Ebola virus disease preparedness in countries bordering Democratic Republic of Congo: lessons from west African outbreak: Ebola virus disease preparedness

Background: Ebola virus disease ravaged three West African countries in the wake of 2014 which was seen as the deadliest Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak in history. Several lessons were taken out of the West African outbreak one of which is the lack of preparedness by countries in the region.Materials and Methods: This paper looked at the mistakes of the West African outbreak and reports how such mistakes were corrected in the current outbreak going on in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Preparedness efforts are currently taking place in countries bordering DRC which included quick detection and response to an eventual EVD event.Results: This paid off on several occasions when cases from DRC to Uganda were quickly detected and response was as quick as possible. Preparedness carried out in Countries bordering DRC included setting up of Rapid Response Team (RRT) and training of these teams both at country and regional level. All members of the RRT were trained in all areas of readiness which included community engagement, laboratory, logistics, surveillance, case management, sample collection, packaging and shipment as well as Infection Prevention and Control (IPC).Conclusion: These trainings have led to readiness to an eventual EVD event. Countries now have the ability to respond quickly with better Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) for EVD

Inhibition of Fe2+ Induced Lipid Peroxidation in Rats Brain by Extract of Euphorbia heterophylla in vitro

This study is sought to determine the antioxidant activity and protective ability of aqueous and methanol extractible phytochemicals from Euphorbia heterophylla leaves on lipid peroxidation induced in rat brain by pro-oxidant, in vitro. The extracts of the leaves were prepared, and the ability of the extracts is to inhibit 25 µM FeSO4 induced lipid peroxidation in isolated rats’ brain, were determined. Thereafter, total phenol content, reducing power (FRAP), Fe (II) chelating, and DPPH* free radical scavenging ability of the extracts was determined and considered as an index of antioxidant activity. The results revealed that the extracts inhibit malondialdehyde (MDA) production in the basal and pro-oxidant induced lipid peroxidised rats in a dose-dependent manner, [methanol 80.11%, aqueous 70.3%] with the methanol extract (MEE) significantly (P< 0.05) than that of aqueous extract (AEE). The methanol extract (0.74 ± 0.6 mg/g) had higher total phenol contents than the aqueous (0.57 ± 1.2 mg/g); likewise the methanol extract had higher reducing power (0.08 ± 0.2, 0.03 ± 0.1 mg/g), but had no significant difference in Fe (II) chelating ability (EC50= 0.34, 0.36) with DPPH* scavenging ability (EC50=0.075, 0.075). This antioxidant properties and the protective effect of this leaf could be harnessed in the management and prevention of degenerative diseases in association with oxidative stress.