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Albayat SS, Mundodan JM, Elmardi K, Hasnain S, Khogali H, Baaboura R, Al-Romaihi HE, AlKubaisi NJ, Bougmiza MI. Knowledge, attitude, and practices regarding human papilloma virus vaccination among physicians in Qatar. Womens Health (Lond) 2024; 20:17455057241227360. [PMID: 38282514 PMCID: PMC10826392 DOI: 10.1177/17455057241227360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2023] [Revised: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 01/30/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The human papilloma virus is a global problem that affects sexually active women and men, with cervical cancer being the most serious associated disease. Most cervical cancer cases can be prevented by vaccination against the human papilloma virus early in life. The objective of this study was to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices among physicians working in Qatar, regarding the human papilloma virus, infection, and prevention using vaccines. STUDY-DESIGN This was a cross-sectional study using quantitative data collection. METHODOLOGY An online survey targeting physicians working in Qatar was conducted, using a web-based pretested questionnaire. The questionnaire comprised four sections capturing a few demographic details, 33 questions in the Knowledge Section, 12 questions eliciting the attitude, and 14 practice-related questions. Mean knowledge score was calculated and those with a score more than the mean score were considered to have sufficient knowledge. Association between knowledge and attitude/practices/independent variables were looked for using bivariate and multivariate analysis. Logistic regression was used to identify the predictors for recommending human papilloma virus vaccines. RESULTS Of the 557 physicians who participated, 83.7% had sufficient knowledge, but only 69.1% knew that human papilloma virus vaccines were available in Qatar. The majority (89.4%) knew that human papilloma virus infection could be asymptomatic and 96.1% knew at least one symptom; 77% believed the human papilloma virus vaccine would substantially decrease the chances of human papilloma virus infection and related cancers and 46.5% felt physicians were less motivated to promote the human papilloma virus vaccine. The perceived barriers to community acceptance of the human papilloma virus vaccine were lack of awareness regarding the relationship between human papilloma virus and cervical cancer (61.6%), doubts regarding efficacy (32.5%), fear regarding safety (26.9%), concern that the human papilloma virus vaccination may encourage risky sexual behavior (26.8%), and perceived low-risk (23.3%) and cost (24.6%). Only 21.5% commonly discussed sexual health with their clients. More than one-third were not interested in recommending the human papilloma virus vaccine. Bivariate analysis showed nationality, specialization, discussing with patients, and recommending vaccine to be significantly associated with knowledge. Bivariate and regression analysis identified that female gender and physician's religion were significant predictors to recommend the human papilloma virus vaccine. CONCLUSION Most physicians have good knowledge. Less than one-fourth commonly discussed sexual health with their clients. More than one-third were not interested in recommending the human papilloma virus vaccine. This issue might affect the human papilloma virus vaccination program implementation if not well addressed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Khalid Elmardi
- HP-CDC, Department of Public Health, Ministry of Public Health, Doha, Qatar
| | - Samina Hasnain
- HP-CDC, Department of Public Health, Ministry of Public Health, Doha, Qatar
| | - Hayat Khogali
- HP-CDC, Department of Public Health, Ministry of Public Health, Doha, Qatar
| | | | | | | | - Mohamed Iheb Bougmiza
- Community Medicine Residency Program Director, Primary Health Care Corporation, Doha, Qatar
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Osman K, Mundodan J, Chowdhury J, Ravi R, Baaboura R, Albuquerque J, Riaz B, Emran RY, Batoul K, Esameldin AM, Al Tabatabaee Z, Khogali H, Albayat S. Pfizer-BioNTech mRNA Vaccine Protection among Children and Adolescents Aged 12-17 Years against COVID-19 Infection in Qatar. Vaccines (Basel) 2023; 11:1522. [PMID: 37896926 PMCID: PMC10610824 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11101522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2023] [Revised: 09/03/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Qatar was also hit hard by the global pandemic of SARS-CoV-2, with the original virus, Alpha variant, Beta variant, Omicron BA.1 and BA.2 variants, Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 variants, and Delta variant, sequentially. The two-dose primary series of BNT162b2 (Pfizer-BioNTech) COVID-19 vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 infection has been approved for use in 30 µg formulations among children and adolescents aged 12-17 years as of 16 May 2021. This study aimed at estimating the effectiveness of the 30 µg BNT162b2 Pfizer-BioNTech mRNA COVID-19 vaccine against the pre-Omicron variants of SARS-CoV-2 infection in children and adolescents aged 12-17 years residing in Qatar. A test-negative matched case-control study was conducted. The subjects included any child or adolescent aged 12-17 years who had been tested for SARS-CoV-2 using RT-PCR tests performed on nasopharyngeal or oropharyngeal swabs, as part of contact tracing, between June and November 2021, and was eligible to receive the BNT162b2 vaccine as per the national guidelines. Data regarding 14,161 children/adolescents meeting inclusion-exclusion criteria were retrieved from the national Surveillance and Vaccine Electronic System (SAVES). Of the total, 3.1% (444) were positive for SARS-CoV-2. More than half (55.96%) were vaccinated with two doses of Pfizer-BioNTech-mRNA COVID-19 vaccine. Amongst those immunized with two doses, 1.2% tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, while 5.6% amongst the unvaccinated tested positive. The vaccine effectiveness was calculated to be 79%. Pfizer-BioNTech mRNA COVID-19 vaccine provides protection from COVID-19 infection for children/adolescents; hence, it is crucial to ensure they receive the recommended vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khadieja Osman
- National COVID-19 Track & Trace Team, Ministry of Public Health, Doha P.O. Box 42, Qatar; (K.O.); (J.C.); (R.R.); (R.B.); (J.A.); (B.R.); (R.Y.E.); (H.K.); (S.A.)
| | - Jesha Mundodan
- National COVID-19 Track & Trace Team, Ministry of Public Health, Doha P.O. Box 42, Qatar; (K.O.); (J.C.); (R.R.); (R.B.); (J.A.); (B.R.); (R.Y.E.); (H.K.); (S.A.)
- Vaccination Section, Ministry of Public Health, Doha P.O. Box 42, Qatar
| | - Juel Chowdhury
- National COVID-19 Track & Trace Team, Ministry of Public Health, Doha P.O. Box 42, Qatar; (K.O.); (J.C.); (R.R.); (R.B.); (J.A.); (B.R.); (R.Y.E.); (H.K.); (S.A.)
- Vaccination Section, Ministry of Public Health, Doha P.O. Box 42, Qatar
| | - Rejoice Ravi
- National COVID-19 Track & Trace Team, Ministry of Public Health, Doha P.O. Box 42, Qatar; (K.O.); (J.C.); (R.R.); (R.B.); (J.A.); (B.R.); (R.Y.E.); (H.K.); (S.A.)
- Vaccination Section, Ministry of Public Health, Doha P.O. Box 42, Qatar
| | - Rekayahouda Baaboura
- National COVID-19 Track & Trace Team, Ministry of Public Health, Doha P.O. Box 42, Qatar; (K.O.); (J.C.); (R.R.); (R.B.); (J.A.); (B.R.); (R.Y.E.); (H.K.); (S.A.)
- Vaccination Section, Ministry of Public Health, Doha P.O. Box 42, Qatar
| | - Jeevan Albuquerque
- National COVID-19 Track & Trace Team, Ministry of Public Health, Doha P.O. Box 42, Qatar; (K.O.); (J.C.); (R.R.); (R.B.); (J.A.); (B.R.); (R.Y.E.); (H.K.); (S.A.)
- Vaccination Section, Ministry of Public Health, Doha P.O. Box 42, Qatar
| | - Bilal Riaz
- National COVID-19 Track & Trace Team, Ministry of Public Health, Doha P.O. Box 42, Qatar; (K.O.); (J.C.); (R.R.); (R.B.); (J.A.); (B.R.); (R.Y.E.); (H.K.); (S.A.)
- Vaccination Section, Ministry of Public Health, Doha P.O. Box 42, Qatar
| | - Reem Yusuf Emran
- National COVID-19 Track & Trace Team, Ministry of Public Health, Doha P.O. Box 42, Qatar; (K.O.); (J.C.); (R.R.); (R.B.); (J.A.); (B.R.); (R.Y.E.); (H.K.); (S.A.)
- Vaccination Section, Ministry of Public Health, Doha P.O. Box 42, Qatar
| | - Khatija Batoul
- National COVID-19 Track & Trace Team, Ministry of Public Health, Doha P.O. Box 42, Qatar; (K.O.); (J.C.); (R.R.); (R.B.); (J.A.); (B.R.); (R.Y.E.); (H.K.); (S.A.)
| | - Abdul Mahmood Esameldin
- National COVID-19 Track & Trace Team, Ministry of Public Health, Doha P.O. Box 42, Qatar; (K.O.); (J.C.); (R.R.); (R.B.); (J.A.); (B.R.); (R.Y.E.); (H.K.); (S.A.)
| | - Zinah Al Tabatabaee
- National COVID-19 Track & Trace Team, Ministry of Public Health, Doha P.O. Box 42, Qatar; (K.O.); (J.C.); (R.R.); (R.B.); (J.A.); (B.R.); (R.Y.E.); (H.K.); (S.A.)
| | - Hayat Khogali
- National COVID-19 Track & Trace Team, Ministry of Public Health, Doha P.O. Box 42, Qatar; (K.O.); (J.C.); (R.R.); (R.B.); (J.A.); (B.R.); (R.Y.E.); (H.K.); (S.A.)
- Vaccination Section, Ministry of Public Health, Doha P.O. Box 42, Qatar
| | - Soha Albayat
- National COVID-19 Track & Trace Team, Ministry of Public Health, Doha P.O. Box 42, Qatar; (K.O.); (J.C.); (R.R.); (R.B.); (J.A.); (B.R.); (R.Y.E.); (H.K.); (S.A.)
- Vaccination Section, Ministry of Public Health, Doha P.O. Box 42, Qatar
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Albayat S, Almaslamani M, Alromaihi H, Khogali H, Mundodan J, Joury J, Haridy H. Key Lessons from COVID-19: A Narrative Review Describing Qatar's Multifactorial Approach in Executing a Vaccination Campaign. Vaccines (Basel) 2023; 11:vaccines11050953. [PMID: 37243057 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11050953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2023] [Revised: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Widespread vaccination programs have been implemented in many countries to curtail the COVID-19 pandemic, with varying success and challenges. To better understand the successes and challenges of the global COVID-19 response in the face of emerging new variants and epidemiologic data, we discuss how Qatar engaged the healthcare sector, governmental bodies, and the populace to combat COVID-19, with a focus on the country's vaccination strategy. This narrative provides the history and timeline of the Qatar COVID-19 vaccination campaign; factors that helped the vaccination campaign and the transferable lessons learned are discussed. Details regarding how Qatar responded to challenges, such as vaccine hesitancy and mitigation of misinformation, are highlighted. Qatar was one of the first countries to procure the BNT162b2 (Comirnaty®; Pfizer-BioNTech, Pfizer Inc., New York, NY, USA) and mRNA-1273 (Spikevax®; Moderna, Cambridge, MA, USA) COVID-19 vaccines. A relatively high vaccination rate and low case mortality rate (0.14% as of 4 January 2023) was observed in Qatar compared with other countries (global case mortality rate, 1.02%). Learnings will be carried forward as a basis for addressing this evolving pandemic and any future national emergencies in Qatar.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soha Albayat
- Ministry of Public Health, Doha P.O. Box 42, Qatar
| | - Muna Almaslamani
- Communicable Disease Center, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha P.O. Box 3050, Qatar
| | | | | | | | - Jean Joury
- Pfizer Gulf FZ LLC, Dubai P.O. Box 502749, United Arab Emirates
| | - Hammam Haridy
- Pfizer Gulf FZ LLC, Dubai P.O. Box 502749, United Arab Emirates
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Mundodan J, Hasnain S, Khogali H, Al Bayat SS, Ali D, Alateeg S, Al-Romaihi H, Al-Thani MHJ. Validation of rapid antibody (IgG-IgM) test kit for SARS COV-2 infection in Qatar. J Public Health Res 2021; 11. [PMID: 34781629 PMCID: PMC8874874 DOI: 10.4081/jphr.2021.2421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: In response to the growing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and the shortage of laboratory based molecular testing capacity and reagents, multiple diagnostic test manufacturers have developed rapid and easy to use devices to facilitate testing outside laboratory settings. These kits are either based on detection of proteins from SARS-CoV-2 virus or detection of antigen or human antibodies generated in response to the infection. However, it is important to understand their performance characteristics and they must be validated in the local population setting. Design and methods: The objective is to assess the validity of the rapid test for IgG and IgM immunoglobulins compared to the current gold standard reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test. A total of 16951 asymptomatic individuals were tested by the Ministry of Public Health track-and-trace team using both rapid immunodiagnostic test and RT-PCR as part of screening across various random settings with potential risk of community interaction prior to gradual lifting of restrictions in Qatar. Rapid test was considered to be posiive if both IgG and IgM are positive, while only IgG/IgM positive was considered as rapid test negative. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) were calculated. Results: The sensitivity of rapid test kit was found to be 0.9%, whereas the specificity was found to be 97.8%. the PPV was found to be 0.3% whereas the NPV was found to be 99.4%. Conclusions: Based on the outcome and results of the study, it appears that the sensitivity and PPV of the rapid antibody test are low. As such, this test is not recommended for use to assist in taking clinic-based decisions or decisions related to quarantine/isolation. Significance for public health It is important to understand the performance characteristics of the Rapid Antibody (IgG-IgM) kits and they must be validated in the local population setting before they can be recommended for use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesha Mundodan
- Public Health Department, Ministry of Public Health, Doha.
| | - Samina Hasnain
- Public Health Department, Ministry of Public Health, Doha.
| | - Hayat Khogali
- Vaccination section / National COVID Track 'n Trace Team, Public Health Department, Ministry of Public Health, Doha.
| | - Soha Shawqi Al Bayat
- Vaccination section / National COVID Track 'n Trace Team, Public Health Department, Ministry of Public Health, Doha.
| | - Dina Ali
- Primary Health Care Corporation, Doha.
| | - Saif Alateeg
- Contact tracing, Health Protection and Communicable Diseases Control (HP-CDC), Public Health Department, Ministry of Public Health, Doha.
| | - Hamad Al-Romaihi
- Director of Health Protection and Communicable Diseases (HP-CDC), Public Health Department, Ministry of Public Health, Doha.
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Al Bayat S, Mundodan J, Hasnain S, Sallam M, Khogali H, Ali D, Alateeg S, Osama M, Elberdiny A, Al-Romaihi H, Al-Thani MHJ. Can the cycle threshold (Ct) value of RT-PCR test for SARS CoV2 predict infectivity among close contacts? J Infect Public Health 2021; 14:1201-1205. [PMID: 34416598 PMCID: PMC8362640 DOI: 10.1016/j.jiph.2021.08.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2021] [Revised: 06/03/2021] [Accepted: 08/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background COVID-19 global pandemic is an unprecedented health emergency. Rapid identification and isolation of infected individuals is crucial. Qatar’s National Health Strategic Command Group adopted a cut off 30 for Ct value of RT-PCR result of a positive case to decide on duration of isolation and quarantine period for their close contacts. Aim To test if Ct value cut off 30 reflects on the infectivity potential among close contacts. Methodology All positive cases reported during July’ 2020 whose contacts had been traced and swabbed were extracted from database after removing personal identifiers. Close-contact was defined as anybody who has been within 2 m distance of a confirmed positive case for 15 min or more, without any personal protection equipment. Descriptive analysis was done and test of significance of difference in positivity among the contacts of those with ct < 30 and >30 was done. Results 2308 COVID-19 positive cases were followed up. More than three-quarters had a Ct value < 30, with a mean Ct value of 24.05(+6.48). On an average 6 contacts were swabbed per case. More than half the positive cases followed up had at least one secondary case, with median positivity rate 12.5%. A significant relation was noted between Ct value cut-off 30 and secondary transmission (1.5 times more risk among those with Ct value < 30). A significant difference was noted in median positivity rate between close contacts of positive cases with Ct value > 30 or <30. Conclusion Further studies combining PCR assays, culture studies and contact tracing are needed to define which factors can be used to reliably predict the infectious status of patients with COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Dina Ali
- HP-CDC, Public Health Department, MOPH, Qatar.
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Hasnain S, Mundodan J, Al Bayat S, Khogali H, Al-Romaihi H. Bordetella pertussis: An agent not to be forgotten in Qatar. Qatar Med J 2021; 2021:10. [PMID: 34604009 PMCID: PMC8475723 DOI: 10.5339/qmj.2021.10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2020] [Accepted: 01/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pertussis (whooping cough) is a vaccine-preventable disease caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis that is spread by airborne respiratory droplets. Clinical symptoms vary from infants to adults and are most contagious before the onset of symptoms. Infants are at the highest risk of infection, especially before they are old enough to receive at least two doses of pertussis-containing vaccine. There have been no indigenous cases of pertussis in Qatar since 2010 until 2018, due to free pertussis-containing vaccines under the National Immunization Schedule of Qatar, with coverage consistently above 95%. Two cases were reported in 2016 but were found to be imported. In 2019, 20 infants were reported as suspected pertussis to the Health Promotion and Communicable Disease Control (HP-CDC), Ministry of Public Health (MOPH), Qatar; of them, five were laboratory confirmed as pertussis. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to describe the five confirmed cases of pertussis reported to HP-CDC, MOPH, Qatar, between January 1 and December 30, 2019. Summary of Cases: All five confirmed pertussis cases were under one year old, and three were boys. All except one were immunized-for-age, and three had not received any doses of pertussis-containing vaccine and in none of the cases had the mother received tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccine during pregnancy. All infants were born in Qatar, and two were Qatari nationals. CONCLUSION There may be a possibility of re-emergence of pertussis in Qatar. Active immunization and coverage maintenance are the best tools to prevent re-emergence. Undiagnosed and untreated pertussis cases are potential sources of infection. The partial or unimmunized groups may be significantly at risk, especially during infancy and before reaching the age to complete the three primary doses of diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis vaccines. Focus on increasing awareness among those providing antenatal care, regarding the importance of Tdap vaccination during pregnancy, is necessary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samina Hasnain
- EPI Section, Health Promotion and Communicable Disease Control, Ministry of Public Health, Doha, Qatar
| | - Jesha Mundodan
- EPI Section, Health Promotion and Communicable Disease Control, Ministry of Public Health, Doha, Qatar
| | - Soha Al Bayat
- EPI Section, Health Promotion and Communicable Disease Control, Ministry of Public Health, Doha, Qatar
| | - Hayat Khogali
- EPI Section, Health Promotion and Communicable Disease Control, Ministry of Public Health, Doha, Qatar
| | - Hamad Al-Romaihi
- EPI Section, Health Promotion and Communicable Disease Control, Ministry of Public Health, Doha, Qatar
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Ahmed A, Ali Y, Elmagboul B, Mohamed O, Elduma A, Bashab H, Mahamoud A, Khogali H, Elaagip A, Higazi T. Dengue Fever in the Darfur Area, Western Sudan. Emerg Infect Dis 2020; 25:2126. [PMID: 31625864 PMCID: PMC6810194 DOI: 10.3201/eid2511.181766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
We report an outbreak of dengue in Darfur, western Sudan, during September 2014–April 2015. Dengue virus–specific PCR testing of 50 samples from nonmalaria febrile illness case-patients confirmed 35 dengue cases. We detected 7 cases of dengue shock syndrome and 24 cases of dengue hemorrhagic fever.
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Ahmed A, Ali Y, Elmagboul B, Mohamed O, Elduma A, Bashab H, Mahamoud A, Khogali H, Elaagip A, Higazi T. Dengue Fever in the Darfur Area, Western Sudan. Emerg Infect Dis 2019. [DOI: 10.3201/doi2511.181766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
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Soghaier MA, Abdelgadir DM, Abdelkhalig SM, Kafi H, Zarroug IMA, Sall AA, Eldegai MH, Elageb RM, Osman MM, Khogali H. Evidence of pre-existing active Zika virus circulation in Sudan prior to 2012. BMC Res Notes 2018; 11:906. [PMID: 30567583 PMCID: PMC6299991 DOI: 10.1186/s13104-018-4027-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2018] [Accepted: 12/17/2018] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study is to provide the first evidence of Zika virus circulation (ZIK) in Sudan. Zika virus was first isolated in the Zika forest of Uganda in 1947, and in 2016, the World Health Assembly declared it a public health emergency of international concern. The discovery of Zika virus circulation in Sudan came as a secondary finding in a 2012 country-wide yellow fever prevalence study, when laboratory tests were done to exclude cross-reactions between flaviviruses. The study was cross-sectional community-based, with randomly selected participants through multi-stage cluster sampling. A sub-set of samples were tested for the Zika virus using ELISA, and the ones that demonstrated reactive results were subsequently tested by PRNT. RESULTS The prevalence of Zika IgG antibodies among ELISA-tested samples was 62.7% (59.4 to 66.1, 95% CI), and only one sample was found positive when tested by PRNT. This provided the first documented evidence for the pre-existing circulation of Zika virus circulation in Sudan. This evidence provides the foundation for future research in this field, and further structured studies should be conducted to determine the epidemiology and burden of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed A. Soghaier
- Epidemiology and Zoonotic Diseases Department, Federal Ministry of Health, Osman Digna Street with Nile Avenue, PO Box 303, 1111 Khartoum, Sudan
| | - Deena M. Abdelgadir
- Epidemiology and Zoonotic Diseases Department, Federal Ministry of Health, Osman Digna Street with Nile Avenue, PO Box 303, 1111 Khartoum, Sudan
| | - Sozan M. Abdelkhalig
- The Department of Epidemiology, National Public Health Laboratory, Federal Ministry of Heath, Khartoum, Sudan
| | - Hamoda Kafi
- Department of Integrated Vector Management, Federal Ministry of Health, Khartoum, Sudan
| | - Isam M. A. Zarroug
- The Department of Medical Entomology, National Public Health Laboratory, Federal Ministry of Health, Khartoum, Sudan
| | | | - Mawahib H. Eldegai
- The Department of Epidemiology, National Public Health Laboratory, Federal Ministry of Heath, Khartoum, Sudan
| | - Rehab M. Elageb
- The Department of Epidemiology, National Public Health Laboratory, Federal Ministry of Heath, Khartoum, Sudan
| | - Muntasir M. Osman
- Epidemiology and Zoonotic Diseases Department, Federal Ministry of Health, Osman Digna Street with Nile Avenue, PO Box 303, 1111 Khartoum, Sudan
| | - Hayat Khogali
- Epidemiology and Zoonotic Diseases Department, Federal Ministry of Health, Osman Digna Street with Nile Avenue, PO Box 303, 1111 Khartoum, Sudan
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