Review of Uganda’s high-risk Ebola preparedness activities enabling prompt control of imported Ebola Virus Outbreak from the Democratic Republic of Congo, June 2019

Introduction: On 1 August 2018, the Democratic Republic of Congo declared its tenth Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak in North-Kivu province, 100 km from the Uganda border. Uganda immediately initiated activities to prepare for possible importation of cases. The capacity developed through these int...

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Main Authors: Sandra Nabatanzi, Allan Niyonzima Muruta, Issa Makumbi, Alex Riolexus Ario, Benon Kwesiga, Atek Atwiine Kagirita, Lilian Bulage, Bernard Lubwama, Doreen Nsiimire Gonahasa, Paul Mbaka, Innocent Komakech, Maureen Nabatanzi, Felix Ocom, Jaco Homsy, Vance Brown, Joseph Ojwang, David Matseketse, Ida Marie Ameda, Simon Kyazze, Allan Mpairwe, Julie Harris, Henry Gatyanga Mwebesa, Miriam Nanyunja
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: African Field Epidemiology Network 2024-05-01
Series:Journal of Interventional Epidemiology and Public Health
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Online Access:https://www.afenet-journal.net/content/article/7/23/full/
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author Sandra Nabatanzi
Allan Niyonzima Muruta
Issa Makumbi
Alex Riolexus Ario
Benon Kwesiga
Atek Atwiine Kagirita
Lilian Bulage
Bernard Lubwama
Doreen Nsiimire Gonahasa
Paul Mbaka
Innocent Komakech
Maureen Nabatanzi
Felix Ocom
Jaco Homsy
Vance Brown
Joseph Ojwang
David Matseketse
Ida Marie Ameda
Simon Kyazze
Allan Mpairwe
Julie Harris
Henry Gatyanga Mwebesa
Miriam Nanyunja
author_facet Sandra Nabatanzi
Allan Niyonzima Muruta
Issa Makumbi
Alex Riolexus Ario
Benon Kwesiga
Atek Atwiine Kagirita
Lilian Bulage
Bernard Lubwama
Doreen Nsiimire Gonahasa
Paul Mbaka
Innocent Komakech
Maureen Nabatanzi
Felix Ocom
Jaco Homsy
Vance Brown
Joseph Ojwang
David Matseketse
Ida Marie Ameda
Simon Kyazze
Allan Mpairwe
Julie Harris
Henry Gatyanga Mwebesa
Miriam Nanyunja
author_sort Sandra Nabatanzi
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: On 1 August 2018, the Democratic Republic of Congo declared its tenth Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak in North-Kivu province, 100 km from the Uganda border. Uganda immediately initiated activities to prepare for possible importation of cases. The capacity developed through these interventions was tested when three EVD cases entered Uganda through Kasese District on 10 June 2019. We describe how heightened preparedness efforts enabled prompt detection and control of the imported EVD cases within Uganda. Methods: To prepare for the spillover of EVD cases, Uganda Ministry of Health activated coordination mechanisms, conducted readiness assessments and a field simulation exercise, developed an EVD preparedness and response plan, enhanced surveillance, point of entry screening, trained health workers and community on detection, conducted laboratory investigations, established treatment units and vaccinated health care workers in high-risk Ugandan districts. EVD operational readiness was monitored regularly using the WHO checklist. We conducted desk reviews of all preparedness and response documentation. Results: During the preparedness period, 3 imported EVD cases were identified at a hospital in Kasese District on 10 June 2019 after entering Uganda through an undesignated border crossing near Mpondwe, Kasese District. All three patients died within a few days. Between 11-15 June 2019, 114 contacts were identified and followed up for 21 days. Of these, 78 (68%) were vaccinated with the Ebola rVSV-ZEBOV vaccine, and none developed EVD symptoms. The Ministry of Health declared the outbreak over in Uganda 42 days after the death of the last confirmed case. Conclusion: Preparedness activities in a high-risk district in Uganda enabled early detection, effective isolation, infection prevention and control, and efficient response coordination following importation of EVD cases into Uganda from DRC, resulting in its full containment and preventing further spread throughout the country. Preparedness activities implemented systematically could enable effective and efficient response to similar high-risk situations in the future.
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spelling doaj-art-b600d536da114fee88c402df749287c72025-08-20T03:05:30ZengAfrican Field Epidemiology NetworkJournal of Interventional Epidemiology and Public Health2664-28242024-05-0172Review of Uganda’s high-risk Ebola preparedness activities enabling prompt control of imported Ebola Virus Outbreak from the Democratic Republic of Congo, June 2019Sandra Nabatanzi0Allan Niyonzima Muruta1Issa Makumbi2Alex Riolexus Ario3Benon Kwesiga4Atek Atwiine Kagirita5Lilian Bulage6Bernard Lubwama7Doreen Nsiimire Gonahasa8Paul Mbaka9Innocent Komakech10Maureen Nabatanzi11Felix Ocom12Jaco Homsy13Vance Brown14Joseph Ojwang15David Matseketse16Ida Marie Ameda17Simon Kyazze18Allan Mpairwe19Julie Harris20Henry Gatyanga Mwebesa21Miriam Nanyunja22Uganda Public Health Fellowship Program, Ministry of Health, Kampala, UgandaMinistry of Health, Kampala, Uganda2Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda; Public Health Emergency Operations Center, Ministry of Health, Kampala, UgandaUganda Public Health Fellowship Program, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda; Ministry of Health, Kampala, UgandaUganda Public Health Fellowship Program, Ministry of Health, Kampala, UgandaMinistry of Health, Kampala, Uganda; Uganda National Health Laboratory Services, Ministry of Health, KampalaUganda Public Health Fellowship Program, Ministry of Health, Kampala, UgandaMinistry of Health, Kampala, UgandaUganda Public Health Fellowship Program, Ministry of Health, Kampala, UgandaMinistry of Health, Kampala, Uganda; World Health Organization, Kampala, UgandaWorld Health Organization, Kampala, UgandaUganda Public Health Fellowship Program, Ministry of Health, Kampala, UgandaPublic Health Emergency Operations Center, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda; World Health Organization, Kampala, UgandaUS Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Kampala, Uganda, 7United Nations Children's Fund, Kampala, UgandaUS Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Kampala, Uganda, 7United Nations Children's Fund, Kampala, UgandaUS Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Kampala, Uganda, 7United Nations Children's Fund, Kampala, UgandaUnited Nations Children's Fund, Kampala, Uganda United Nations Children's Fund, Kampala, UgandaPublic Health Emergency Operations Center, Ministry of Health, Kampala, UgandaWorld Health Organization, Kampala, UgandaUS Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Kampala, UgandaMinistry of Health, Kampala, UgandaWorld Health Organization, Kampala, UgandaIntroduction: On 1 August 2018, the Democratic Republic of Congo declared its tenth Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak in North-Kivu province, 100 km from the Uganda border. Uganda immediately initiated activities to prepare for possible importation of cases. The capacity developed through these interventions was tested when three EVD cases entered Uganda through Kasese District on 10 June 2019. We describe how heightened preparedness efforts enabled prompt detection and control of the imported EVD cases within Uganda. Methods: To prepare for the spillover of EVD cases, Uganda Ministry of Health activated coordination mechanisms, conducted readiness assessments and a field simulation exercise, developed an EVD preparedness and response plan, enhanced surveillance, point of entry screening, trained health workers and community on detection, conducted laboratory investigations, established treatment units and vaccinated health care workers in high-risk Ugandan districts. EVD operational readiness was monitored regularly using the WHO checklist. We conducted desk reviews of all preparedness and response documentation. Results: During the preparedness period, 3 imported EVD cases were identified at a hospital in Kasese District on 10 June 2019 after entering Uganda through an undesignated border crossing near Mpondwe, Kasese District. All three patients died within a few days. Between 11-15 June 2019, 114 contacts were identified and followed up for 21 days. Of these, 78 (68%) were vaccinated with the Ebola rVSV-ZEBOV vaccine, and none developed EVD symptoms. The Ministry of Health declared the outbreak over in Uganda 42 days after the death of the last confirmed case. Conclusion: Preparedness activities in a high-risk district in Uganda enabled early detection, effective isolation, infection prevention and control, and efficient response coordination following importation of EVD cases into Uganda from DRC, resulting in its full containment and preventing further spread throughout the country. Preparedness activities implemented systematically could enable effective and efficient response to similar high-risk situations in the future.https://www.afenet-journal.net/content/article/7/23/full/ebola virus diseasepreparednesscross-borderuganda
spellingShingle Sandra Nabatanzi
Allan Niyonzima Muruta
Issa Makumbi
Alex Riolexus Ario
Benon Kwesiga
Atek Atwiine Kagirita
Lilian Bulage
Bernard Lubwama
Doreen Nsiimire Gonahasa
Paul Mbaka
Innocent Komakech
Maureen Nabatanzi
Felix Ocom
Jaco Homsy
Vance Brown
Joseph Ojwang
David Matseketse
Ida Marie Ameda
Simon Kyazze
Allan Mpairwe
Julie Harris
Henry Gatyanga Mwebesa
Miriam Nanyunja
Review of Uganda’s high-risk Ebola preparedness activities enabling prompt control of imported Ebola Virus Outbreak from the Democratic Republic of Congo, June 2019
Journal of Interventional Epidemiology and Public Health
ebola virus disease
preparedness
cross-border
uganda
title Review of Uganda’s high-risk Ebola preparedness activities enabling prompt control of imported Ebola Virus Outbreak from the Democratic Republic of Congo, June 2019
title_full Review of Uganda’s high-risk Ebola preparedness activities enabling prompt control of imported Ebola Virus Outbreak from the Democratic Republic of Congo, June 2019
title_fullStr Review of Uganda’s high-risk Ebola preparedness activities enabling prompt control of imported Ebola Virus Outbreak from the Democratic Republic of Congo, June 2019
title_full_unstemmed Review of Uganda’s high-risk Ebola preparedness activities enabling prompt control of imported Ebola Virus Outbreak from the Democratic Republic of Congo, June 2019
title_short Review of Uganda’s high-risk Ebola preparedness activities enabling prompt control of imported Ebola Virus Outbreak from the Democratic Republic of Congo, June 2019
title_sort review of uganda s high risk ebola preparedness activities enabling prompt control of imported ebola virus outbreak from the democratic republic of congo june 2019
topic ebola virus disease
preparedness
cross-border
uganda
url https://www.afenet-journal.net/content/article/7/23/full/
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