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Epidemiology and risk factors for Ebola virus infection in Sierra Leone - May 23, 2014 -January 31, 2015.
Clin Infect Dis. 2015 Jul 15;
Authors: Dietz P, Jambai A, Paweska JT, Yoti Z, Ksaizek TG
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Sierra Leone has the largest number of Ebola cases ever reported. Trends in laboratory-confirmed Ebola virus infection, symptom presentation and risk factors have not been fully described.
METHODS: Ebola cases during May 23, 2014 through January 31, 2015 are presented by geography, demographics and risk factors for all persons who had laboratory-confirmed Ebola virus infection. Ebola virus infection (EVD) was identified by Ebola virus specific RT-PCR-based testing.
RESULTS: During the study period, 8,056 people had laboratory-confirmed EVD. The median age of cases was 28 years; 51.7% were female. Common symptoms included 90.4% fever, 88.3% fatigue, 87.0% loss of appetite, 77.9% headache, 73.7% joint pain, 71.2% vomiting, and 70.6% diarrhea. Among confirmed cases, 47.9% reported having had contact with a suspected case or sick person, 25.5% reported having attended a funeral, 66.2% of whom reported touching the body. EVD incidence was highest during November 1-30, 2014, at 7.5 per 100,000 population per week, and decreased to 2.1 per week during January 1-31, 2015. Between May 23 and August 30, 2014, two districts had the highest incidence of 3.8 and 7.0 per 100,000 population per week which decreased over 97% by January 1-31, 2015. In comparison, the districts that include the capital city reported a 10-fold increase in incidence per week during the same time periods.
CONCLUSIONS: Almost half of EVD cases in Sierra Leone reported physical contact with a person ill with EVD or a dead body, highlighting prevention opportunities.
PMID: 26179011 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]