Evaluation du système de surveillance épidémiologique de la fièvre jaune dans le district sanitaire de Kadiolo, 2020

Yellow fever is an acute hemorrhagic disease of viral origin caused by a flavivirus transmitted between humans, via domestic mosquitoes belonging to the Aedes species or transmitted to humans from the reservoir constituted by primates. The fatality rate is between 25% and 50%. The preventive measures available to countries have largely proven their effectiveness. The WHO estimates that 200,000 cases of yellow fever and 30,000 deaths from the disease worldwide are estimated to be 200,000 each year. Africa is the most affected continent, with 95% of cases recorded worldwide. In Mali, on December 5, 2019, the Government of Mali officially declared an outbreak of yellow fever in the regions of Sikasso and Koulikoro. It is in this context that we conducted a descriptive cross-sectional study from January 01, 2020 to December 31, 2020 on data from the epidemiological surveillance of yellow fever for the year 2020. The epidemiological surveillance indicators evaluated were very good overall. The general objective was to evaluate the yellow fever epidemiological surveillance system from January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020 in the Kadiolo Health District. Keywords: Evaluation, Epidemiological Surveillance, Yellow Fever, Kadiolo.Yellow fever is a notifiable disease. It is likely to cause epidemic outbreaks with high mortality. The fatality rate can vary between 25% and 50%. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates the number of cases at 200,000 each year, with the majority on the African continent. The preventive measures available to countries have largely proven their effectiveness. In Mali, on December 5, 2019, the Government officially declared an outbreak of yellow fever in two highly populated regions of the country, Sikasso and Koulikoro. It is in this context that we conducted this descriptive cross-sectional study. The general objective was to evaluate the yellow fever epidemiological surveillance system from January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020 in the Kadiolo Health District. The evaluation of the epidemiological surveillance system for yellow fever in the health district of Kadiolo made it possible to verify the capacities of this district to deal with the occurrence of possible outbreaks. The epidemiological surveillance indicators assessed were good overall

Evaluation du système de surveillance épidémiologique de la fièvre jaune dans le district sanitaire de Kadiolo, 2020

Yellow fever is an acute hemorrhagic disease of viral origin caused by a flavivirus transmitted between humans, via domestic mosquitoes belonging to the Aedes species or transmitted to humans from the reservoir constituted by primates. The fatality rate is between 25% and 50%. The preventive measures available to countries have largely proven their effectiveness. The WHO estimates that 200,000 cases of yellow fever and 30,000 deaths from the disease worldwide are estimated to be 200,000 each year. Africa is the most affected continent, with 95% of cases recorded worldwide. In Mali, on December 5, 2019, the Government of Mali officially declared an outbreak of yellow fever in the regions of Sikasso and Koulikoro. It is in this context that we conducted a descriptive cross-sectional study from January 01, 2020 to December 31, 2020 on data from the epidemiological surveillance of yellow fever for the year 2020. The epidemiological surveillance indicators evaluated were very good overall. The general objective was to evaluate the yellow fever epidemiological surveillance system from January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020 in the Kadiolo Health District. Keywords: Evaluation, Epidemiological Surveillance, Yellow Fever, Kadiolo.Yellow fever is a notifiable disease. It is likely to cause epidemic outbreaks with high mortality. The fatality rate can vary between 25% and 50%. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates the number of cases at 200,000 each year, with the majority on the African continent. The preventive measures available to countries have largely proven their effectiveness. In Mali, on December 5, 2019, the Government officially declared an outbreak of yellow fever in two highly populated regions of the country, Sikasso and Koulikoro. It is in this context that we conducted this descriptive cross-sectional study. The general objective was to evaluate the yellow fever epidemiological surveillance system from January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020 in the Kadiolo Health District. The evaluation of the epidemiological surveillance system for yellow fever in the health district of Kadiolo made it possible to verify the capacities of this district to deal with the occurrence of possible outbreaks. The epidemiological surveillance indicators assessed were good overall

West Africa International Centers of Excellence for Malaria Research: Drug Resistance Patterns to Artemether-Lumefantrine in Senegal, Mali, and The Gambia.

In 2006, artemether-lumefantrine (AL) became the first-line treatment of uncomplicated malaria in Senegal, Mali, and the Gambia. To monitor its efficacy, between August 2011 and November 2014, children with uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria were treated with AL and followed up for 42 days. A total of 463 subjects were enrolled in three sites (246 in Senegal, 97 in Mali, and 120 in Gambia). No early treatment failure was observed and malaria infection cleared in all patients by day 3. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-adjusted adequate clinical and parasitological response (ACPR) was 100% in Mali, and the Gambia, and 98.8% in Senegal. However, without PCR adjustment, ACPR was 89.4% overall; 91.5% in Mali, 98.8% in Senegal, and 64.3% in the Gambia (the lower value in the Gambia attributed to poor compliance of the full antimalarial course). However, pfmdr1 mutations were prevalent in Senegal and a decrease in parasite sensitivity to artesunate and lumefantrine (as measured by ex vivo drug assay) was observed at all sites. Recrudescent parasites did not show Kelch 13 (K13) mutations and AL remains highly efficacious in these west African sites

Discrepant Prevalence and Incidence of Leishmania Infection between Two Neighboring Villages in Central Mali Based on Leishmanin Skin Test Surveys

Leishmaniasis is a vector-borne disease transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected sand fly. Leishmaniasis is present in more than 88 countries and affects more than 12 million people. Depending on the species of Leishmania, the host can develop cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL), which is characterized by skin ulcers in uncovered parts of the body or a more severe form, visceral leishmaniasis, which affects the liver and spleen and is fatal if not treated. This study aims to establish the past and present infection with Leishmania parasites in two villages where recent cases have been diagnosed by the dermatology center (CNAM) in Bamako. This was achieved using a Leishmania-specific skin test that was administered annually to permanent residents of Kemena and Sougoula villages from 2006 to 2008. The results show that transmission of Leishmania is active and stable in these two villages. Moreover, despite sharing similar cultural and environmental features, the individuals from Kemena presented three times the risk of Leishmania infection compared with those from Sougoula. Our findings raise awareness of the continued presence of CL in Mali

BMJ Open

In low-income settings with limited access to diagnosis, COVID-19 information is scarce. In September 2020, after the first COVID-19 wave, Mali reported 3086 confirmed cases and 130 deaths. Most reports originated from Bamako, with 1532 cases and 81 deaths (2.42 million inhabitants). This observed prevalence of 0.06% appeared very low. Our objective was to estimate SARS-CoV-2 infection among inhabitants of Bamako, after the first epidemic wave. We assessed demographic, social and living conditions, health behaviours and knowledges associated with SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity. We conducted a cross-sectional multistage household survey during September 2020, in three neighbourhoods of the commune VI (Bamako), where 30% of the cases were reported. We recruited 1526 inhabitants in 3 areas, that is, 306 households, and 1327 serological results (≥1 years), 220 household questionnaires and collected answers for 962 participants (≥12 years). We measured serological status, detecting SARS-CoV-2 spike protein antibodies in blood sampled. We documented housing conditions and individual health behaviours through questionnaires among participants. We estimated the number of SARS-CoV-2 infections and deaths in the population of Bamako using the age and sex distributions. The prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity was 16.4% (95% CI 15.1% to 19.1%) after adjusting on the population structure. This suggested that ~400 000 cases and ~2000 deaths could have occurred of which only 0.4% of cases and 5% of deaths were officially reported. Questionnaires analyses suggested strong agreement with washing hands but lower acceptability of movement restrictions (lockdown/curfew), and mask wearing. The first wave of SARS-CoV-2 spread broadly in Bamako. Expected fatalities remained limited largely due to the population age structure and the low prevalence of comorbidities. Improving diagnostic capacities to encourage testing and preventive behaviours, and avoiding the spread of false information remain key pillars, regardless of the developed or developing setting. This study was registered in the registry of the ethics committee of the Faculty of Medicine and Odonto-Stomatology and the Faculty of Pharmacy, Bamako, Mali, under the number: 2020/162/CA/FMOS/FAPH

Expanding Research Capacity in Sub-Saharan Africa Through Informatics, Bioinformatics, and Data Science Training Programs in Mali

Bioinformatics and data science research have boundless potential across Africa due to its high levels of genetic diversity and disproportionate burden of infectious diseases, including malaria, tuberculosis, HIV and AIDS, Ebola virus disease, and Lassa fever. This work lays out an incremental approach for reaching underserved countries in bioinformatics and data science research through a progression of capacity building, training, and research efforts. Two global health informatics training programs sponsored by the Fogarty International Center (FIC) were carried out at the University of Sciences, Techniques and Technologies of Bamako, Mali (USTTB) between 1999 and 2011. Together with capacity building efforts through the West Africa International Centers of Excellence in Malaria Research (ICEMR), this progress laid the groundwork for a bioinformatics and data science training program launched at USTTB as part of the Human Heredity and Health in Africa (H3Africa) initiative. Prior to the global health informatics training, its trainees published first or second authorship and third or higher authorship manuscripts at rates of 0.40 and 0.10 per year, respectively. Following the training, these rates increased to 0.70 and 1.23 per year, respectively, which was a statistically significant increase (p < 0.001). The bioinformatics and data science training program at USTTB commenced in 2017 focusing on student, faculty, and curriculum tiers of enhancement. The program’s sustainable measures included institutional support for core elements, university tuition and fees, resource sharing and coordination with local research projects and companion training programs, increased student and faculty publication rates, and increased research proposal submissions. Challenges reliance of high-speed bandwidth availability on short-term funding, lack of a discounted software portal for basic software applications, protracted application processes for United States visas, lack of industry job positions, and low publication rates in the areas of bioinformatics and data science. Long-term, incremental processes are necessary for engaging historically underserved countries in bioinformatics and data science research. The multi-tiered enhancement approach laid out here provides a platform for generating bioinformatics and data science technicians, teachers, researchers, and program managers. Increased literature on bioinformatics and data science training approaches and progress is needed to provide a framework for establishing benchmarks on the topics

Gradual emergence followed by exponential spread of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in Africa.

The geographic and evolutionary origins of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant (BA.1), which was first detected mid-November 2021 in Southern Africa, remain unknown. We tested 13,097 COVID-19 patients sampled between mid-2021 to early 2022 from 22 African countries for BA.1 by real-time RT-PCR. By November-December 2021, BA.1 had replaced the Delta variant in all African sub-regions following a South-North gradient, with a peak Rt of 4.1. Polymerase chain reaction and near-full genome sequencing data revealed genetically diverse Omicron ancestors already existed across Africa by August 2021. Mutations, altering viral tropism, replication and immune escape, gradually accumulated in the spike gene. Omicron ancestors were therefore present in several African countries months before Omicron dominated transmission. These data also indicate that travel bans are ineffective in the face of undetected and widespread infection

Retraction.

This is a retraction of 'Gradual emergence followed by exponential spread of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in Africa' 10.1126/science.add873

Towards understanding the traits contributing to performance of pearl millet open-pollinated varieties in phosphorus-limited environments of West Africa

Aims Pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.] open-pollinated varieties, which are the predominant cultivars, have never been systematically evaluated for adaptation to low-soil phosphorus (P), a major constraint on pearl millet production in West Africa (WA). Methods We evaluated grain yield (GY), flowering time (FLO), harvest index (HI), and residual grain yields (RGY) of 102 open-pollinated varieties from WA under low-P (−P) and high-P (+P) field conditions in six environments of WA. In addition, PE-related traits of the varieties were evaluated at early growth stage in a pot experiment. Results Significant genetic variation was observed for GY, FLO, HI and PE-related traits. P-efficient varieties had higher yield under −P conditions. Varietal performance under −P varied across environments depending on FLO, relative flowering delay under −P (FD) and RGY measured in the field. Low-P-susceptible varieties had higher FLO, lower HI than low-P-tolerant varieties. Response to direct selection under −P field conditions was 20.1 g m−2, whereas indirect selection response under +P was 16.3 g m−2. Conclusions Selection under −P field conditions while taking into account seasonal variations for FLO, FD and PE is expected to be important for improving GY specifically targeting −P environments in WA