Joseph Asamoah Frimpong

University of Ghana

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Ernest Kenu

University of Ghana

Maame Amo-Addae

University of Liberia

Meeyoung Mattie Park

Emory University

Thomas Nagbe

National Public Health Institute of Liberia

Delia Akosua Bandoh

University of Ghana

William Ampofo

Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research

Casey D. Xavier Hall

Florida State University

Peter Adewuyi

University of Liberia

Kwadwo Koram

Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research

Charles Lwanga Noora

University of Ghana

Cooperative Institutions

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

University of Ghana

Ghana Health Service

Nigeria Centre for Disease Control

National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases

University of Liberia

Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research

National Public Health Institute of Liberia

World Health Organization

Emory University

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Detecting, reporting, and analysis of priority diseases for routine public health surveillance in Liberia

Pan African Medical Journal (2017)

Joseph Asamoah Frimpong Meeyoung Mattie Park Maame Amo-Addae Peter Adewuyi Thomas Nagbe

An essential component of a public health surveillance system is its ability to detect priority diseases which fall within the mandate of public health officials at all levels. Early detection, reporting and response to public health events help to reduce the burden of mortality and morbidity on communities. Analysis of reliable surveillance data provides relevant information which can enable implementation of timely and appropriate public health interventions. To ensure that a resilient system is in place, the World Health Organization (WHO) has provided guidelines for detection, reporting and response to public health events in the Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) strategy. This case study provides training on detection, reporting and analysis of priority diseases for routine public health surveillance in Liberia and highlights potential errors and challenges which can hinder effective surveillance. Table-top exercises and group discussion lead participants through a simulated verification and analyses of summary case reports in the role of the District Surveillance Officer. This case study is intended for public health training in a classroom setting and can be accomplished within 2 hours 30 minutes. The target audience include residents in Frontline Epidemiology Training Programs (FETP-Frontline), Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Programs (FELTPs), and others who are interested in this topic.

Public health surveillance

Disease Surveillance

Mandate

Officer

Population Health

Public Health Informatics

10.11604/pamj.supp.2017.27.1.12570

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Citations (4)

Effect of antipyretics on performance of influenza surveillance in Ghana

Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses (2022)

Joseph Asamoah Frimpong William Ampofo Kofi Nyarko Jazmin Duque James Aboagye

The World Health Organization's case definition for influenza-like illness (ILI) includes a measured temperature of ≥38°C. We conducted this study to assess the effect of antipyretics on performance of ILI surveillance in Ghana.A cross-sectional study was conducted in two districts of Ghana from September 2013 to May 2014. We collected epidemiological data and respiratory specimens from an expanded ILI case definition, which included patients presenting to health facilities with measured temperature ≥38°C or reported fever (but afebrile at the time of evaluation), and cough, with onset in the last 10 days. Specimens were tested for influenza viruses by real time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction.Of 321 participants who met our expanded ILI case definition, 236 presented with temperature of <38°C but reported subjective fever. Of these, 17% (39/236) were positive for influenza virus; Of those with fever ≤38°C who took antipyretics, 21%(16/77) were positive for influenza, compared with 14%(23/159) of those who did not take antipyretics. The addition of subjective fever to the standard ILI case definition captured approximately an additional 57% influenza cases but also required testing of approximately four times as many patients. However, including those without fever on presentation that had taken antipyretics found an additional 23% of Influenza cases and only two times as much testing.Depending on the goals of surveillance (monitoring virus circulation or determining disease burden) and available resources, a more sensitive case definition including subjective fever and history of use of antipyretics may be warranted.

Antipyretic

Influenza-like illness

10.1111/irv.13068

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Responding to the COVID-19 pandemic in Ghana

Ghana Medical Journal (2020)

Ernest Kenu Joseph Asamoah Frimpong Kwadwo Koram

On 12 January 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed that a novel coronavirus was the cause of a respiratory illness in a cluster of people in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China. The disease was christened COVID-19 and the pathogen (an RNA virus) identified as SARS-Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2).1,2 The virus is primarily spread through contact with small droplets produced from coughing, sneezing, or talking by an infected person. While a substantial proportion of infected individuals may remain asymptomatic, the most common symptoms in clinical cases include, fever, cough, acute respiratory distress, fatigue, and failure to resolve over 3 to 5 days of antibiotic treatment. Complications may include pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome.3 Over five million confirmed cases of COVID-19 has been recorded globally with more than 300,000 deaths as at 25th May 2020. The United States of America has recorded the highest number of cases with more than 1.5 million and over 100,000 deaths.4 In Africa, more than 90,0000 cases have been reported with about 3,000 deaths. South Africa has recorded the highest number of cases with 23,615 cases and 481 deaths. Ghana confirmed its first cases of COVID-19 on 12th March 2020 and had as at 25 May 2020 recorded over 7,000 cases with 34 deaths.5

Pandemic

Coronavirus

10.4314/gmj.v54i2.1

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Citations (78)

Conducting a surveillance problem analysis on poor feedback from Reference Laboratory, Liberia, February 2016

Pan African Medical Journal (2017)

Joseph Asamoah Frimpong Maame Amo-Addae Peter Adewuyi Meeyoung Mattie Park Casey D. Xavier Hall

The laboratory plays a major role in surveillance, including confirming the start and end of an outbreak. Knowing the causative agent for an outbreak informs the development of response strategies and management plans for a public health event. However, issues and challenges may arise that limit the effectiveness or efficiency of laboratories in surveillance. This case study applies a systematic approach to analyse gaps in laboratory surveillance, thereby improving the ability to mitigate these gaps. Although this case study concentrates on factors resulting in poor feedback from the laboratory, practise of this general approach to problem analysis will confer skills required in analysing most public health issues. This case study was developed based on a report submitted by the district surveillance officer in Grand Bassa County, Liberia, as a resident of the Liberian Frontline Field Epidemiology Training Program in 2016. This case study will serve as a training tool to reinforce lectures on surveillance problem analysis using the fishbone approach. It is designed for public health training in a classroom setting and can be completed within 2 hours 30 minutes.

Officer

Health Surveillance

Public health surveillance

10.11604/pamj.supp.2017.27.1.12569

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Conducting a surveillance data quality audit in Grand Bassa County, Liberia, November 2015

Pan African Medical Journal (2017)

Joseph Asamoah Frimpong Maame Amo-Addae Peter Adewuyi Casey D. Xavier Hall Meeyoung Mattie Park

Public health officials depend on timely, complete, and accurate surveillance data for decision making. The quality of data generated from surveillance is highly dependent on external and internal factors which may either impede or enhance surveillance activities. One way of identifying challenges affecting the quality of data generated is to conduct a data quality audit. This case study, based on an audit conducted by residents of the Liberia Frontline Field Epidemiology Training Program, was designed to be a classroom simulation of a data quality audit in a health facility. It is suited to enforce theoretical lectures in surveillance data quality and auditing. The target group is public health trainees, who should be able to complete this exercise in approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes.

Quality audit

10.11604/pamj.supp.2017.27.1.12561

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Descriptive Data Analysis of Tuberculosis Surveillance Data, Sene East District, Ghana, 2020

Journal of Interventional Epidemiology and Public Health (2022)

Rapheal Gyan Asamoah Delia Akosua Bandoh Samuel Dapaa Joseph Asamoah Frimpong Ernest Kenu

Introduction: Globally, Tuberculosis (TB) remains a public health problem. In 2018, 10 million cases were diagnosed with 2.5 million in Africa and 44,000 in Ghana. Ghana's TB surveillance generates data routinely to be analyzed to detect changes in time, suspect outbreaks, rapidly respond to an event and monitor the impact of interventions. We analyzed TB surveillance data from Sene East District, Bono East Region of Ghana to estimate the TB case notification rate and describe the trends of confirmed TB cases and treatment outcomes.

Disease Surveillance

10.37432/jieph.2022.5.3.63

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Troop education and avian influenza surveillance in military barracks in Ghana, 2011

BMC Public Health (2012)

John Kofi Odoom Samuel Bel‐Nono David K Rodgers Prince Agbenohevi Courage K Dafeamekpor

Abstract Background Influenza A viruses that cause highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) also infect humans. In many developing countries such as Ghana, poultry and humans live in close proximity in both the general and military populations, increasing risk for the spread of HPAI from birds to humans. Respiratory infections such as influenza are especially prone to rapid spread among military populations living in close quarters such as barracks making this a key population for targeted avian influenza surveillance and public health education. Method Twelve military barracks situated in the coastal, tropical rain forest and northern savannah belts of the country were visited and the troops and their families educated on pandemic avian influenza. Attendants at each site was obtained from the attendance sheet provided for registration. The seminars focused on zoonotic diseases, influenza surveillance, pathogenesis of avian influenza, prevention of emerging infections and biosecurity. To help direct public health policies, a questionnaire was used to collect information on animal populations and handling practices from 102 households in the military barracks. Cloacal and tracheal samples were taken from 680 domestic and domesticated wild birds and analysed for influenza A using molecular methods for virus detection. Results Of the 1028 participants that took part in the seminars, 668 (65%) showed good knowledge of pandemic avian influenza and the risks associated with its infection. Even though no evidence of the presence of avian influenza (AI) infection was found in the 680 domestic and wild birds sampled, biosecurity in the households surveyed was very poor. Conclusion Active surveillance revealed that there was no AI circulation in the military barracks in April 2011. Though participants demonstrated good knowledge of pandemic avian influenza, biosecurity practices were minimal. Sustained educational programs are needed to further strengthen avian influenza surveillance and prevention in military barracks.

Biosecurity

Pandemic

Highly pathogenic

10.1186/1471-2458-12-957

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Citations (10)

Investigating a paralytic shellfish poisoning in Gando Village, Wete District, Tanzania, July 2015

Pan African Medical Journal (2018)

Loveness John Urio Joseph Asamoah Frimpong Innocent Semali Rogath Kishimba Janneth Mghamba

The investigation of foodborne outbreaks requires a multi-disciplinary set of skills. Frequently, foodborne-related outbreaks are poorly investigated due to lack of all required skills on the part of the investigators. This case study, based on a shellfish poisoning outbreak investigation conducted in Wete, Zanzibar in July 2015 by the Tanzania Field Epidemiology Training Program (TFETP), seeks to reinforce principles and skills in foodborne outbreak investigation. It is primarily intended for training public health practitioners in a classroom setting. Facilitating this case study should take approximately 3 hours.

Shellfish Poisoning

Food poisoning

10.11604/pamj.supp.2018.30.1.15265

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Meningitis outbreak investigation in Nkoranza South Municipality in Brong Ahafo Region, Ghana, February, 2016

Pan African Medical Journal (2018)

Ernest Konadu Asiedu Kofi Nyarko Ernest Kenu Edwin Afari Joseph Asamoah Frimpong

The occurrence of communicable diseases highlights the need to have well-trained field epidemiologists at the forefront in the fight against these diseases, especially during an outbreak. Training for outbreak investigation is most effective when participants can develop their competencies in a practical exercise. This is a simulation of the steps in meningitis outbreak investigation conducted in Ghana in February 2016 by Ghana Field Epidemiology Training Programme (FELTP) residents and the public health technical team of the Nkoranza South Municipality as a field epidemiologist. This case study is suited to reinforce principles and skills already covered in a lecture or in background reading by providing a practical training beyond the scope of theoretical learning. It is primarily intended for training novice public health practitioners who should be able to complete the exercises in 3 hours.

Communicable disease

10.11604/pamj.supp.2018.30.1.15261

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Citations (1)

Suspected neonatal death investigation, Jaedae District, Sinoe County, February 2017

Pan African Medical Journal Conference Proceedings (2018)

Youhn Konway Joseph Asamoah Frimpong Maame Amo-Addae Lily Sanvee Blebo Faith Kamara

Introduction: neonatal death is death of a baby at birth or within first 28 days of life. Neonates account for 45% of deaths among children under five. Liberia recorded 534 neonatal deaths in 2016 with 2.4% (13) from Sinoe County. The District Health Team received report of neonatal death in Jarkupen community on 2nd February, 2017. We investigated to confirm the event, establish the cause and take public health action.

Neonatal death

Neonatal Mortality

10.11604/pamj.cp.2017.3.7.109

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