Mpox Preparedness Update August 23, 2024
Mpox is a zoonotic viral disease transmitted from animals to humans with symptoms that last 14 to 21 days. Severe cases occur more commonly among children and are related to pre-existing health conditions and the severity of complications. However, the case fatality rate for Mpox can vary widely between epidemics but has been less than…
Read articleLassa Fever Outbreak, September 27, 2024
SITUATIONAL CONTEXT Lassa fever (LF) is an acute viral hemorrhagic illness that is endemic in West Africa, including Benin, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Sierra Leone, and Nigeria. The incubation period ranges from 2-21 days and transmitted to humans via contact with food or household items contaminated with infected rodent urine or feces. The signs and…
Read articleIntegrated disease surveillance and response implementation in Liberia, findings from a data quality audit, 2017
Abstract Introduction in spite of the efforts and resources committed by the division of infectious disease and epidemiology (DIDE) of the national public health institute of Liberia (NPHIL)/Ministry of health to strengthening integrated disease surveillance and response (IDSR) across the country, quality data management system remains a challenge to the Liberia NPHIL/MoH (Ministry of health),…
Read articleRubella transmission and the risk of congenital rubella syndrome in Liberia: a need to introduce rubella-containing vaccine in the routine immunization program
Abstract Background: Rubella is an RNA virus in the genus Rubivirus within the Matonaviridae family. Rubella remains a leading vaccine-preventable cause of birth defects. Most African countries including Liberia do not currently provide rubella-containing vaccine (RCV) in their immunization program. We analyzed the existing surveillance data to describe rubella cases and identify the at-risk population. Methods: We…
Read articleLassa virus circulating in Liberia: a retrospective genomic characterization
Background An alarming rise in reported Lassa fever cases continues in west Africa. Liberia has the largest reported per capita incidence of Lassa fever cases in the region, but genomic information on the circulating strains is scarce. The aim of this study was to substantially increase the available pool of data to help foster the…
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