Search

During 1979-2022, Cameroon recorded 32 laboratoryconfirmed mpox cases among 137 suspected mpox cases identified by the national surveillance network. The highest positivity rate occurred in 2022, indicating potential mpox re-emergence in Cameroon. Both clade I (n = 12) and clade II (n = 18) monkeypox virus (MPXV) were reported, a unique feature of mpox in Cameroon. The overall case-fatality ratio of 2.2% was associated with clade II. We found mpox occurred only in the forested southern part of the country, and MPXV phylogeographic structure revealed a clear geographic separation among concurrent circulating clades. Clade I originated from eastern regions close to neighboring mpox-endemic countries in Central Africa; clade II was prevalent in western regions close to West Africa. Our findings suggest that MPXV re-emerged after a 30-year lapse and might arise from different viral reservoirs unique to ecosystems in eastern and western rainforests of Cameroon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports on the specificity of dengue NS1 antigen in differential diagnosis of dengue and the Zika virus infection. It says that circulation of new arboviruses of the genus Flavivirus poses a major challenge for differential diagnosis. It adds that the Zika virus, a mosquito-borne virus of the family Flaviviridae, is closely linked to other arboviruses circulating in the Americas.

During January 2007-July 2012, a total of 3,220 suspected yellow fever cases were reported in the Central African Republic; 55 were confirmed and 11 case-patients died. Mean delay between onset of jaundice and case confirmation was 16.6 days. Delay between disease onset and blood collection could be reduced by increasing awareness of the population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Active surveillance in health care centers in Gabon during 2009-2011 detected 72 clinical cases of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 (pH1N1). We found that pH1N1 virus was introduced in mid-2009 but spread throughout the country in 2010. Thus, Gabon was also affected by pH1N1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A serologic survey for Mayaro virus (Alphavirus, Togaviridae) in 28 wild nonfiying forest mammal species in French Guiana showed a prevalence ranging from 0% to 52% and increasing with age. Species active during the day and those who spent time in trees were significantly more infected, results consistent with transmission implicating diurnal mosquitoes and continuous infectious pressure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A letter to the editor is presented about a case of hepatitis E virus in India and Central African Republic.