Symmetrical dimethylarginine amounts in healthy neonatal foals and mares

Descriptive analysis of meningitis outbreak in Jaman North districts of Brong Ahafo Region.
Descriptive secondary data analysis.
records of meningitis cases were extracted from case-based forms and line list.
The source and pattern of outbreak.
A total of 367 suspected cases with 44 confirmed were recorded from Jaman North during the period of January to March 2016. The mean age of those affected was 58 ± 13 years. The case fatality rate was 0.82% and the proportion of males to females was 11.3 (160/207). The age group most affected was 15-29 years (54.7%) and the least was 45-49 years (3.0%).
formed 77.3% of confirmed cases whilst
was 20.5%. Cases with
came from a border town in La Cote d'Ivoire.
A protracted propagated meningitis outbreak occurred; and the predominant bacteria strain among confirmed cases was
Cases were mainly females and the most vulnerable group were people aged 15-29 years.
This work was funded by the authors. Author BKD was sponsored under CDC (Frontline FETP)-CDC CoAg 6NU2GGH001876.
This work was funded by the authors. Author BKD was sponsored under CDC (Frontline FETP)-CDC CoAg 6NU2GGH001876.
On 24th October 2016, the Central Regional Health Directorate received report of a suspected cholera outbreak in the Cape Coast Metropolis (CCM). We investigated to confirm the diagnosis, identify risk factors and implement control measures.
We used a descriptive study followed by 12 unmatched case-control study.
We reviewed medical records, conducted active case search and contact tracing, interviewed case-patients and their contacts and conducted environmental assessment. Case-patients' stool samples were tested with point of care test kits (SD Bioline Cholera Ag 01/0139) and sent to the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital Laboratory for confirmation.
Cause of outbreak, risk factors associated with spread of outbreak.
serotype Ogawa caused the outbreak. There was no mortality. Of 704 case-patients, 371(52.7%) were males and 55(7.8%) were aged under-five years. The median age was 23 years (interquartile range 16-32 years). About a third 248(35.2%) of the case patients were aged 15-24 years. Selleckchem INCB024360 The University of Cape Coast subdistrict was the epicenter with 341(48.44%) cases. Compared to controls, cholera case-patients were more likely to have visited Cholera Treatment Centers (CTC) (aOR=12.1, 95%CI 1.5-101.3), drank pipe-borne water (aOR=11.7, 95%CI 3.3-41.8), or drank street-vended sachet water (aOR=11.0, 95%CI 3.7-32.9). Open defecation and broken sewage pipes were observed in the epicenter.
serotype Ogawa caused the CCM cholera outbreak mostly affecting the youth. Visiting CTC was a major risk factor. Prompt case-management, contact tracing, health education, restricting access to CTC and implementing water sanitation and hygiene activities helped in the control.
This work was supported by Ghana Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program (GFELTP), University of Ghana.
This work was supported by Ghana Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program (GFELTP), University of Ghana.
We reviewed malaria morbidity data to assess compliance to malaria T3 strategy in Bosomtwi District, Ashanti Region, Ghana.
The study was descriptive secondary data analysis.
Bosomtwi District.
District Health Information Management Systems (DHIMS2).
Proportion of recorded cases tested, proportion of tested cases treated and proportion of cases tracked.
Data for suspected and tested malaria cases was complete for only 3 years (2014-2016). Malaria testing reduced from 84.4% in 2015 to 76.8% in 2016 (national average 77.3%; regional average 70%). The proportion of untested but treated malaria cases declined from 46.3% in 2015 to 4.9% in 2016. Proportion of confirmed malaria cases put on antimalarial drugs was highest in 2016 at 63.9%. Pramso sub-district although home to largest facility in the district, under prescribed antimalarial drugs. Reports generated on malaria showed information on only confirmed suspected cases, under five, and above five malaria mortalities. The district did not determine their malaria thresholds.
The malaria-testing rate in the Bosomtwi District is higher than the regional average and close to the national average. About a third of confirmed malaria cases missed getting appropriate antimalarial drugs. Limited analysis on malaria data reduced the information required to inform policy.
Author GO was fully sponsored by President's Malaria Initiative (PMI)-CDC CoAg 6NU2GGH001876.
Author GO was fully sponsored by President's Malaria Initiative (PMI)-CDC CoAg 6NU2GGH001876.
We mapped and generated hot spots for potential meningitis outbreak from existing data in Upper East region, Ghana.
This was a cross-sectional study conducted in 2017.
Meningitis data in the Upper East Region from January 2007, to December 2016.
We used spatial tools in Quantum Geographic Information System (QGIS) and Geoda to draw choropleth map of meningitis incidence, case fatality and hotspot for potential meningitis outbreak.
A total of 2312 meningitis cases (suspected and confirmed) were recorded from 2016-2017 with median incidence of 15.0cases/100,000 population (min 6.3, max 47.8). Median age of cases was 15 years (IQR 6-31 years). Most (44.2%) of those affected were 10 years and below. Females (51.2%) constituted the highest proportion. Median incidence from 2007-2011 was 20cases/100,000 population (Min 11.3, Max 39.9) whilst from 2012-2016 was 11.1cases/100,000 populations (Min 6.3, Max 47.8). A total of 28 significant hotspot sub-districts clusters (p=0.024) were identified with 7 High-high risk areas as potential meningitis outbreak spots.
The occurrence of meningitis is not random, spatial cluster with high -high-risk exist in some sub-districts. Overall meningitis incidence and fatality rate have declined in the region with district variations. Districts with high meningitis incidence and fatality rates should be targeted for intervention.
Author EA was supported by the West Africa Health Organization (Ref. Prog/A17IEpidemSurveillN°57212014/mcrt).
Author EA was supported by the West Africa Health Organization (Ref. Prog/A17IEpidemSurveillN°57212014/mcrt).