Hepatitis E Outbreak, Dadaab Refugee Camp, Kenya, 2012

Jamal A Ahmed,Edna Moturi,Nailah H Kassim,Paul Spiegel,Thomas Handzel,Lilian W Waiboci,Abdinoor Mohamed,Heather Burke,Susan Cookson,Joel M Montgomery,Leonard Nderitu,Melvin Ochieng,Wagacha Burton,Carlos Navarro-Colorado,Marian Schilperoord,Nina Marano,Eyasu Teshale

doi:10.3201/eid1906.130275

Abstract

Hepatitis E Outbreak, Dadaab Refugee Camp, Kenya, 2012

Highlights

Bangladesh was preparing for a potential influenza pandemic since 2005
To create a standardized and systematic approach to assessing the impact of an emerging pandemic, we examined published data from past influenza seasons and pandemics to evaluate epidemiologic measures of transmission and severity, characterized the range of values seen from influenza historically in the United States (US), and outlined a conceptual framework to synthesize measures of transmission and severity of an emerging pandemic
We have previously shown through analysis of the hypervariable P2 region of the capsid protein that a reservoir of random genetic diversity is maintained in the circulating norovirus population

Summary

Introduction

Bangladesh was preparing for a potential influenza pandemic since 2005. With avian influenza infection in poultry and high human population density, characterizing circulating influenza virus was a priority. Results: Based on the average scores of the 17 PHLs assessed, among the 15 sections: Budget & finances, Quality, Data management, and Communications were strong areas (>90%), Supplies, Buildings & facilities, Biosafety, Sampling, Equipment, and public health functions scored very good (80-90%), and Information technologies, Staffing level, Training and supervision, and Tests performed needed improvement (60-70%) The findings highlighted both strengths and weaknesses of the PHL system as a whole and of the individual laboratories though the scores are not valid for comparisons with other countries due to a country specific scoring matrix. We conducted a case-control study to evaluate the effectiveness of the vaccine in preventing laboratory-confirmed influenza associated with ILI and SARI among children 9 months - 59months old using surveillance data from from Kakuma from December 2010-August 2011. Preventive measures such as health alerts to local shelters and early prophylaxis dissemination to homeless shelter staff and close contacts may have contributed to controlling the outbreak among the homeless

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion