case line list and contacts list were used for data collection. A data base was established and analysed daily for action. Tablets Ciprofloxacin were given for chemoprophylaxis. Results Sixty-seven percent (67%) of the cases were males and also 67% of the affected age range was 3 to 14 years and attending primary school. The attack rate was 7/1,000 population and case fatality rate was 44.4 % with majority of the deaths occurring within 24-48 hours of symptoms onset. Three of the cases tested positive for Neisseria Meningitidis sero-type W while six cases were Epi-linked. None of the cases had recent meningococcal vaccination and no health-worker infections were registered. Conclusion This cluster of cases of meningococcal disease during the meningitis season in a country that is not traditionally part of the meningitis belt emphasized the need for strengthening surveillance, preparedness and response capacity to meningitis. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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