PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

E Bertherat

Publications and source records attributed to E Bertherat.

12 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2002

[First major epidemic caused by Neisseria meningitidis serogroup W135 in Africa?].

Neisseria meningitidis serogroup W 135 (N.m. W 135) has caused sporadic infections and small epidemics such as those that occurred during religious pilgrimages in Saudi Arabia in 2000 and in 2001. It is routinely isolated from specimens coming from African countries. The first major epidemic involving N.m. W 135 occurred in Burkina Faso between January and May 1992. There were more than 1300 cases including 1500 deaths. Enhanced surveillance of circulating strains showed that N.m. W 135 accounted for 83% of the 203 positive cerebrospinal fluid specimen cultures. The offending organism was identical to the strain that caused the smaller epidemic in Saudi Arabia in 2000. Due to the shortage of tetravalent meningococcal vaccine against N.m. W 135, the Health Ministry based its response to the epidemic on treatment of symptomatic patients using chloramphenicol and ampicillian. These drugs were distributed free. The emergence of N.m. W135 has impacted public health in Africa. Repeated identification of this serogroup in Burkina Faso during 2002 raises the risk that similar outbreak will occur in the meningitis belt during the next epidemic season. The high cost of tetravalent meningococcal vaccine compounded with the only progressive increase in production capacity underline the need to reinforce surveillance of circulating strains and available treatment facilities. Control strategy for epidemic meningitis is currently the focus of close collaboration between the WHO and the health authorities and corresponding institutions in the countries involved.

Ampicillin↗
PubMed1999

Leptospirosis and Ebola virus infection in five gold-panning villages in northeastern Gabon.

An exhaustive epidemiologic and serologic survey was carried out in five gold-panning villages situated in northeastern Gabon to estimate the degree of exposure of to leptospirosis and Ebola virus. The seroprevalence was 15.7% for leptospirosis and 10.2% for Ebola virus. Sixty years after the last seroepidemiologic survey of leptospirosis in Gabon, this study demonstrates the persistence of this infection among the endemic population and the need to consider it as a potential cause of hemorrhagic fever in Gabon. There was no significant statistical correlation between the serologic status of populations exposed to both infectious agents, indicating the lack of common risk factors for these diseases.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

[Democratic Republic of the Congo: between civil war and the Marburg virus. International Committee of Technical and Scientific Coordination of the Durba Epidemic].

Because the epidemiology of viral hemorrhagic fever is unclear, each outbreak is a spectacular event that focuses the attention of the international scientific community. When an epidemic of Marburg virus disease occurred in the Durba region located in the northeastern part of the People's Republic of the Congo, 23 scientists were sent from 12 different countries. Sixty of the 73 people infected died. The first case was observed in December 1998 and the last in May 1999. Because of political unrest in the country, the outbreak was not reported immediately and most data was collected by observers retrospectively. However Marburg virus infection was confirmed in 5 of 16 patients in whom testing was performed and person-to-person transmission was demonstrated. Thus the Durba outbreak was the first epidemic of Marburg virus disease not involving laboratory contamination. Initial epidemiologic findings suggest that the first cases involved miners who were probably infected by contact with an animal reservoir such as bats. Further studies to determine seroprevalence in the general population and virologic testing on animals captured in the zone should provide answers to these questions.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Seroprevalence of four sexually transmitted diseases in a semi-urban population of Gabon.

Using the cluster-sampling method, the authors estimated the seroprevalence of 4 sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) among the sexually active general population in a city of 30,000 inhabitants in the east of Gabon. The seroprevalences were 2% for HIV-1, 13.8% for hepatitis B, 8.6% for Treponema pallidum and 59.6% for Chlamydia trachomatis. The seroprevalences of hepatitis B and chlamydia were stable over time and similar to those registered in other countries of central Africa. On the other hand, the seroprevalence of T. pallidum is notably low in comparison with these countries and seems to be decreasing. The seroprevalence of HIV-1 is also low but has doubled in 8 years in the city. Immigrant women from west Africa were a high-risk group for STDs but more generally, cohabiting was a risk factor for women.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

[Djibouti, history of 2 epidemics of cholera: 1993-1994].

When two cholera epidemics broke out in Djibouti, respectively in 1993 and 1994, Bioforce was obliged to intervene. The first time, three goals were pursued: setting up a rehydration centre in a tent, organizing epidemiological surveillance and training local personnel in treatment and diagnosis techniques. The next year, the epidemic followed serious flooding. The epidemiological analysis showed that cholera had become endemic in the poor neighbourhoods of the town and that epidemic break-outs were favoured by contaminated surface water and disturbances in the distribution of drinking water. The epidemic of 1997, likewise following flooding, only confirmed this point of view.

Cholera↗