The challenges of open data for future epidemic preparedness: The experience of the 2022 Ebolavirus outbreak in Uganda

Bibliographic Details
Title: The challenges of open data for future epidemic preparedness: The experience of the 2022 Ebolavirus outbreak in Uganda
Authors: Francesco Branda, Ahmed Mahal, Antonello Maruotti, Massimo Pierini, Sandra Mazzoli
Source: Frontiers in Pharmacology, Vol 14 (2023)
Publisher Information: Frontiers Media S.A., 2023.
Publication Year: 2023
Collection: LCC:Therapeutics. Pharmacology
Subject Terms: Uganda, viral infections, Ebola virus, infection control, outbreaks, surveillance, Therapeutics. Pharmacology, RM1-950
More Details: On 20 September 2022, the Ministry of Health in Uganda, together with the World Health Organization—Regional Office for Africa (WHO AFRO) confirmed an outbreak of EVD due to Sudan ebolavirus in Mubende District, after one fatal case was confirmed. Real-time information are needed to provide crucial information to understand transmissibility, risk of geographical spread, routes of transmission, risk factors of infection, and provide the basis for epidemiological modelling that can inform response and containment planning to reduce the burden of disease. We made an effort to build a centralized repository of the Ebola virus cases from verified sources, providing information on dates of symptom onset, locations (aggregated to the district level), and when available, the gender and status of hospitals, reporting bed capacity and isolation unit occupancy rate according to the severity status of the patient. The proposed data repository provides researchers and policymakers timely, complete, and easy-accessible data to monitor the most recent trends of the Ebola outbreak in Ugandan districts with informative graphical outputs. This favors a rapid global response to the disease, enabling governments to prioritize and adjust their decisions quickly and effectively in response to the rapidly evolving emergency, with a solid data basis.
Document Type: article
File Description: electronic resource
Language: English
ISSN: 1663-9812
Relation: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2023.1101894/full; https://doaj.org/toc/1663-9812
DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1101894
Access URL: https://doaj.org/article/8e1233c19294402aa8e8df8ecd3a6b0c
Accession Number: edsdoj.8e1233c19294402aa8e8df8ecd3a6b0c
Database: Directory of Open Access Journals
More Details
ISSN:16639812
DOI:10.3389/fphar.2023.1101894
Published in:Frontiers in Pharmacology
Language:English