Resources

Ebola hemorrhagic fever outbreaks in Gabon 1994-1997

This resource describes the fall 1994 epidemic in Gabon and a retrospective check for other etiologic agents due atypical aspects of Yellow fever infection during the epidemic. The paper then highlights the beneficial use of barrier nursing techniques in limiting disease spread and in the prevention of future Ebola hemorrhagic fever epidemics.

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Epidemics of Ebola haemorrhagic fever in Gabon (1994-2002)

This resource considers the cultural and psycho-sociological aspects accounting for the difficulty to implement control measures during the Ebola haemorrhagic fever epidemics in Gabon between 1994 and 2002. It discusses the possibilities of better surveillance and a quick management of intervention means, including a regional permanent pre-alert.

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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.

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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.

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Epidemics and related cultural factors for Ebola hemorrhagic fever in Gabon

This resource collected information about Ebola hemorrhagic fever (EHF) epidemics from the Gabon Ministry of Health, district hospitals and other facilities and conducted in-depth interviews with 20 villagers and 2 traditional healers in the village where the third epidemic occurred. This study suggests that cultural factors might be very crucial to EHF outbreaks in developing countries. Quick intervention with health education is needed to disseminate appropriate knowledge and persuade people that traditional practices could carry a high risk of infection

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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.

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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.

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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. 

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