Strengthening timely detection and reporting of unusual respiratory events from health facilities in Yaoundé, Cameroon

Details

• Alternative Title:
  Influenza Other Respir Viruses
• Personal Author:
  Alroy, Karen A. ; Gwom, Luc Christian ; Ndongo, Chanceline Bilounga ; Kenmoe, Sebastien ; Monamele, Gwladys ; Clara, Alexey ; Whitaker, Brett ; Manga, Henri ; Tayimetha, Carolle Yanique ; Tseuko, Dorine ; Etogo, Bienvenu ; Pasi, Omer ; Etoundi, Alain Georges ; Seukap, Elise ; Njouom, Richard ; Balajee, Arunmozhi
• Description:
  Background
  
  The International Health Regulations state that early detection and immediate reporting of unusual health events is important for early warning and response systems.
  
  Objective
  
  To describe a pilot surveillance program established in health facilities in Yaoundé, Cameroon in 2017 which aimed to enable detection and reporting of public health events.
  
  Methods
  
  Cameroon’s Ministry of Health, in partnership with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Cameroon Pasteur Center, and National Public Health Laboratory, implemented event‐based surveillance (EBS) in nine Yaoundé health facilities. Four signals were defined that could indicate possible public health events, and a reporting, triage, and verification system was established among partner organizations. A pre‐defined laboratory algorithm was defined, and a series of workshops trained health facilities, laboratory, and public health staff for surveillance implementation.
  
  Results
  
  From May 2017 to January 2018, 30 signals were detected, corresponding to 15 unusual respiratory events. All health facilities reported a signal at least once, and more than three‐quarters of health facilities reported ≥2 times. Among specimens tested, the pathogens detected included Klebsiella pneumoniae, Moraxella catarrhalis, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenza, Staphylococcus aureus, Pneumocystis jiroveci, influenza A (H1N1) virus, rhinovirus, and adenovirus.
  
  Conclusions
  
  The events detected in this pilot were caused by routine respiratory bacteria and viruses, and no novel influenza viruses or other emerging respiratory threats were identified. The surveillance system, however, strengthened relationships and communication linkages between health facilities and public health authorities. Astute clinicians can play a critical role in early detection and EBS is one approach that may enable reporting of emerging outbreaks and public health events.
  
  
• Subjects:
  Bacteria Haemophilus Influenzae Health Facilities Humans Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype Klebsiella Pneumoniae Public Health Public Health Surveillance Respiratory Tract Infections Streptococcus Pneumoniae Viruses

  More +
• Source:
  Influenza Other Respir Viruses. 14(2):122-128
• Pubmed ID:
  31923349
• Pubmed Central ID:
  PMC7040971
• Document Type:
  Journal Article
• Funding:
  #NU2GGH001873/CDC Cooperative agreement to Training Programs in Epidemiology and Public Health Interventions Network (TEPHINET)International/ ; #NU2G GH001800/CDC Cooperative agreement to Metabiota, Inc.International/
• Place as Subject:
  Cameroon
• Volume:
  14
• Issue:
  2
• Collection(s):
  Stephen B. Thacker CDC Library
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:f28b1d67629c2ea73c5dc80fe7b9187279e45517f8629ba36a5225f56f309afc
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/89267/cdc_89267_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 370.62 KB ]