A narrative review on Rotavirus A in Mozambique

Introduction: Rotavirus A (RVA) is a leading cause of acute infant gastroenteritis in Mozambique, responsible for approximately 13,000 annual infant deaths in peri-urban and other areas. Aim: the present review aimed summarize the most relevant and recent literature regarding RVA infection in Mozambique. Methods: the documents were obtained from electronic databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, Scinapse, Scilit, and Microsoft Academicto find the leading scientific publications related to Mozambique's RVA.Findings: The search allowed us to find 20 peer-reviewed journal articles, three official reports, eight abstracts from national conferences, one thesis, and other documents to supplement the information. Rotavirus frequency ranged between 24 to 42.4%, 34.8% attributable to Mozambique. Most data are hospital-based from Maputo, Sofala, Zambézia, and Nampula provinces. Nampula province shows the highest number of cases. Thus, there might be some bias on the geographical distribution of the virus. The prevalence is high in children less than one year. Regarding the control, the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) introduced a monovalent vaccine in September 2015 (Rotarix), which positively impacted the reduction of RVA cases. After vaccine introduction, a high diversity of RVA genotypes was observed, with the predominance ofG1P[8] and the emergence of G9P[4],G9P[6], G3P[4]. However, only the whole genome sequence can confirm if it is due to the natural genotypes fluctuation. RVA infection was detected in swine, and a recent analysis reported an RVA strain from children clustered with different animal strains.Conclusion: The scarceyethighly reliable research resourcesallowed scientists to detect RVA G1P[8] and other genotypes, potential animal reservoirs, and to find that RVA is more prevalent during the transition dry-rainy season, and thevirus becomes more frequent when children approach the 11thmonth, to then decline as they age.It is essential to develop studies providing a broad view of RVA reservoirs as part of the strategy to control its dissemination

Relevância das Condições Meteorológicas para a Ocorrência da COVID-19 / Relevance of Meteorological Conditions for the Occurrence of COVID-19

Desde a declaração da COVID-19 como Emergência Internacional de Saúde Pública (PHEIC) pela Organização Mundial da Saúde (OMS), tem-se tentado identificar factores que afectam o comportamento da pandemia para garantir melhor controlo. Dos diversos factores, os meteorológicos estão entre os mais importantes. Objectivo: Analisar a relação estatística entre duas variáveis meteorológicas ­ temperatura e pressão atmosférica ­ e a frequência de casos confirmados de COVID-19 em Moçambique. Tipo de estudo: observacional e longitudinal e estatístico. Local: Moçambique, área de Maputo (Província e Cidade) e Província de Nampula. População: De acordo com o Censo 2017, Moçambique tem 27 909 798 habitantes, área de Maputo tem 3 595 547 e a Província de Nampula tem 6 102 867. Métodos: Os dados meteorológicos foram obtidos diariamente nas bases de dados AccuWeather, Time and Date AS e Weather Spark, e o número de casos confirmados de COVID-19 a partir da informação diária dos órgãos oficiais de comunicação do Governo de Moçambique.

Since the declaration of COVID-19 as an International Public Health Emergency (PHEIC) by the World Health Organization (WHO), efforts have been made to identify factors that affect the behavior of the pandemic to ensure better control. Of the various factors, meteorological ones are among the most important. Objective: To analyze the statistical relationship between two meteorological variables ­ temperature and atmospheric pressure ­ and the frequency of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Mozambique. Type of study: observational and longitudinal and statistical. Location: Mozambique, Maputo area (Province and City) and Nampula Province. Population: According to the 2017 Census, Mozambique has 27,909,798 inhabitants, Maputo area has 3,595,547 and Nampula Province has 6,102,867. Methods: Meteorological data were obtained daily from AccuWeather, Time and Date databases. AS and Weather Spark, and the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 from daily information from the official communication bodies of the Government of Mozambique.

Outbreak of Cholera Due to Cyclone Kenneth in Northern Mozambique, 2019.

Cyclone Kenneth was the strongest in the recorded history of the African continent. It landed in the Cabo Delgado province in northern Mozambique on 25 April 2019, causing 45 deaths, destroying approximately 40,000 houses, and leaving 374,000 people in need for assistance, most at risk of acquiring waterborne diseases such as cholera. This short article aims to explain how the resulting cholera outbreak occurred and the response by the government and partner organizations. The outbreak was declared on 2 May 2019, after 14 cases were recorded in Pemba city (11 cases) and the Mecúfi district (3 cases). The disease spread to Metuge, and by the 12th of May 2019, there were 149 cases. Aware of the risk of an outbreak of cholera, the government and partners took immediate action as the cyclone ended, adapting the Cholera Response Plan for Beira, revised after the experience with cyclone Idai (4-21 March 2019). The response relevant to cholera epidemics consisted of social mobilization campaigns for prevention, establishment of treatment centers and units, coordination to improve of water, sanitation and hygiene, and surveillance. By 26 May 2019, 252,448 people were immunized in the area affected by cyclone Kenneth. The recovery process is ongoing but the number of new cases has been reducing, seemingly due to an efficient response, support of several organizations and collaboration of the civil society. Future interventions shall follow the same model of response but the government of Mozambique shall keep a contingency fund to manage disasters such as cyclone Idai and Kenneth. The unlikeliness of two cyclones (Idai and Kenneth) within two months after decades without such kind of phenomena points towards the problem of climate change, and Mozambique needs to prepare effective, proven response plans to combat outbreaks of waterborne diseases due to cyclones.