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Management of a cholera epidemic - Practical guide for doctors, nurses, laboratory technicians, medical auxiliaries, water and sanitation specialists and logisticians
recommended

Médecins Sans Frontières MFS (2023) CC

Cholera is a transmissible diarrhoeal infection caused by Vibrio cholerae. Endemic and/or epidemic in over 40 countries (mainly in Africa and Asia)..., cholera continues to be a major global public health issue. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that the number of cases reported worldwide represents in reality only 5 to 10% of actual cases. This guide is intended for medical and non-medical staff responding to a cholera outbreak. It attempts to provide concrete answers to the questions and problems faced by staff, based on the recommendations of reference organisations, such as WHO and UNICEF, as well as Médecins Sans Frontières’ experience in the field. It is divided into 8 chapters. Chapter 1, Cholera overview, outlines the epidemiological and clinical features of cholera. Chapter 2, Outbreak investigation, explains the method and stages of a field investigation, from the alert to implementation of initial activities. Chapter 3, Cholera control measures, details measures and tools to prevent and/or control cholera transmission and mortality in populations affected, or at risk of being affected, by an epidemic (curative care, prevention means and health promotion activities). Chapter 4, Strategies for epidemic response, addresses the roll-out strategies of the measures described in Chapter 3 which depend on context (e.g. urban, rural, endemic, non-endemic setting, etc.), resources and particular constraints. Chapter 5, Cholera case management, details the different stages of cholera treatment, from diagnosis through to cure. Chapter 6, Setting up cholera treatment facilities, focuses on the installation of treatment facilities that vary in size and complexity according to operational requirements (treatment centres and units and oral rehydration points). Chapter 7, Organisation of cholera treatment facilities, describes the organisation of these specialized facilities in terms of human resources, supply, water, hygiene and sanitation, etc. Chapter 8, Monitoring and evaluation, presents the key data to be collected and analysed during an epidemic to facilitate a tailored response and evaluate its quality and effectiveness. The guide includes various practical tools in the appendices to facilitate activities (e.g. water quality tests, job descriptions, documents, etc.). Moreover, the toolbox also contains additional tools in editable formats (individual patient file, cholera case register, pictograms). Despite all efforts, it is possible that certain errors may have been overlooked in this guide. Please inform the authors of any errors detected. To ensure that this guide continues to evolve while remaining adapted to field realities, please send any comments or suggestions. more

The Africa Pathogen Genomics Initative (Africa PGI) Integrated Genomic Surveillance for Outbreak Detection (DETECT)

Africa Center for Disease Control and Prevention (2024) CC

Africa CDC Institute of Pathogen Genomics (IPG) was launched in November 2019 and operates under the Division of Laboratory Systems and Networks. IPG coordinate the implementation of molecular diag... more

Africa CDC Event-based Surveillance Resources

Africa Center for Disease Control and Prevention (2023) CC

The Event-based Surveillance Framework is intended to be used by authorities and agencies responsible for surveillance ... response. This framework serves as an outline to guide stakeholders interested in implementing event-based surveillance (EBS) using a multisectoral, One Health approach. To that end, the document is arranged in interlinked chapters and annexes that can be modified and adapted, as needed, by users. This is a revised version of the original “Framework for Event-based Surveillance” that was published in 2018. This framework does not replace any other available EBS materials, but rather builds on existing relevant or related documents and serves as a practical guide for the implementation of EBS in Africa. This framework is aligned with the third edition of the WHO Joint External Evaluation for the following indicators: strengthened early warning surveillance systems that are able to detect events of significance for public health and health security (Indicator D2.1); improved communication and collaboration across sectors and between National, intermediate and local public health response levels of authority regarding surveillance of events of public health significance (Indicator D2.2); and improved national and intermediate-level capacity to analyse data (Indicator D2.3). As countries begin to implement and demonstrate EBS functionality they will ensure an increase in JEE scores and progress towards meeting the requirements outlined in the IHR3F Additionally, in African Union Member States that have adopted the Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) strategy, this document is a complement to and can enhance the implementation of IDSR, especially for the 3rd edition (2019) that includes components related to EBS. more

Ending the AIDS epidemic for adolescents, with adolescents

UNAIDS (Joint United Nations Programme on HIVAIDS); Unicef; United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization; et al. UNAIDS (Joint United Nations Programme on HIVAIDS); Unicef; United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization; et al. (2016) C2

A practical guide to meaningfully engage adolescents in the AIDS response UNAIDS 2016 reference

Africa CDC Event-based Surveillance Framework: interim version 2018

African Union; Africa CDC Centres for Disease Control and Prevention Africa CDC (2018) CC

Event-based surveillance (EBS) is defined as the organized collection, monitoring, assessment and interpretation of mainly unstructured ad hoc information regarding health events or risks, which may... more

Zika: Strategic Response Framework & Joint Operations Plan January - June 2016
recommended

World Health Organization WHO (2016) C_WHO

The strategy focuses on mobilizing and coordinating partners, experts and resources to help countries enhance surveillance of the Zika virus ... disorders that could be linked to it, improve vector control, effectively communicate risks, guidance and protection measures, provide medical care to those affected and fast-track research and development of vaccines, diagnostics and therapeutics more

Worldwide country situation analysis: response to antimicrobial resistance

World Health Organization (2015) C_WHO

A survey was conducted in countries in all six WHO regions and focused on the building blocks that are considered prerequisites to combat antimicrobial resistance: a comprehensive national plan, laboratory capacity to undertake ... for resistant microorganisms, access to safe, effective antimicrobial medicines, control of the misuse of these medicines, awareness and understanding among the general public and effective infection prevention and control programmes. more

Ebola Myths, Realities and Structural Violence

ANNIEWILKINSON ANDMELISSA LEACH (2014)

The scale of West Africa’s Ebola epidemic has been attributed to the weak health systems of affected countries, their lack of resources, the mobility of communities and their inexperience in deal... more

Interim Guidance Document on Cholera Surveillance

Global Task Force on Cholera Control (GTFCC) World Health Organisation (WHO) (2017) C_WHO

The objective of this guidance document is to support the public health professionals in implementing effective surveillance of cholera in at-risk, endemic and ... areas. This document has been developed by the Surveillance Working Group of the Global Task Force for Cholera Control (GTFCC) at the World Health Organization based on the existing documents, guidelines, tools and articles related to surveillance of cholera disease, as well as technical discussions with experts held during GTFCC meetings. more

Contingency Plan for El Nino Related Epidemic Diseases

Ministry of Health Rwanda (2015) C2

The goal of this contingency plan for El Nino related epidemics is to contribute to the reduction in mortality and morbidity associated with El Nino epidemic threats by ensuring that appropriate sys... more

Africa CDC: Event based Surveillance Framework

Africa CDC (2018) C_CDC

Prioritising the role of community health workers in the COVID-19 response

M. Ballard, Bancroft E., Nesbit J., et al. BMJ Global Health (2020) CC

COVID-19 disproportionately affects the poor and vulnerable. Community health workers are poised to play a pivotal role in fighting the pandemic, especially in countries with less resilient health systems. Drawing from practitioner expertise across ... more

Population and Individual Approach to the Prevention and Management of Diabetes and Obesity

Pan American Health Organization PAHO (2011) C_WHO

The Resolution Population and Individual Approaches to the Prevention and Management of Diabetes and Obesity was approved by the 48th Directing Cou... more

Global vector control response 2017–2030

World Health Organization (WHO) (2017) C_WHO

The Global vector control response 2017–2030 (GVCR) provides a new strategy to strengthen vector control worldwide through increased capacity, improved surveillance, better coordination ... integrated action across sectors and diseases.
In May 2017, the World Health Assembly adopted resolution WHA 70.16, which calls on Member States to develop or adapt national vector control strategies and operational plans to align with this strategy. more

Meningitis Outbreak Response in Sub-Saharan Africa

Christina Brandes-Barbier, Véronique Millot, Tomas Allen et al World Health Organization WHO (2014) C_WHO

WHO Guideline. Since 2010, countries in the meningitis belt have started to introduce a new serogroup A meningococcal conjugate vaccine conferring individual protection and herd immunity. Following the successful roll-out of this vaccine, epidemics ... more

Indicators and questions for monitoring progress on the 2021 Political Declaration on HIV and AIDS — Global AIDS Monitoring 2023

UNAIDS (2022) C_WHO

The indicators and questions in this document are designed for use by national AIDS programmes and partners to assess the state of a country’s HIV and... more

Guidelines on hepatitis B and C testing
recommended

World Health Organization (WHO) (2017) C_WHO

Testing and diagnosis of hepatitis B (HBV) and C (HCV) infection is the gateway for access to both prevention and treatment services, ... is a crucial component of an effective response to the hepatitis epidemic. Early identification of persons with chronic HBV or HCV infection enables them to receive the necessary care and treatment to prevent or delay progression of liver disease. Testing also provides an opportunity to link people to interventions to reduce transmission, through counselling on risk behaviours and provision of prevention commodities (such as sterile needles and syringes) and hepatitis B vaccination. more

National Strategic Plan on HIV and AIDS Myanmar 2016-2020

Myanmar, Ministry of Health and Sports (2017) C1

The Republic of the Union of Myanmar’s National Strategic Plan on HIV/AIDS 2016–2020 is the strategic guide for the country’s response to HIV at national, state/regional and local levels. The ... more

Ukraine: Emergency Response Plan for the Covid-19 Pandemic

United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs OCHA (2020) C2

The following Emergency Response Plan for the COVID-19 pandemic seeks to set out activities that will be undertaken by humanitarian actors in Ukraine over the course of 2020 to respond to the public health impact of the ... – as well as the indirect, socio-economic impact on people’s well-being, which will span across many areas. Given the extensive public exposure of the COVID-19 threat, the response will cover the whole of Ukraine, while providing a distinct focus on Donetska and Luhanska oblasts that have been ravaged by an armed conflict for the last six consecutive years. The planned COVID-19 response in the two conflict-affected oblasts will be treated as an annex to the current Humanitarian Response Plan for Ukraine more