Browsing by Author "Sarkodie, B."
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Item Evaluation of AFP surveillance indicators in polio-free Ghana, 2009¿2013(2014-07-05) Odoom, J.K.; Ntim, N.A.A.; Sarkodie, B.; Addo, J.; Minta-Asare, K.; Obodai, E.; Eshun, M.; Ahove, V.V.; Diamenu, S.; Adjabeng, M.; Arthur-Quarm, J.; Barnor, J.S.Abstract Background Ghana recorded the last case of indigenous wild poliovirus in 1999 but suffered two more outbreaks in 2003 and 2008. Following the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, transmission was interrupted through high routine immunisation coverage with live-attenuated oral polio vaccine (OPV), effective acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) surveillance and supplementary immunisation activities (SIA). This article describes the results of a five-year surveillance of AFP in polio-free Ghana, evaluate the surveillance indicators and identify areas that need improvement. Methods We investigated 1345 cases of AFP from children aged less than 15 years reported to the Disease Surveillance Department from January 2009 to December 2013. Data on demographic characteristics, vaccination history, clinical presentation and virological investigation on stool specimens collected during investigation were analysed. Results Of the specimens analysed, 56% were from males and 76.3% were from children less than 5 years of age. Twenty-four percent of the children received up to 3 doses of OPV, 57% received at least 4 doses while the status of 19% was unknown. Core AFP surveillance indicators were partly met for non-polio AFP rate while the WHO target for stool adequacy and timeliness was exceeded over the period of study. All the cases were classified virologically, however no wild polio was found. Sixty-day follow-up was conducted for 56.3% of cases and 8.6% cases classified as compactible with polio. Conclusion Both laboratory and epidemiological surveillance for AFP were efficient and many WHO targets were met. However, due to the risk of poliovirus importation prior to global eradication, longterm surveillance is required to provide a high degree of confidence in prevention of poliovirus infection in Ghana. Thus, efforts should be made to strengthen regional performance and to follow–up on all AFP cases in order to establish proper diagnoses for the causes of the AFP leading to proper care.Item The First Cases of Lassa Fever in Ghana(Ghana medical journal, 2012-09) Dzotsi, E.K.; Ohene, S.; Asiedu-Bekoe, F.; Amankwa, J.; Sarkodie, B.; Adja-Beng, M.; Thouphique, A.M.; Ofei, A.; Oduro, J.; Atitogo, D.; Bonney, J.H.K.; Paintsil, S.C.N.; Ampofo, W.Lassa fever is a zoonotic disease endemic in West Africa but with no previous case reported in Ghana. We describe the first two laboratory confirmed cases of Lassa fever from the Ashanti Region of Ghana detected in October and December, 2011Item Molecular confirmation of Lassa fever imported into Ghana(AOSIS OpenJournals Publishing AOSIS (Pty) Ltd, 2016) Bonney, J.H.K.; Nyarko, E.O.; Ohene, S.-A.; Amankwa, J.; Ametepi, R.K.; Nimo-Paintsil, S.C.; Sarkodie, B.; Agbenohevi, P.; Adjabeng, M.; Kyei, N.N.A; Bel-Nono, S.; Ampofo, W.K.Background: Recent reports have shown an expansion of Lassa virus from the area where it was first isolated in Nigeria to other areas of West Africa. Two Ghanaian soldiers on a United Nations peacekeeping mission in Liberia were taken ill with viral haemorrhagic fever syndrome following the death of a sick colleague and were referred to a military hospital in Accra, Ghana, in May 2013. Blood samples from the soldiers and five asymptomatic close contacts were subjected to laboratory investigations. Objective: We report the results of these investigations to highlight the importance of molecular diagnostic applications and the need for heightened awareness about Lassa fever in West Africa. Methods: We used molecular assays on sera from the two patients to identify the causative organism. Upon detection of positive signals for Lassa virus ribonucleic material by two different polymerase chain reaction assays, sequencing and phylogenetic analyses were performed. Results: The presence of Lassa virus in the soldiers' blood samples was shown by L-gene segment homology to be the Macenta and las803792 strains previously isolated in Liberia, with close relationships then confirmed by phylogenetic tree construction. The five asymptomatic close contacts were negative for Lassa virus. Conclusions: The Lassa virus strains identified in the two Ghanaian soldiers had molecular epidemiological links to strains from Liberia. Lassa virus was probably responsible for the outbreak of viral haemorrhagic fever in the military camp. These data confirm Lassa fever endemicity in West Africa. � 2016.Item Molecular detection of dengue virus in patients suspected of Ebola virus disease in Ghana(PLoS ONE, 2018-12) Bonney, J.H.; Hayashi, T.; Dadzie, S.; Agbosu, E.; Pratt, D.; Nyarko, S.; Asiedu-Bekoe, F.; Ido, E.; Sarkodie, B.; Ohta, N.; Yamaoka, S.Dengue fever is known to be one of the most common arthropod-borne viral infectious diseases of public health importance. The disease is now endemic in more than 100 countries in Africa, the Americas, the Eastern Mediterranean, Southeast Asia and the Western Pacific with an estimated two fifths of the world's population being at risk. The notable endemic viral hemorrhagic fevers (VHFs) found in West Africa, including yellow fever, Lassa fever, Rift Valley fever, dengue fever and until recently Ebola have been responsible for most outbreaks with fatal consequences. These VHFs usually produce unclear acute febrile illness, especially in the acute phase of infection. In this study we detected the presence of 2 different serotypes (DENV-2 and DENV-3) of Dengue virus in 4 sera of 150 patients clinically suspected of Ebola virus disease during the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak in West Africa with the use of serological and molecular test assays. Sequence data was successfully generated for DENV-3 and phylogenetic analysis of the envelope gene showed that the DENV-3 sequences had close homology with DENV-3 sequences from Senegal and India. This study documents molecular evidence of an indigenous Dengue fever viral infection in Ghana and therefore necessitates the need to have an efficient surveillance system to rapidly detect and control the dissemination of the different serotypes in the population which has the potential to cause outbreaks of dengue hemorrhagic fevers.Item Overview of preparedness and response to COVID-19 in Ghana(Ghana Med j, 2021) Sarkodie, B.; Asiedu-Bek, F.; Laryea, D.O.; Ampofo, W.K.; Philips, R.O.; Samba, A.; Aboagye, D.; Nsiah-Asare, A.; Asamoah-Baah, A.; Odame, E.; Ohene, S.; Amoako, Y.A.; Kuma-Aboagye, P.The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak in Ghana is part of an ongoing pandemic caused by the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). The first two cases of COVID-19 were confirmed in Ghana on 12th March 2020. COVID-19 was consequently declared a Public Health Emergency of National Concern, triggering several response actions, including enhanced surveillance, case detection, case management and contact tracing, closure of borders, suspension of international flights, ban on social gatherings and closure of schools. Pre paredness and response plans were activated for implementation at the national, regional, district and community levels. Ghana’s Strategic approaches were to limit and stop the importation of cases; detect and contain cases early; expand infrastructure, logistics and capacity to provide quality healthcare for the sick; minimise disruption to social and economic life and increase the domestic capacity of all sectors to deal with existing and future shocks. The health sector strategic frame focused on testing, treatment, and tracking. As of 31st December 2020, a total of 535,168 cases, including 335 deaths (CFR: 0.61%), have been confirmed with 53,928 recoveries and 905 active cases. All the regions have reported cases, with Greater Accra reporting the highest number. The response actions in Ghana have seen high level political commitment, appropriate and timely decisions, and a careful balance of public health interventions with economic and socio-cultural dynamics. Efforts are ongoing to intensify non-pharmaceutical interventions, sustain the gains made so far and introduce COVID-19 vaccines to reduce the public health burden of the disease in GhanaItem Surveillance of Bacterial Pathogens of Diarrhoea in Two Selected Sub Metros Within the Accra Metropolis(Ghana Medical Journal, 2015-06) Dzotsi, E.K.; Dongdem, A.Z.; Boateng, G.; Antwi, L.; Owusu-Okyere, G.; Nartey, D.B.; Olu-Taiwo, M.; Adjabeng, M.J.; Amankwa, J.; Sarkodie, B.; Addo, J.; Antwi, E.; Aryee, E.; Opintan, J.A.In recent years, many localities within the Greater Accra Region (GAR) have witnessed several episodes of cholera outbreaks, with some deaths. Compared to previous epidemics, which usually followed heavy rains, recent outbreaks show no seasonality. To investigate infective bacterial diseases in selected sub metros within the GAR. We used existing disease surveillance systems in Ghana, and investigated all reported cases of diarrhoea that met our case-definition. A three-day training workshop was done prior to the start of study, to sensitize prescribers at the Korle-Bu Polyclinic and Maamobi General hospital. A case-based investigation form was completed per patient, and two rectal swabs were taken for culture at the National Public Health and Reference Laboratory. Serotyping and antibiogram profiles of identified bacteria were determined. Potential risk factors were also assessed using a questionnaire. Between January and June 2012, a total of 361 diarrhoeal cases with 5 deaths were recorded. Out of a total of 218 rectal swabs cultured, 71 (32.6%) Vibrio cholerae O1 Ogawa serotypes, and 1 (0.5%) Salmonella (O group B) were laboratory confirmed. No Shigella was isolated. The Vibrio cholerae isolates were susceptible to ciprofloxacin and tetracycline. Greater than 80% of patients reported having drank sachet water 24 h prior to diarrhoea onset, and many (144/361) young adults (20-29 years) reported with diarrhoea. Enhanced surveillance of diarrhoeal diseases (enteric pathogens) within cholera endemic regions, will serve as an early warning signal, and reduce fatalities associated with infective diarrhoea. (PDF) Surveillance of Bacterial Pathogens of Diarrhoea in Two Selected Sub Metros Within the Accra Metropolis. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/281031544_Surveillance_of_Bacterial_Pathogens_of_Diarrhoea_in_Two_Selected_Sub_Metros_Within_the_Accra_Metropolis [accessed Sep 18 2018].