Need of surveillance response systems to combat Ebola outbreaks and other emerging infectious diseases in African countries

Abstract

There is growing concern in Sub-Saharan Africa about the spread of the Ebola virus disease (EVD), formerly known as Ebola haemorrhagic fever, and the public health burden that it ensues. Since 1976, there have been 885,343 suspected and laboratory confirmed cases of EVD and the disease has claimed 2,512 cases and 932 fatality in West Africa. There are certain requirements that must be met when responding to EVD outbreaks and this process could incur certain challenges. For the purposes of this paper, five have been identified: (i) the deficiency in the development and implementation of surveillance response systems against Ebola and others infectious disease outbreaks in Africa; (ii) the lack of education and knowledge resulting in an EVD outbreak triggering panic, anxiety, psychosocial trauma, isolation and dignity impounding, stigmatisation, community ostracism and resistance to associated socio-ecological and public health consequences; (iii) limited financial resources, human technical capacity and weak community and national health system operational plans for prevention and control responses, practices and management; (iv) inadequate leadership and coordination; and (v) the lack of development of new strategies, tools and approaches, such as improved diagnostics and novel therapies including vaccines which can assist in preventing, controlling and containing Ebola outbreaks as well as the spread of the disease. Hence, there is an urgent need to develop and implement an active early warning alert and surveillance response system for outbreak response and control of emerging infectious diseases. Understanding the unending risks of transmission dynamics and resurgence is essential in implementing rapid effective response interventions tailored to specific local settings and contexts.Therefore, the following actions are recommended: (i) national and regional inter-sectorial and trans-disciplinary surveillance response systems that include early warnings, as well as critical human resources development, must be quickly adopted by allied ministries and organisations in African countries in epidemic and pandemic responses; (ii) harnessing all stakeholders commitment and advocacy in sustained funding, collaboration, communication and networking including community participation to enhance a coordinated responses, as well as tracking and prompt case management to combat challenges; (iii) more research and development in new drug discovery and vaccines; and (iv) understanding the involvement of global health to promote the establishment of public health surveillance response systems with functions of early warning, as well as monitoring and evaluation in upholding research-action programmes and innovative interventions.

Ebola from emergence to epidemic: the virus and the disease, global preparedness and perspectives

“…The mission pooled and oriented vast resources of the UN agencies for reinforcing the WHO's technical expertise and experience in managing Ebola disease outbreaks. However, in the absence of an effective vaccine in hand, the only way left with global health agencies is to keep the spread of EBOV under check by strengthening and strictly implementing appropriate prevention and control [19]. The local and global strategies framed to combat the Ebola epidemic had involved state-of-the art early warning systems for tracking global movement of people travelling through outbreak-affected countries, rapid screening of the patients and suspects, rapid medical care to patients, safe disposal of dead persons and their discharges through dedicated health personnel, and disaster management planning and implementing agencies operating at national and international levels.…”

“…This deadly virus, which claimed 6,458 deaths out of 12,299 cases reported in Africa until 2012 with an overall mortality rate of 52.5% during its four decades of appearance [2,3,18,19], has further widened its death trap, claiming 10,619 lives out of 25,626 suspected and confirmed cases reported globally during the current Ebola outbreak alone from December 2013 until April 11, 2015 [6]. The first global epidemic of Ebola in 2014 was declared to be a public health emergency of international concern by World Health Organization; it is the largest outbreak in Ebola history and the first massive outbreak in West Africa, and thereby, created a seemingly out-of-control situation [8,20,21].…”

Values and Hopes of Ebola Vaccines Mass Immunization Programs and Treatments Adoption and Implementation Benefits in Africa

“…Also in nurturing community and population productivity, effective health programming including community-based activities such as health education, capacity building and training, upgrading of complex logistical and cold chain systems and improving human development in Africa and worldwide, but also fostering new partnerships, new country commitments in new global health programs and ambition is required. Aware of the persistent conflicts and wars events, mining, deforestation and ecosystem degradation, weak health systems and poor sanitation, and climate changes have a huge impact on outbreaks and emerging infectious diseases, Ebola infection is likely to shift from epidemic to endemicity and far from over across Africa and globally [21,22]. However, with a depth of commitment from all levels of government and civil society and dedication of significant resources to scaling up community acceptance and resilience immunization, in boosting effective Ebola Research and Development(R & D) innovative solutions and interventions across world pharmaceutical industries.…”

“…Importantly, public health professional and stakeholders should set up primary health care early warning and surveillanceresponse systems for rapid disease risk assessment approaches and tools to detect, identify, analyze within the first week of the threat in order as well as basic public health medical supply needs and provide an evidence-based and timely comprehensive response [22,26]. Appropriately, Ebola vaccine development venture might be different from documented vaccine platforms and provide novel financial and economic model in R&D strategic investment, pricing and patent policies to successfully safe and effective products in improving appropriate preventive measures in safeguarding the health and wellbeing of vulnerablelow-income and developing countriespopulations.…”

“…The importance of publicprivate partnership (PPP) in providing empowerment-based approaches, diligent planning and transparent focus on dual strengths in supporting enablement and skill-building those promote survivors to create stability and supports. Also provide information and understanding on its roles on acquired immunity and responsibilities in the community, respect to human dignity, connectedness, and hopes [1,22,24,25].…”