Abstract
ObjectiveTo describe Ebola cases in the district Ebola management centre of in Kailahun, a remote rural district of Sierra Leone, in terms of geographic origin, patient and hospitalisation characteristics, treatment outcomes and time from symptom onset to admission.MethodsData of all Ebola cases from June 23rd to October 5th 2014 were reviewed. Ebola was confirmed by reverse-transcriptase-polymerase-chain-reaction assay.ResultsOf 489 confirmed cases (51% male, median age 28 years), 166 (34%) originated outside Kailahun district. Twenty-eight (6%) were health workers: 2 doctors, 11 nurses, 2 laboratory technicians, 7 community health workers and 6 other cadres. More than 50% of patients had fever, headache, abdominal pain, diarrhoea/vomiting. An unusual feature was cough in 40%. Unexplained bleeding was reported in 5%. Outcomes for the 489 confirmed cases were 227 (47%) discharges, 259 (53%) deaths and 3 transfers. Case fatality in health workers (68%) was higher than other occupations (52%, P = 0.05). The median community infectivity time was 6.5 days for both general population and health workers (P = 0.4).ConclusionsOne in three admitted cases originated outside Kailahun district due to limited national access to Ebola management centres – complicating contact tracing, safe burial and disinfection measures. The comparatively high case fatality among health workers requires attention. The community infectivity time needs to be reduced to prevent continued transmission.
Highlights
Ebola virus disease (EVD), called Ebola Haemorrhagic Fever or Ebola, is a disease of humans and other primates caused by viruses of the family filovaridae
Trend in admissions and geographic origin of cases Figure 1 shows the trend in admissions stratified by Ebola cases and non-cases
Of 709 patients admitted to the Ebola Management Center with clinical features suggestive of Ebola, 220 (31%) were declared noncases after PCR testing and discharged
Summary
Ebola virus disease (EVD), called Ebola Haemorrhagic Fever or Ebola, is a disease of humans and other primates caused by viruses of the family filovaridae. It was first discovered in 1976 close to the Ebola River in the Democratic Republic of Congo from which it gets its name. Casefatality can be as high as 90% and despite four decades of documented existence there is no specific licenced treatment for Ebola. It is considered a Neglected Tropical Disease
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
