Vaccine-derived polioviruses (VDPVs) can emerge from Sabin strain poliovirus serotypes 1, 2, and 3 contained in oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV) after prolonged person-to-person transmission where ...population vaccination immunity against polioviruses is suboptimal. VDPVs can cause paralysis indistinguishable from wild polioviruses and outbreaks when community circulation ensues. VDPV serotype 2 outbreaks (cVDPV2) have been documented in The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) since 2005. The nine cVDPV2 outbreaks detected during 2005–2012 were geographically-limited and resulted in 73 paralysis cases. No outbreaks were detected during 2013–2016. During January 1, 2017–December 31, 2021, 19 cVDPV2 outbreaks were detected in DRC. Seventeen of the 19 (including two first detected in Angola) resulted in 235 paralysis cases notified in 84 health zones in 18 of DRC’s 26 provinces; no notified paralysis cases were associated with the remaining two outbreaks. The DRC-KAS-3 cVDPV2 outbreak that circulated during 2019–2021, and resulted in 101 paralysis cases in 10 provinces, was the largest recorded in DRC during the reporting period in terms of numbers of paralysis cases and geographic expanse. The 15 outbreaks occurring during 2017–early 2021 were successfully controlled with numerous supplemental immunization activities (SIAs) using monovalent OPV Sabin-strain serotype 2 (mOPV2); however, suboptimal mOPV2 vaccination coverage appears to have seeded the cVDPV2 emergences detected during semester 2, 2018 through 2021. Use of the novel OPV serotype 2 (nOPV2), designed to have greater genetic stability than mOPV2, should help DRC’s efforts in controlling the more recent cVDPV2 outbreaks with a much lower risk of further seeding VDPV2 emergence. Improving nOPV2 SIA coverage should decrease the number of SIAs needed to interrupt transmission. DRC needs the support of polio eradication and Essential Immunization (EI) partners to accelerate the country’s ongoing initiatives for EI strengthening, introduction of a second dose of inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV) to increase protection against paralysis, and improving nOPV2 SIA coverage.
IntroductionSince August 2009, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has implemented sentinel site surveillance for rotavirus gastroenteritis. Limited hospital studies have been carried out, in DRC, ...describing the epidemiology of rotavirus diarrhea before rotavirus vaccine introduction in October 2019. This analysis describes the epidemiology of rotavirus gastroenteritis and characteristics of circulating viral strains from 2009 to 2019.Materials and methodsWe analyzed demographic and clinic data collected from children < 5 years old enrolled at three rotavirus sentinel surveillance sites in DRC during 2009–2019, prior to rotavirus vaccine introduction in 2019. Data have been described and presented as mean ± standard deviation for quantitative variables with normal distribution, or as median with an interquartile range Q1-Q3 for quantitative variables with non-normal distribution, or as absolute value with percentage for qualitative variables.ResultsBetween August 2009 and December 2019, 4,928 children < 5 years old were admitted to sentinel surveillance sites for gastroenteritis in the DRC; the rotavirus positivity rate was 60 %. There was a slight male gender predominance (56 %), and the majority of children (79 %) were 0–11 months of age. Every year, the incidence was highest between May and September corresponding to the dry and cool season. Genotyping was performed for 50 % of confirmed rotavirus cases. The most common G genotypes were G1 (39 %) and G2 (24 %) and most common P genotypes were P6 (49 %) and P8 (37 %). The most common G-P genotype combinations were G1P8 (22 %), G2P6 (16 %) and G1P6 (14 %). Genotype distribution varied by site, age group, and year.ConclusionFrom 2009 to 2019, rotavirus-associated gastroenteritis represented a significant burden among DRC children under 5 who were admitted to sentinel sites. G1P8 was the most commonly identified genotype. Continued monitoring after the introduction of rotavirus vaccine will be essential to monitor any changes in epidemiology.
Process mapping is a systems thinking approach used to understand, analyse and optimise processes within complex systems. We aim to demonstrate how this methodology can be applied during disease ...outbreaks to strengthen response and health systems. Process mapping exercises were conducted during three unique emerging disease outbreak contexts with different: mode of transmission, size, and health system infrastructure. System functioning improved considerably in each country. In Sierra Leone, laboratory testing was accelerated from 6 days to within 24 hours. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, time to suspected case notification reduced from 7 to 3 days. In Nigeria, key data reached the national level in 48 hours instead of 5 days. Our research shows that despite the chaos and complexities associated with emerging pathogen outbreaks, the implementation of a process mapping exercise can address immediate response priorities while simultaneously strengthening components of a health system.
In this report on the current epidemic, the WHO Ebola Response Team presents data on symptoms, case fatality rate, incubation period, basic reproduction number, and serial interval. Without a greatly ...increased global response, over 20,000 people may be infected by early November.
As of September 14, 2014, a total of 4507 confirmed and probable cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD), as well as 2296 deaths from the virus, had been reported from five countries in West Africa — Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal, and Sierra Leone. In terms of reported morbidity and mortality, the current epidemic of EVD is far larger than all previous epidemics combined. The true numbers of cases and deaths are certainly higher. There are numerous reports of symptomatic persons evading diagnosis and treatment, of laboratory diagnoses that have not been included in national databases, and of persons with suspected . . .
INTRODUCTION: La République Démocratique du Congo a été considérée comme un pays à circulation rétablie de poliovirus sauvage (PVS). Cet article décrit l'épidémie de PVS qui a sévit dans la province ...de Kinshasa de 2010 à 2011. METHODES: Les analyses ont porté sur les cas de paralysie flasque aigüe (PFA) enregistrés de décembre 2010 à décembre 2011, les données de surveillance des PFA, les données de couverture vaccinale et celles du monitorage indépendant des activités de vaccination supplémentaires. RESULTATS: Entre décembre 2010 à décembre 2011, 298 cas de PFA ont été enregistrés par les zones de santé parmi lesquels 34 cas de PVS confirmés. 58% des cas de PVS avaient plus de 15 ans avec plus d'hommes que de femmes. 10 passages d'activités de vaccination supplémentaires ont été mis en éuvre dont 4 avaient ciblé toute la population de Kinshasa. Il ny a plus eu de cas de PVS après le 3e passage. Le monitorage des activités de vaccination a montré une proportion de sujets non vaccinés allant de 4 à 13%. La performance du système de surveillance était globalement bonne. CONCLUSION: La prédominance des adultes parmi les cas notifiés traduit leur susceptibilité alors qu'ils ne sont généralement pas concernés lors des campagnes de vaccination supplémentaires. Ceci devrait engager les autorités sanitaires à envisager des activités vaccinales supplémentaires ciblant les adultes afin de casser plus rapidement la chaîne de transmission. Les faiblesses subsistant dans le système de surveillance pourraient être jugulées par le renforcement de la surveillance à base communautaire.
Background. The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) experienced atypical outbreaks of wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) infection during 2010-2011 in that they affected persons aged > 15 years in 4 ...(Bandundu, Bas Congo, Kasaï Occidental, and Kinshasa provinces) of the 6 provinces with outbreaks. Methods. Analyses of cases of WPV1 infection with onset during 2010-2011 by province, age, polio vaccination status, and sex were conducted. The prevalence of antibodies to poliovirus (PV) types 1,2, and 3 was assessed in sera collected before the outbreaks from women attending antenatal clinics in 3 of the 4 above-mentioned provinces. Results. Of 193 cases of WPV1 infection during 2010-2011,32 (17%) occurred in individuals aged > 15 years. Of these 32 cases, 31 (97%) occurred in individuals aged 16-29 years; 9 (28%) were notified in Bandundu, 17 (53%) were notified in Kinshasa, and 22 (69%) had an unknown polio vaccination status. In the seroprevalence assessment, PV type 1 and 3 seroprevalence was lower among women aged 15-29 years in Bandundu and Kinshasa, compared with those in Kasaï Occidental. Seropositivity to PVs was associated with increasing age, more pregnancies, and a younger age at first pregnancy. Conclusions. This spatiotemporal analysis strongly suggests that the 2010-2011 outbreaks of WPV1 infection affecting young adults were caused by a PV type 1 immunity gap in Kinshasa and Bandundu due to insufficient exposure to PV type 1 through natural infection or vaccination. Poliovirus immunity gaps in this age group likely persist in DRC.
Background. The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) began polio eradication activities in 1996. By 2001, DRC was no longer polio endemic. However, wild poliovirus (WPV) transmission was ...reestablished in 2006 continuing through 2011 (last WPV case onset 20 December 2011), and vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (VDPV2) outbreaks occurred during 2004-2012 (last VDPV2 case onset 4 April 2012). Gaps in acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) surveillance have been consistently documented. Methods. AFP surveillance indicators were assessed at the national, provincial, and zone de santé (ZS) levels for 2010-2012. A spatiotemporal analysis of compatible, WPV type 1 (WPV1), and VDPV2 cases was performed. Results. During 2010-2012, AFP cases were reported from all provinces but not every ZS, particularly in Equateur province and Province Orientale. A spatiotemporal relationship between compatible, WPV1, and VDPV2 cases was noted. Nonpolio AFP rates met objectives at national and provincial levels but were sub-optimal in certain ZS. National and provincial trends in timely stool collection, stool condition, adequate stool, and 60-day follow-up exams improved. Conclusions. DRC's AFP surveillance system is functional and improved during 2010-2012. Maintaining improvements and strengthening AFP case detection at the ZS level will provide further support for the apparent interruption of WPV and VDPV2 transmission.
To the Editor:
The World Health Organization (WHO) Ebola Response Team (Oct. 16 issue)
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predicted that the current Ebola epidemic would claim a dreadful 20,000 combined cases by early November 2014, ...assuming no change in the control measures applied in West Africa. The threat that Ebola poses to national public health and social, economic, and security foundations may worsen if a secondary epidemic eventually explodes in the region. Since June 2014, nearby Ghana has been affected by a serious cholera epidemic that was responsible for 12,622 cases as of September 6.
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Current cholera and Ebola zones are separated by Ivory . . .
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