Abstract
During the 2014 Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak, less than half of EVD-suspected cases were laboratory tested as Ebola virus (EBOV)-negative, but disease identity remained unknown. In this study we investigated the etiology of EVD-like illnesses in EBOV-negative cases. From November 13, 2014 to March 16, 2015, EVD-suspected patients were admitted to Jui Government Hospital and assessed for EBOV infection by real-time PCR. Of 278 EBOV negative patients, 223 (80.21%), 142 (51.08%), 123 (44.24%), 114 (41.01%), 59 (21.22%), 35 (12.59%), and 12 (4.32%) reported fever, headache, joint pain, fatigue, nausea/vomiting, diarrhea, hemorrhage, respectively. Furthermore, 121 (43.52%), 44 (15.83%), 36 (12.95%), 33 (11.87%), 23 (8.27%), 10 (3.60%) patients were diagnosed as infection with malaria, HIV, Lassa fever, tuberculosis, yellow fever, and pneumonia, respectively. No significant differences in clinical features and symptoms were found between non-EVD and EVD patients. To the best of our knowledge, the present study is the first to explore the etiology of EVD-like illnesses in uninfected patients in Sierra Leone, highlighting the importance of accurate diagnosis to EVD confirmation.
Highlights
Since the first report in Sudan and Zaire in 1976, Ebola virus disease (EVD), a lethal illness with an average case fatality rate of 78% [1, 2], caused more than 30 outbreaks in the subsequent 40 years [3]
883 suspected patients with significant symptoms and/or epidemiologic history were admitted to Jui Government Hospital, of whom 295 were confirmed with Ebola virus (EBOV) infections
The majority of cases of EVD occurred in Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia [11], but most countries in the world established a series of measures to prevent and control the spread of EBOV infection
Summary
Since the first report in Sudan and Zaire in 1976, Ebola virus disease (EVD), a lethal illness with an average case fatality rate of 78% [1, 2], caused more than 30 outbreaks in the subsequent 40 years [3]. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defined EVD-suspected patients as exhibiting “elevated body temperature or subjective fever or symptoms, including severe headache, fatigue, muscle pain, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, or unexplained hemorrhage; and had an epidemiologic risk factor within the 21 days before the onset of symptoms” [8]. Only about half of all suspected EVD patients with clinical features or epidemiologic history were confirmed by laboratory test [6]. In this study, we explored the etiologies in EVD-like illnesses and compared the clinical features between EVD and non-EVD cases
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
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.
