Resources

Forecasting rodent outbreaks in Africa: an ecological basis for Mastomys control in Tanzania

This study collected rainfall data preceding historical outbreaks of Mastomys rats in East Africa in order to test the hypothesis that such outbreaks occur after long dry periods. It found that rodent outbreaks were generally not preceded by long dry period and the population dynamics of Mastomys natalensis rats in Tanzania are significantly affected by the distribution of rainfall during the rainy season.

Read more

The bioeconomics of controlling an African rodent pest species

This resource presents an ecological population model as a basis for an economic analyses of controlling an African pest rodent, the multimammate rate, which causes major damage in maize production. This study sues data from the village level in Tanzania, and the model incorporates density-dependent and density-independent factors.

Read more

Lassa Virus Hemorrhagic Fever in Benin in 2014 in an Ebola Context: An Epidemic Revealing the Weakness of the Health System

This resource aims to understand the social conditions of the outbreak and evolution of the Lassa haemorrhagic fever epidemic in Benin, 2014, and the technical, political and institutional processes of its management by the state and international alert network and health response. It reports on the results of a qualitative survey conducted at several sites: at the Ministry of Health in Cotonou, in the health services (including the Saint-Jean de Dieu Hospital in Tanguiéta in the north of the country), and in the families of the geographical area of ​​the epidemic.

Read more

Knowledge, attitude and practice of Lassa fever prevention by students of the University of Benin

This study assessed the knowledge, attitude and practice of prevention of Lassa fever, amongst students resident in the campuses of University of Benin. The knowledge of the majority 276 (91.7%) of the study population about Lassa fever disease was poor. Good preventive practices were reported by 28 (73.3%) of respondents and fair practices was reported by 10 (24.3%) of respondents with good knowledge.  It was found that preventive practices were significantly associated with level of study of students (p=0.033). Conclusion: Continued dissemination of accurate information on Lassa fever disease is indicated at all levels of study in the University system to improve preventive practices and reduce risk of Lassa fever disease amongst student population.

Read more

Risk maps of Lassa fever in West Africa

With the aim of gaining more information to control this disease, this paper carries out a spatial analysis of Lassa fever data from human cases and infected rodent hosts covering the period 1965–2007. 

Read more