Seroprevalence of contagious bovine pleuropneumonia in three selected south-eastern states of Nigeria

Contagious bovine pleuropneumonia is a trans-boundary animal disease caused by Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides. This study was designed to determine the seroprevalence of contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP) in three selected south eastern states (Anambra, Enugu and Imo) of Nigeria using competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (c-ELISA). A total of 438 bovine sera samples were collected randomly for four months (December 2019 to March 2020) and screened for antibodies to Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides (Mmm) using IDEXX CBPP antibody ELISA kit (CIRAD, France). Results showed an overall prevalence of 59.4% for the three states screened. Antibodies to Mmm were detected in all the three states. Enugu state had the highest prevalence (64.3%) followed by Imo state (63%) and Anambra state (50.7%). Female animals had higher prevalence of CBPP than male. However, it was not statistically significant (P> 0.05). This study confirms the presence of CBPP in south eastern Nigeria, and could be used as a base line data for future studies in this region. It is recommended that active surveillance and vaccination protocol should be undertaken in the region for the control and prevention of this disease. Keywords: c-ELISA, Contagious bovine pleuropneumonia, Mycoplasma , Nigeria, Seroprevalenc

Assistance pour l'évaluation et la réduction de la pollution du mercure issu des mines d'or artisanales du Ghana. Phase 1. Partie 1 - Introduction générale et évaluation sur la santé humaine

This report belngs to the first phase of a UNIDO project focusing on the government's developing target to phase out or at least reduce the use of mercury in artisanal and small mining opeations. During this phase, an environmental and human health impact assessment should be realised, prior to the introduction of efficient equipment for mineral processing and recycling of mercury. The project will help the Ghanian government in brinding the technological gap fron which the sub-sector is sufferong, and in introducing environemental management and cleaner production currrently unknown to the rural population. Thus human health and safety should be improved for people involved in this activity. The project should be also help to improve the current skill in analytical methodologies.Assitance pour l'évaluation et la réduction de la pollution du mercure issu des mines d'or artisanales du Ghana. Phase 1. Partie 1 - Introduction générale et évaluation sur la santé humaine

Assistance pour l'évaluation et la réduction de la pollution du mercure issu des mines d'or artisanales du Ghana. Phase 1. Partie 1 - Introduction générale et évaluation sur la santé humaine

This report belngs to the first phase of a UNIDO project focusing on the government's developing target to phase out or at least reduce the use of mercury in artisanal and small mining opeations. During this phase, an environmental and human health impact assessment should be realised, prior to the introduction of efficient equipment for mineral processing and recycling of mercury. The project will help the Ghanian government in brinding the technological gap fron which the sub-sector is sufferong, and in introducing environemental management and cleaner production currrently unknown to the rural population. Thus human health and safety should be improved for people involved in this activity. The project should be also help to improve the current skill in analytical methodologies.Assitance pour l'évaluation et la réduction de la pollution du mercure issu des mines d'or artisanales du Ghana. Phase 1. Partie 1 - Introduction générale et évaluation sur la santé humaine

Evaluation of the malaria surveillance system – Adaklu District, Volta Region, Ghana, 2019

Objectives: We evaluated the malaria surveillance system in Adaklu District of the Volta Region of Ghana to determine if the system was meeting its objectives and assessed its usefulness and attributes. Study design: Descriptive cross-sectional design was used in evaluating the surveillance system. Methods: We interviewed stakeholders using a semi-structured questionnaire on case detection and reporting. We assessed the system attributes using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated guidelines for evaluating public health surveillance systems. We extracted and reviewed malaria surveillance data from the District Health Management Information System 2. Summary statistics and direct content analysis were performed on quantitative and qualitative data respectively. Results: Of the 80,441 suspected malaria cases recorded in Adaklu District from 2014 to 2018, 47,917 (59.6%) cases were confirmed. The system was meeting its objective of detecting malaria cases and monitoring trends in the population however, the system missed an epidemic in August 2016. Data generated from the surveillance system is used by the NMCP to aid in the distribution of logistics such as LLINs, RDT test kits, and track malaria control progress in the district. Staff at all levels were able to detect, confirm, treat and report malaria. All sub-districts/health facilities reported to the district and reports were all accurate and timely. The predictive value positive was 62.9%. Conclusions: The malaria surveillance system in Adaklu District was useful and meeting its set objective of monitoring trends of malaria in the population. It was simple, flexible, acceptable and representative; however, the system was not detecting epidemics. The District Health Management Team should set alert and epidemic thresholds to help detect promptly epidemics of malaria in the district

Sleeping space matters: LLINs usage in Ghana

Long Lasting Insecticidal Net (LLIN) is an effective malaria prevention mechanism. However, ownership of LLIN does not imply its use among households. The availability of enough sleeping space is a natural prerequisite to install and use LLINs. The objective of this study was to explore the effect of sleeping space and other socio-demographic factors of households’ heads on LLINs usage among households. A cross-sectional household-based study was conducted using a quantitative approach. Data was collected exclusively from households that received LLINs at no direct financial cost to them in a mass malaria campaign conducted in the study area using a structured questionnaire. A total of 383 households sampled for the study received 1,181 LLINs with a range of 1 to 15 LLINs per household. Less than 16% of households that received more than 2 LLINs installed all the LLINs they received during the distribution. Among households that received LLINs, 45% of them did not use them at all and 36% of them used them every night including the night before data collection. The number of bedrooms, children and members per household, and the number of occupants per bedroom were also found statistically associated with the use of LLINs among households. The study used a quantitative approach to investigate sleeping space in relation to LLINs usage and malaria control, an area and topic that has not been adequately covered in the literature