rVSV-ZEBOV vaccination in people with pre-existing immunity to Ebolavirus: an open-label safety and immunogenicity study in Guinean communities affected by Ebola virus disease (l'essai proches).

Zaire Ebolavirus disease (EVD) outbreaks can be controlled using rVSV-ZEBOV vaccination and other public health measures. People in high-risk areas may have pre-existing antibodies from asymptomatic Ebolavirus exposure that might affect response to rVSV-ZEBOV. Therefore, we assessed the impact pre-existing immunity had on post-vaccination IgG titre, virus neutralisation, and reactogenicity following vaccination. In this prospective cohort study, 2115 consenting close contacts ("proches") of EVD survivors were recruited. Proches were vaccinated with rVSV-ZEBOV and followed up for 28 days for safety and immunogenicity. Anti-GP IgG titre at baseline and day 28 was assessed by ELISA. Samples from a representative subset were evaluated using live virus neutralisation. Ten percent were seropositive at baseline. At day 28, IgG in baseline seronegative (GMT 0.106 IU/ml, 95% CI: 0.100 to 0.113) and seropositive (GMT 0.237 IU/ml, 0.210 to 0.267) participants significantly increased from baseline (both p < 0.0001). There was strong correlation between antibody titres and virus neutralisation in day 28 samples (Spearman's rho 0.75). Vaccinees with baseline IgG antibodies against Zaire Ebolavirus had similar safety profiles to those without detectable antibodies (63.6% vs 66.1% adults experienced any adverse event; 49.1% vs 60.9% in children), with almost all adverse events graded as mild. No serious adverse events were attributed to vaccination. No EVD survivors tested positive for Ebolavirus by RT-PCR. These data add further evidence of rVSV-ZEBOV safety and immunogenicity, including in people with pre-existing antibodies from suspected natural ZEBOV infection whose state does not blunt rVSV-ZEBOV immune response. Pre-vaccination serological screening is not required

Models of economic growth and development in the context of human capital investment – the way forward for Africa

The economic literature ever since the dawn of modern economics has been much preoccupied with the issue of economic growth. Economic growth has also been understood to establish the conditions for economic development. The better-known models of economic growth such as the Lewis, Rostow, Harrod-Domar, Solow, and Romer growth models are discussed. The discussions apply contextually to the problematic issue of growth and development in Africa. It is argued that a very necessary condition for growth and transformational development in Africa is heavy investment in human capital. It is pointed out that countries that invest much human capital to produce highly educated populaces usually reap the benefits of such in terms of high per capita GDPs, regardless of the levels of their technological and industrial output. Countries like New Zealand, Iceland, and Denmark offer evidence of this. Models of African development such as the Lagos Plan of Action in terms of the whole continent are discussed within the context of existing impediments to such progress.Keywords: economic growth, economic development, human capital, growth model

Philosophy and African Development : Theory and Practice

Most of the chapters in this volume were prepared by philosophers who implicitly practise their discipline as one whose most effective modern function would be to appraise the human experience in all its dimensions from the standpoints of the modern social and natural sciences, all disciplinary offspring of philosophy itself. It is for this reason that the tenor of the included contributions is not only propositional but also engaged in the meta-analysis of the theories on which the concept of development is founded and practised

Philosophy and Development: On the Problematic of African Development—A Diachronic Analysis

The idea of development is generally seen as central to any discussion of the economic, cultural, and political sociologies of the world's nations. Nations of the West are seen as ‘developed' and members of the ‘First World', while those of Africa, Latin America and some of those of Asia are seen as ‘developing' and belonging to the ‘Third World'. I propose to examine the meaning and application of the term ‘development' with respect to Africa, then discuss whether Africa was ever developed—recognizing that the term is temporally relative. I will also discuss the idea of what Africa ‘would look like' were it at the frontiers of development. I will then examine theories and applications of theories of development for Africa. Finally, I will examine current theories of development and their potential for success in Africa. Theories to be examined are the neoclassical theory, dependency theory, post-structuralism, and developmentalism. Résumé Le concept de développement est habituellement considéré comme central à toute discussion portant sur les sociologies économiques, culturelles et politiques des pays du monde. Les nations de l\'Occident sont considérées comme «développées» et faisant partie du «Premier Monde», tandis que celles d\'Afrique, d\'Amérique Latine et certaines d\'Asie sont perçues comme étant «en développement» et constituent le «Tiers-monde». Je suggère que l\'on procède à un examen de la signification et de l\'application du terme «développement», dans le cas de l\'Afrique, puis que l\'on cherche à savoir si l\'Afrique a jamais été développée (considérant que ce terme possède une temporalité relative). J\'évoque également «ce à quoi l\'Afrique ressemblerait» si celle-ci se trouvait au seuil du développement. Ensuite, j\'analyse les théories et applications des théories de développement à l\'Afrique. Et pour finir, j\'étudie les actuelles théories de développement, ainsi que leur potentiel de réussite sur le continent. Les théories examinées sont les suivantes: la théorie néoclassique, celle de la dépendance, du post-structuralisme et du développementalisme. Africa Development/Afrique et développement Vol.XXIX, No 1, 2004: 131-16

Models of economic growth and development in the context of human capital investment: the way forward for Africa

The economic literature ever since the dawn of modern economics has been much preoccupied with the issue of economic growth. Economic growth has also been understood to establish the conditions for economic development. The better-known models of economic growth such as the Lewis, Rostow, Harrod-Domar, Solow, and Romer growth models are discussed. The discussions apply contextually to the problematic issue of growth and development in Africa. It is argued that a very necessary condition for growth and transformational development in Africa is heavy investment in human capital. It is pointed out that countries that invest much human capital to produce highly educated populaces usually reap the benefits of such in terms of high per capita GDPs, regardless of the levels of their technological and industrial output. Countries like New Zealand, Iceland, and Denmark offer evidence of this. Models of African development such as the Lagos Plan of Action in terms of the whole continent are discussed within the context of existing impediments to such progress.Keywords: economic growth, economic development, human capital, growth model

Effect of Seasonality and Ecological Factors on the Prevalence of the Four Malaria Parasite Species in Northern Mali

Background. We performed 2 cross-sectional studies in Ménaka in the Northeastern Mali across 9 sites in different ecological settings: 4 sites have permanent ponds, 4 without ponds, and one (City of Ménaka) has a semipermanent pond. We enrolled 1328 subjects in May 2004 (hot dry season) and 1422 in February 2005 (cold dry season) after the rainy season. Objective. To examine the seasonality of malaria parasite prevalence in this dry northern part of Mali at the edge of the Sahara desert. Results. Slide prevalence was lower in hot dry than cold dry season (4.94 versus 6.85%, P=0.025). Gametocyte rate increased to 0.91% in February. Four species were identified. Plasmodium falciparum was most prevalent (74.13 and 63.72%). P. malariae increased from 9.38% to 22.54% in February. In contrast, prevalence of P. vivax was higher (10.31%) without seasonal variation. Smear positivity was associated with splenomegaly (P=0.007). Malaria remained stable in the villages with ponds (P=0.221); in contrast, prevalence varied between the 2 seasons in the villages without ponds (P=0.004). Conclusion. Malaria was mesoendemic; 4 species circulates with a seasonal fluctuation for Plasmodium falciparum