Details:

Alternative Title:
Pan Afr Med J
Personal Author:
Preacely, Nykiconia ; Nsubuga, Peter
Preacely, Nykiconia ; Nsubuga, Peter Less -
Description:
Background

The capacity of public health professionals to rapidly detect and respond to disease pandemics is critical to understand and control global disease spread. On June 11, 2009, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared H1N1 virus infection as pandemic. In May 2009, we assessed the participation of Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Programs (FELTPs) based in sub-Saharan Africa on pandemic influenza preparedness and response.

Methods

We administered an electronic survey to directors and resident advisors of African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET) member and associate FELTPs. The survey included questions on the following attributes: program involvement in suspected H1N1 investigations, experience in influenza outbreak investigations, national influenza surveillance and response plans, and H1N1 outbreak preparedness.

Results

Nine countries (100%) responded to the survey; all had existing national influenza response plans. Six programs reported their trainees had participated in past pandemic preparedness and response exercise, five (83%) of them were influenza specific.

Conclusion

FELTPs played an important role in H1N1 surveillance and response in sub-Saharan Africa. Continued technical assistance and support to these programs is vital to foster their capacity to monitor and control public health threats.


Subjects:
[+]
Data Collection Humans Influenza, Human Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype Pandemics Public Health
Source:
Pan Afr Med J. 2011; 10.
Pubmed ID:
22187593
Pubmed Central ID:
PMC3282936
Document Type:
Journal Article
Place as Subject:
Africa South of the Sahara
Collection(s):
CDC Public Access
Main Document Checksum:
[+]
urn:sha256:6eaa2c2fb35b05340433dc0a05cfa6a2fafed208679924324b23ceb18e74041c
Download URL:
https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/8090/cdc_8090_DS1.pdf
File Type:

Supporting Files

• PAMJ-10-11.nxml

  xml

More +