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Nic Lochlainn LM, Gayton I, Theocharopoulos G, Edwards R, Danis K, Kremer R, Kleijer K, Tejan SM, Sankoh M, Jimissa A, Greig J, Caleo G. Improving mapping for Ebola response through mobilising a local community with self-owned smartphones: Tonkolili District, Sierra Leone, January 2015. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0189959. [PMID: 29298314 PMCID: PMC5752033 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0189959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2017] [Accepted: 12/05/2017] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND During the 2014-16 Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak, the Magburaka Ebola Management Centre (EMC) operated by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) in Tonkolili District, Sierra Leone, identified that available district maps lacked up-to-date village information to facilitate timely implementation of EVD control strategies. In January 2015, we undertook a survey in chiefdoms within the MSF EMC catchment area to collect mapping and village data. We explore the feasibility and cost to mobilise a local community for this survey, describe validation against existing mapping sources and use of the data to prioritise areas for interventions, and lessons learned. METHODS We recruited local people with self-owned Android smartphones installed with open-source survey software (OpenDataKit (ODK)) and open-source navigation software (OpenStreetMap Automated Navigation Directions (OsmAnd)). Surveyors were paired with local motorbike drivers to travel to eligible villages. The collected mapping data were validated by checking for duplication and comparing the village names against a pre-existing village name and location list using a geographic distance and text string-matching algorithm. RESULTS The survey teams gained sufficient familiarity with the ODK and OsmAnd software within 1-2 hours. Nine chiefdoms in Tonkolili District and three in Bombali District were surveyed within two weeks. Following de-duplication, the surveyors collected data from 891 villages with an estimated 127,021 households. The overall survey cost was €3,395; €3.80 per village surveyed. The MSF GIS team (MSF-OCG) created improved maps for the MSF Magburaka EMC team which were used to support surveillance, investigation of suspect EVD cases, hygiene-kit distribution and EVD survivor support. We shared the mapping data with OpenStreetMap, the local Ministry of Health and Sanitation and Sierra Leone District and National Ebola Response Centres. CONCLUSIONS Involving local community and using accessible technology allowed rapid implementation, at moderate cost, of a survey to collect geographic and essential village information, and creation of updated maps. These methods could be used for future emergencies to facilitate response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura M. Nic Lochlainn
- European Programme for Intervention Epidemiology Training (EPIET), European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, Stockholm, Sweden
- National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Centre for Infectious Disease Control, Bilthoven, the Netherlands
- Médecins Sans Frontières, Magburaka, Sierra Leone
- * E-mail:
| | - Ivan Gayton
- Manson Unit, Médecins Sans Frontières, London, United Kingdom
| | - Georgios Theocharopoulos
- European Programme for Intervention Epidemiology Training (EPIET), European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, Stockholm, Sweden
- Médecins Sans Frontières, Magburaka, Sierra Leone
- Santé Public France, French National Public Health Agency, Saint-Maurice, France
| | - Robin Edwards
- Manson Unit, Médecins Sans Frontières, London, United Kingdom
| | - Kostas Danis
- European Programme for Intervention Epidemiology Training (EPIET), European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, Stockholm, Sweden
- Santé Public France, French National Public Health Agency, Saint-Maurice, France
| | - Ronald Kremer
- Operational Centre Amsterdam, Médecins Sans Frontières, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Karline Kleijer
- Operational Centre Amsterdam, Médecins Sans Frontières, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Sumaila M. Tejan
- Tonkolili District Health Management Team, Sierra Leone Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Magburaka, Sierra Leone
| | - Mohamed Sankoh
- Tonkolili District Health Management Team, Sierra Leone Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Magburaka, Sierra Leone
| | - Augustin Jimissa
- Tonkolili District Health Management Team, Sierra Leone Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Magburaka, Sierra Leone
| | - Jane Greig
- Manson Unit, Médecins Sans Frontières, London, United Kingdom
| | - Grazia Caleo
- Manson Unit, Médecins Sans Frontières, London, United Kingdom
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Theocharopoulos G, Danis K, Greig J, Hoffmann A, De Valk H, Jimissa A, Tejan S, Sankoh M, Kleijer K, Turner W, Achar J, Duncombe J, Lokuge K, Gayton I, Broeder R, Kremer R, Caleo G. Ebola management centre proximity associated with reduced delays of healthcare of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) patients, Tonkolili, Sierra Leone, 2014-15. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0176692. [PMID: 28459838 PMCID: PMC5411047 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0176692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2016] [Accepted: 04/16/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Between August-December 2014, Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) patients from Tonkolili District were referred for care to two Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) Ebola Management Centres (EMCs) outside the district (distant EMCs). In December 2014, MSF opened an EMC in Tonkolili District (district EMC). We examined the effect of opening a district-based EMC on time to admission and number of suspect cases dead on arrival (DOA), and identified factors associated with fatality in EVD patients, residents in Tonkolili District. Residents of Tonkolili district who presented between 12 September 2014 and 23 February 2015 to the district EMC and the two distant EMCs were identified from EMC line-lists. EVD cases were confirmed by a positive Ebola PCR test. We calculated time to admission since the onset of symptoms, case-fatality and adjusted Risk Ratios (aRR) using Binomial regression. Of 249 confirmed Ebola cases, 206 (83%) were admitted to the distant EMCs and 43 (17%) to the district EMC. Of them 110 (45%) have died. Confirmed cases dead on arrival (n = 10) were observed only in the distant EMCs. The median time from symptom onset to admission was 6 days (IQR 4,8) in distant EMCs and 3 days (IQR 2,7) in the district EMC (p<0.001). Cases were 2.0 (95%CI 1.4-2.9) times more likely to have delayed admission (>3 days after symptom onset) in the distant compared with the district EMC, but were less likely (aRR = 0.8; 95%CI 0.6-1.0) to have a high viral load (cycle threshold ≤22). A fatal outcome was associated with a high viral load (aRR 2.6; 95%CI 1.8-3.6) and vomiting at first presentation (aRR 1.4; 95%CI 1.0-2.0). The opening of a district EMC was associated with earlier admission of cases to appropriate care facilities, an essential component of reducing EVD transmission. High viral load and vomiting at admission predicted fatality. Healthcare providers should consider the location of EMCs to ensure equitable access during Ebola outbreaks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgios Theocharopoulos
- European Programme for Intervention Epidemiology Training (EPIET), European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), Stockholm, Sweden
- Institut de Veille Sanitaire, Saint-Maurice, France
- Médecins Sans Frontières, Magburaka, Sierra Leone
- * E-mail:
| | - Kostas Danis
- European Programme for Intervention Epidemiology Training (EPIET), European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), Stockholm, Sweden
- Institut de Veille Sanitaire, Saint-Maurice, France
| | - Jane Greig
- Manson Unit, Médecins Sans Frontières, London, United Kingdom
| | - Alexandra Hoffmann
- European Programme for Intervention Epidemiology Training (EPIET), European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), Stockholm, Sweden
- Médecins Sans Frontières, Magburaka, Sierra Leone
- State Office for Health and Social Affairs, Berlin, Germany
- Postgraduate Training for Applied Epidemiology (PAE), Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Augustine Jimissa
- District Health Management Team, Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Magburaka, Sierra Leone
| | - Sumaila Tejan
- District Health Management Team, Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Magburaka, Sierra Leone
| | - Mohammed Sankoh
- District Health Management Team, Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Magburaka, Sierra Leone
| | - Karline Kleijer
- Operational Centre Amsterdam, Médecins Sans Frontières, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Will Turner
- Médecins Sans Frontières, Magburaka, Sierra Leone
| | - Jay Achar
- Manson Unit, Médecins Sans Frontières, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Kamalini Lokuge
- Manson Unit, Médecins Sans Frontières, London, United Kingdom
- National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Research School of Population Health, Australian National University, Canbera, Australia
| | - Ivan Gayton
- Manson Unit, Médecins Sans Frontières, London, United Kingdom
| | - Rob Broeder
- Médecins Sans Frontières, Magburaka, Sierra Leone
| | - Ronald Kremer
- Operational Centre Amsterdam, Médecins Sans Frontières, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Grazia Caleo
- Manson Unit, Médecins Sans Frontières, London, United Kingdom
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Karagiannis I, Mellou K, Gkolfinopoulou K, Dougas G, Theocharopoulos G, Vourvidis D, Ellinas D, Sotolidou M, Papadimitriou T, Vorou R. Outbreak investigation of brucellosis in Thassos, Greece, 2008. Euro Surveill 2012. [DOI: 10.2807/ese.17.11.20116-en] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Binary file ES_Abstracts_Final_ECDC.txt matches
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Affiliation(s)
- I Karagiannis
- Hellenic Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Athens, Greece
| | - K Mellou
- Hellenic Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Athens, Greece
| | - K Gkolfinopoulou
- Hellenic Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Athens, Greece
| | - G Dougas
- Hellenic Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Athens, Greece
| | | | - D Vourvidis
- Ministry of Rural Development and Food, Athens, Greece
| | - D Ellinas
- Primary Health Care Center of Prinou, Thassos, Greece
| | - M Sotolidou
- Primary Health Care Center of Prinou, Thassos, Greece
| | - T Papadimitriou
- Hellenic Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Athens, Greece
| | - R Vorou
- Hellenic Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Athens, Greece
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Karagiannis I, Mellou K, Gkolfinopoulou K, Dougas G, Theocharopoulos G, Vourvidis D, Ellinas D, Sotolidou M, Papadimitriou T, Vorou R. Outbreak investigation of brucellosis in Thassos, Greece, 2008. Euro Surveill 2012; 17:20116. [PMID: 22449868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2023] Open
Abstract
In spring 2008, the Hellenic Center for Disease Control and Prevention was notified about human brucellosis cases in Thassos, a Greek island that had been up to that point under a brucellosis eradication programme. Following the verification of the outbreak a 1:1 case– control study was conducted in the island. The study revealed that consumption of locally produced raw cheese was a risk factor for Brucella melitensis infection (odds ratio (OR): 15.1, 95% confidence interval (CI): 6.56–34.7). Brucella melitensis biotype 3 was identified in two clinical samples. As a result of the outbreak, the island is no longer officially considered as an area with farms free of brucellosis and is currently under a brucellosis control programme. The investigation of this outbreak demonstrated that control and eradication of brucellosis is not only a question of designing a strategy, but rather of ensuring its continuous, strict implementation. Furthermore, it revealed the lack of appropriate education of the public regarding the risks associated with raw, non heat-treated cheese consumption.
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Affiliation(s)
- I Karagiannis
- Hellenic Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Athens, Greece
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Athanasiou M, Lytras T, Spala G, Triantafyllou E, Gkolfinopoulou K, Theocharopoulos G, Patrinos S, Danis K, Detsis M, Tsiodras S, Bonovas S, Panagiotopoulos T. Fatal cases associated with pandemic influenza A (H1N1) reported in Greece. PLoS Curr 2010; 2:RRN1194. [PMID: 21085493 PMCID: PMC2976846 DOI: 10.1371/currents.rrn1194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/09/2010] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
ABSTRACT Between 18 May 2009 and 3 May 2010, a total of 149 fatal cases associated with pandemic influenza A (H1N1) were reported in Greece. Detailed case-based epidemiological information was available for the large majority of fatal cases. The time distribution follows an epidemic curve with a peak in the beginning of December 2009 and a second peak one month later. This is similar to that of laboratory confirmed cases and influenza-like illness cases from our sentinel surveillance system, with two weeks delay. The most commonly reported underlying conditions were chronic cardiovascular disease and immunosuppression, while the most frequently identified risk factor was obesity. These findings should be taken into consideration, when vaccination strategies are employed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Athanasiou
- Department of Epidemiological Surveillance and Intervention, Hellenic Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Athens, Greece
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Papa A, Danis K, Baka A, Bakas A, Dougas G, Lytras T, Theocharopoulos G, Chrysagis D, Vassiliadou E, Kamaria F, Liona A, Mellou K, Saroglou G, Panagiotopoulos T. Ongoing outbreak of West Nile virus infections in humans in Greece, July-August 2010. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2010; 15. [PMID: 20807489 DOI: 10.2807/ese.15.34.19644-en] [Citation(s) in RCA: 118] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- A Papa
- Reference Laboratory for Arboviruses, First Department of Microbiology, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
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Lytras T, Theocharopoulos G, Tsiodras S, Mentis A, Panagiotopoulos T, Bonovas S. Enhanced surveillance of influenza A(H1N1)v in Greece during the containment phase. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2009; 14. [PMID: 19643053 DOI: 10.2807/ese.14.29.19275-en] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Following the emergence of a novel influenza virus (influenza A(H1N1)v) with pandemic potential in late April 2009, public health measures were put in place in an effort to contain disease spread in Greece. These included enhanced surveillance of infections due to influenza A(H1N1)v virus, in order to continuously ascertain the situation and guide further public health action. On 15 July, Greece moved to mitigation phase. This report summarises surveillance findings in Greece during the delaying (or containment) phase, from 30 April to 14 July 2009.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Lytras
- Hellenic Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Athens, Greece.
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