Detecting Ebola with limited laboratory access in the Democratic Republic of Congo: evaluation of a clinical passive surveillance reporting system.
Trop Med Int Health
; 22(9): 1141-1153, 2017 09.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-28653456
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Ebola virus disease (EVD) can be clinically severe and highly fatal, making surveillance efforts for early disease detection of paramount importance. In areas with limited access to laboratory testing, the Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) strategy in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) may be a vital tool in improving outbreak response.METHODS:
Using DRC IDSR data from the nation's four EVD outbreak periods from 2007-2014, we assessed trends of Viral Hemorrhagic Fever (VHF) and EVD differential diagnoses reportable through IDSR. With official case counts from active surveillance of EVD outbreaks, we assessed accuracy of reporting through the IDSR passive surveillance system.RESULTS:
Although the active and passive surveillance represent distinct sets of data, the two were correlated, suggesting that passive surveillance based only on clinical evaluation may be a useful predictor of true cases prior to laboratory confirmation. There were 438 suspect VHF cases reported through the IDSR system and 416 EVD cases officially recorded across the outbreaks examined.CONCLUSION:
Although collected prior to official active surveillance cases, case reporting through the IDSR during the 2007, 2008 and 2012 outbreaks coincided with official EVD epidemic curves. Additionally, all outbreak areas experienced increases in suspected cases for both malaria and typhoid fever during EVD outbreaks, underscoring the importance of training health care workers in recognising EVD differential diagnoses and the potential for co-morbidities.Palavras-chave
Ebola; Epidemias; Infección; Salud Internacional; Salud Pública; Vigilancia; Vigilancia y respuesta integradas de las enfermedades; epidemics; infection; integrated disease surveillance and response; international health; public health; santé internationale; santé publique; surveillance; surveillance et réponse intégrées des maladies; Ébola; épidémies
Texto completo:
1
Bases de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Vigilância da População
/
Surtos de Doenças
/
Doença pelo Vírus Ebola
/
Ebolavirus
/
Tomada de Decisão Clínica
Tipo de estudo:
Diagnostic_studies
/
Evaluation_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
/
Screening_studies
Limite:
Humans
País/Região como assunto:
Africa
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Trop Med Int Health
Assunto da revista:
MEDICINA TROPICAL
/
SAUDE PUBLICA
Ano de publicação:
2017
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Estados Unidos