Laboratory diagnosis of Ebola hemorrhagic fever during an outbreak in Yambio, Sudan, 2004

Clayton O. Onyango, Martin L. Opoka, Thomas G. Ksiazek, Pierre Formenty, Abdullahi Ahmed, Peter M. Tukei, Rosemary C. Sang, Victor O. Ofula, Samson L. Konongoi, Rodney L. Coldren, Thomas Grein, Dominique Legros, Mike Bell, Kevin M. De Cock, William J. Bellini, Jonathan S. Towner, Stuart T. Nichol, Pierre E. Rollin

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68 Scopus citations

Abstract

Between the months of April and June 2004, an Ebola hemorrhagic fever (EHF) outbreak was reported in Yambio county, southern Sudan. Blood samples were collected from a total of 36 patients with suspected EHF and were tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for immunoglobulin G and M antibodies, antigen ELISA, and reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of a segment of the Ebolavirus (EBOV) polymerase gene. A total of 13 patients were confirmed to be infected with EBOV. In addition, 4 fatal cases were classified as probable cases, because no samples were collected. Another 12 patients were confirmed to have acute measles infection during the same period that EBOV was circulating. Genetic analysis of PCR-positive samples indicated that the virus was similar to but distinct from Sudan EBOV Maleo 1979. In response, case management, social mobilization, and follow-up of contacts were set up as means of surveillance. The outbreak was declared to be over on 7 August 2004.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)S193-S198
JournalJournal of Infectious Diseases
Volume196
Issue numberSUPPL. 2
DOIs
StatePublished - 15 Nov 2007
Externally publishedYes

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