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Background. Poliovirus isolates detected in persons or in the environment can fall into three major categories: wild, Sabin and Sabin-like, or vaccine-derived. Detection of wild or vaccine-derived poliovirus may constitute an emergency, which can be categorized as an event that can lead to an outbreak, depending on characteristics of the isolate and the context in which it appears. The aim of the study was investigation report of cVDPV2 outbreak in Bokh woreda of Dollo Zone, Somali regional state, Ethiopia. Methods. A team of experts drawn from different organizations was deployed to Bokh woreda to make detailed field investigation from May 25 to June 17, 2019. By using standard World Health Organization polio outbreak investigation checklist, document review of surveillance, immunization, and clinical data related to the case was made. Key informant’s interview was made to health professionals, managers, parents of case, woreda and kebele leaders, religious leaders, and HEWs related to acute flaccid paralysis outbreak. Result. The notified AFP case was a 39-month-old female from Angalo kebele of Bokh woreda, Dollo Zone. On 19th May 2019, the patient developed high grade fever and was taken to Angalo Health Post on 20th May 2019. As per the examination by a health extension worker, the child had high grade fever and neck stiffness with preliminary diagnosis of meningitis for which ceftriaxone injection was prescribed. Contact sample was taken from three children on 28th May 2019 and 29th May 2019 and was sent to Addis Ababa National Polio Laboratory. All contact stool samples were found to be positive for poliovirus type 2 and referred for sequencing in National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD), South Africa, the Regional Polio Reference Laboratory. Conclusion and Recommendation. The clinical presentation of the cases is compatible with poliovirus infection, improving the quality and coverage of supplementary polio immunization activities through proper planning; strict supervision and follow-up can reduce the occurrence of acute flaccid paralysis.

BackgroundThe Novel Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic was originated from Wuhan city, China and spread to almost all countries and territories in the world. Ethiopia reported its first COVID-19 confirmed case on 13 March, 2020. This study aims to show the epidemiological characteristics of the pandemic in Ethiopia in the first hundred days, which would help to guide the ongoing national response efforts to control and prevent the spread of the disease through generating scientific evidence.MethodWe conducted secondary data analysis of COVID-19 data extracted from a national database at Ethiopian Public Health Institute from 13 March to 21 June, 2020. We anonymized personal information for privacy protection. Data was cleaned and descriptive analyses was employed. We used Arc GIS to illustrate the geographical distribution of COVID-19 cases.ResultsOf the 216,328 examined individuals, 4,534 (2.1%) tested positive for COVID-19 of which 74(CFR: 1.6%) have died. People aged between 20–49 years attributed for 76.3% of the total cases. Majority, 2,851 (62.9%) of the cases were male, 3,222 (71.3%) reported from Addis Ababa, 982 (21.7%) of the cases were imported, 413(9.1%) had contact with confirmed cases, 3,139 (69.2%) had no travel history nor contact with confirmed case, and 4,180 (92.2%) of the cases reported were asymptomatic. Health Care Workers contributed for 3.7% of the total cases reported.ConclusionThe magnitude and distribution of COVID-19 cases and deaths and Health Care Workers infection has increased throughout the country over-time. Due emphasis needs to be given by the government, all stakeholders, and partners to scale-up and expand laboratory diagnosis capacities, strengthen surveillance and contact tracing, implement proper Infection Prevention and Control measures, improve case management services and the community should strictly follow social distancing measures. There should be an appropriate health care workers risk factors assessment and intervention to adequately protect the health care workers exposure and infection. Further study shall be conducted to describe the knowledge gaps on the asymptomatic transmission of the virus.

Background: Dengue fever is a rapidly emerging vector born infectious disease caused by Dengue virus and it is now one of WHO reportable diseases. About 50 -200 million cases, 20,000 deaths occur annually. In Ethiopia the first outbreak of Dengue fever appeared in Dire Dawa city in 2013, where 9441 cases were recorded. The second Dengue fever outbreak occurred in Afar Region. Third and fourth was in Somali Region in Godey town, 2014 and 2015. In Godey town acute febrile illness cases of unknown cause become increased started from May 27, 2015. We investigated to identify risk factors of Dengue fever outbreak and commence control measures. Methods: A case-control study was conducted in Godey town, Ethiopia from 8-22 July 2015. Cases were defined according to the WHO guideline and controls were individuals with no sign and symptoms living in the same town with cases. We recruited 50 cases and 100 controls in the study. Medical records and line lists were reviewed. Data were collected at household level using structured questionnaires. Twenty-four serum samples collected from cases. Data was analyzed using SPSS 20 software. Result: We identified 223 cases with 0 death, 116 (52%) were male. The mean age of cases was 25.8 years. Ten cases were positive for Dengue fever by PCR at national laboratory. Lack of formal education (AOR=3.1; 95%CI: 1.30-7.49), living with ill person (AOR=2.8; 95%CI: 1.22-6.52), open containers in household (AOR=3.6; 95%CI: 1.34-9.38) and presence of larvae in the water containers (AOR=5.4; 95%CI: 2.33-12.44) were risk factors for the outbreak. Conclusion: Poor household water handling, living with ill person and lack of formal education contributes for occurrence of Dengue fever outbreak in Godey town. Health education and all other interventions associated with use of water and sanitation needs to be part of long-term control of Dengue.