Ebola Virus in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Erb-Alvarez, Julie; Wendelboe, Aaron M.; Chertow, Daniel S.

doi:10.1016/j.chest.2019.08.2183

Cited by 11 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“… 19 This requires qualified lab staff and well-equipped laboratories to perform the task. 20 Given the low capacity of lab tests in many African countries, including DRC, strengthening the laboratory capacity has been ongoing and it contributes to the resilience of the country to respond to future pandemics. 21 New laboratories were established as part of the response, and the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) collaborated with international partners to host a training course for Ebola diagnosis at the regional level.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The cost of public health interventions to respond to the 10th Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Zeng,

Samaha,

Yao

et al. 2023

BMJ Glob Health

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The 10th Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) drew substantial attention from the international community, which in turn invested more than US$1 billion in EVD control over two years (2018–2020). This is the first EVD outbreak to take place in a conflict area, which led to a shift in strategy from a pure public health response (PHR) to a multisectoral humanitarian response. A wide range of disease control and mitigation activities were implemented and were outlined in the five budgeted Strategic Response Plans used throughout the 26 months. This study used the budget/expenditure and output indicators for disease control and mitigation interventions compiled by the government of DRC and development and humanitarian partners to estimate unit costs of key Ebola control interventions. Of all the investment in EVD control, 68% was spent on PHR. The remaining 32% covered security, community support interventions for the PHR. The disbursement for the public health pillar was distributed as follows: (1) coordination (18.8%), (2), clinical management of EVD cases (18.4%), (3) surveillance and vaccination (15.9%), (4) infection prevention and control/WASH (13.8%) and (5) risk communication (13.7%). The unit costs of key EVD control interventions were as follows: US$66 182 for maintaining a rapid response team per month, US$4435 for contact tracing and surveillance per identified EVD case, US$1464 for EVD treatment per case, US$59.4 per EVD laboratory test, US$120.7 per vaccinated individual against EVD and US$175.0 for mental health and psychosocial support per beneficiary. The estimated unit costs of key EVD disease control interventions provide crucial information for future infectious disease control planning and budgeting, as well as prioritisation of disease control interventions.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The cost of public health interventions to respond to the 10th Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Zeng,

Samaha,

Yao

et al. 2023

BMJ Glob Health

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…Additional strategies to prevent and treat Ebola virus disease (EVD) are urgently needed, as mortality remains unacceptably high and no proven-effective therapies are presently available [1]. In support of preclinical animal models, simple mathematical models that account for Ebola virus (EBOV) titer kinetics, might provide insight into the timing of when EBOV therapeutics or prophylactics might be effective [2].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Modeling Challenges of Ebola Virus–Host Dynamics during Infection and Treatment

Chertow

Shekhtman

Lurie

et al. 2020

Viruses

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Mathematical modeling of Ebola virus (EBOV)–host dynamics during infection and treatment in vivo is in its infancy due to few studies with frequent viral kinetic data, lack of approved antiviral therapies, and limited insight into the timing of EBOV infection of cells and tissues throughout the body. Current in-host mathematical models simplify EBOV infection by assuming a single homogeneous compartment of infection. In particular, a recent modeling study assumed the liver as the largest solid organ targeted by EBOV infection and predicted that nearly all cells become refractory to infection within seven days of initial infection without antiviral treatment. We compared our observations of EBOV kinetics in multiple anatomic compartments and hepatocellular injury in a critically ill patient with Ebola virus disease (EVD) with this model’s predictions. We also explored the model’s predictions, with and without antiviral therapy, by recapitulating the model using published inputs and assumptions. Our findings highlight the challenges of modeling EBOV–host dynamics and therapeutic efficacy and emphasize the need for iterative interdisciplinary efforts to refine mathematical models that might advance understanding of EVD pathogenesis and treatment.

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“…EVD outbreaks have only occurred in Africa until now, with the largest outbreak occurring in West Africa from 2014 to 2016, primarily affecting Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia, and resulting in 28,646 cases and 11,323 deaths as of 30 March 2016 [ 2 ]. Currently, an Ebola outbreak has been occurring in the DRC since August 2018, with 3409 cases and 2236 death as of 22 January 2020 [ 3 ]. The genus Ebolavirus currently includes six species: Zaire ebolavirus (EBOV), Sudan ebolavirus, Reston ebolavirus, Taï Forest ebolavirus, Bundibugyo ebolavirus, and the newly identified Bombali ebolavirus [ 4 , 5 , 6 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Identification of Novel Adjuvants for Ebola Virus-Like Particle Vaccine

et al. 2020

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Ebola virus disease is a severe disease, often fatal, with a mortality rate of up to 90%. Presently, effective treatment and safe prevention options for Ebola virus disease are not available. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop control measures to prevent or limit future Ebola virus outbreaks. Ebola virus protein-based virus-like particle (VLP) and inactivated whole virion vaccines have demonstrated efficacy in animal models, and the addition of appropriate adjuvants may provide additional benefits to these vaccines, including enhanced immune responses. In this study, we screened 24 compounds from injectable excipients approved for human use in Japan and identified six compounds that significantly enhanced the humoral response to Ebola VLP vaccine in a murine model. Our novel adjuvant candidates for Ebola VLP vaccine have already been demonstrated to be safe when administered intramuscularly or subcutaneously, and therefore, they are closer to clinical trials than adjuvants whose safety profiles are unknown.

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Ebola Virus in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Cited by 11 publications

References 16 publications

The cost of public health interventions to respond to the 10th Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

The cost of public health interventions to respond to the 10th Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Modeling Challenges of Ebola Virus–Host Dynamics during Infection and Treatment

Identification of Novel Adjuvants for Ebola Virus-Like Particle Vaccine

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