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Rubella is a highly contagious mild viral illness. It is a leading cause of congenital rubella syndrome (CRS). Routine data of rubella do not exist in Ethiopia. However, laboratory-based conformation of rubella cases from measles negative samples were collected from a measles surveillance system. The current study was to analyse the epidemiological distribution of rubella cases from measles-suspected cases in Ethiopia from 2011 to 2015. National-based secondary data analysis of rubella through measles-based surveillances was carried out. Measles-suspected cases were investigated using the case investigation form, and a serum sample collected and sent to the Ethiopian laboratory for conformation. Samples tested for measles immunoglobulin M (IgM) were tested for rubella. The investigation results were entered into an electronic database using SPSS version 25 for analysis. Out of 11749 samples tested for rubella IgM from 2011 to 2015, 2295 (19.5%) were positive for rubella IgM and 51% of rubella-positive cases were female. Five per cent of all cases were female aged between 15 and 49. Cases were confirmed from all regions, two administrative towns and seasonal variations were observed with peaks in the first and fourth seasonal periods of the years. As fear of congenital abnormality (CRS), the Ethiopian government should focus on rubella syndrome surveillance with the aim of starting a rubella vaccine.

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.