Shiloh
Editor, Senior Moderator
Source: https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2020/06/news-scan-jun-09-2020
News Scan for Jun 09, 2020
COVID-19 in UK pregnant women; DRC Ebola outbreaks not linked
Filed Under:
COVID-19; Ebola; VHF
Most UK COVID-19 pregnancy cases involve minority women
Black or other ethnic minority women in the United Kingdom make up 56% of all documented hospitalized cases of COVID-19 in pregnancy, according to a new study published in The BMJ.
The study was based on routine data collected as part of the UK Obstetric Surveillance System (UKOSS) from Mar 1 through Apr 14, and researchers analyzed data on 427 pregnant women hospitalized for COVID-19. Fifty-six percent of the women were black or Asian, 70% were overweight or obese, and 40% were age 35 or older.
Though most women recovered completely, 41 needed respiratory support, and 5 died. Only 12 babies born to mothers with COVID-19 tested positive for the virus.
"In common with previous reports, most women admitted to hospital with SARS-CoV-2 infection in pregnancy were in the late second or third trimester, which replicates the pattern seen for other respiratory viruses with women in later pregnancy being more severely affected," the authors concluded. "This supports the current guidance for strict social distancing measures among pregnant women, particularly in their third trimester."
In an accompanying commentary, Marian Knight, DPhil, the lead author of the study, writes that, 11 years after the inception of UKOSS, the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrates its usefulness
"Our study clearly illustrates the benefits of thinking ahead, designing and setting up study infrastructure when threats are only hypothetical," the authors said. "If nothing else, the covid-19 pandemic has crystallised the need for reliable basic epidemiological information, and that this is equally important in pregnancy must be recognised."
Jun 8 BMJ study
Jun 8 BMJ commentary
Sequencing suggests separate introduction in new DRC Ebola outbreak
Genetic sequencing of the Ebola virus in the new Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) outbreak suggests that it isn't related to the large outbreak in the east of the country or to a small 2018 outbreak in the same area of Equateur province, the World Health Organization (WHO) said today in a statement.
Though an investigation into the source is still under way, the event likely reflects a new introduction from an animal source. Matshidiso Moeti, MBBS, director of the WHO's African regional office, said the findings from the National Institute of Biomedical Research (INRB) in Kinshasa aren't surprising, because the two outbreaks are located far apart, and there is a flight ban due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Ebola is endemic in animal reservoirs in the DRC, so it was expected that new cases would emerge," she said "While the new Ebola outbreak in Mbandaka represents a challenge, it's one we are ready to tackle. With each experience we respond faster and more effectively."
Twenty WHO staff are on the ground to support the health ministry and its partners, and more will arrive this week. So far, 2,200 vaccine doses have been delivered, and 600 people in have been vaccinated in Mbandaka and Wangata health zones.
So far, 12 illnesses have been reported, 9 confirmed and 3 listed as probable. Eight people have died from their infections. The 2018 outbreak in the same part of the northwestern DRC resulted 54 cases, 33 of them fatal.
Jun 9 WHO statement
News Scan for Jun 09, 2020
COVID-19 in UK pregnant women; DRC Ebola outbreaks not linked
Filed Under:
COVID-19; Ebola; VHF
Most UK COVID-19 pregnancy cases involve minority women
Black or other ethnic minority women in the United Kingdom make up 56% of all documented hospitalized cases of COVID-19 in pregnancy, according to a new study published in The BMJ.
The study was based on routine data collected as part of the UK Obstetric Surveillance System (UKOSS) from Mar 1 through Apr 14, and researchers analyzed data on 427 pregnant women hospitalized for COVID-19. Fifty-six percent of the women were black or Asian, 70% were overweight or obese, and 40% were age 35 or older.
Though most women recovered completely, 41 needed respiratory support, and 5 died. Only 12 babies born to mothers with COVID-19 tested positive for the virus.
"In common with previous reports, most women admitted to hospital with SARS-CoV-2 infection in pregnancy were in the late second or third trimester, which replicates the pattern seen for other respiratory viruses with women in later pregnancy being more severely affected," the authors concluded. "This supports the current guidance for strict social distancing measures among pregnant women, particularly in their third trimester."
In an accompanying commentary, Marian Knight, DPhil, the lead author of the study, writes that, 11 years after the inception of UKOSS, the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrates its usefulness
"Our study clearly illustrates the benefits of thinking ahead, designing and setting up study infrastructure when threats are only hypothetical," the authors said. "If nothing else, the covid-19 pandemic has crystallised the need for reliable basic epidemiological information, and that this is equally important in pregnancy must be recognised."
Jun 8 BMJ study
Jun 8 BMJ commentary
Sequencing suggests separate introduction in new DRC Ebola outbreak
Genetic sequencing of the Ebola virus in the new Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) outbreak suggests that it isn't related to the large outbreak in the east of the country or to a small 2018 outbreak in the same area of Equateur province, the World Health Organization (WHO) said today in a statement.
Though an investigation into the source is still under way, the event likely reflects a new introduction from an animal source. Matshidiso Moeti, MBBS, director of the WHO's African regional office, said the findings from the National Institute of Biomedical Research (INRB) in Kinshasa aren't surprising, because the two outbreaks are located far apart, and there is a flight ban due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Ebola is endemic in animal reservoirs in the DRC, so it was expected that new cases would emerge," she said "While the new Ebola outbreak in Mbandaka represents a challenge, it's one we are ready to tackle. With each experience we respond faster and more effectively."
Twenty WHO staff are on the ground to support the health ministry and its partners, and more will arrive this week. So far, 2,200 vaccine doses have been delivered, and 600 people in have been vaccinated in Mbandaka and Wangata health zones.
So far, 12 illnesses have been reported, 9 confirmed and 3 listed as probable. Eight people have died from their infections. The 2018 outbreak in the same part of the northwestern DRC resulted 54 cases, 33 of them fatal.
Jun 9 WHO statement