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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1984

Endemic Lassa fever in Liberia. V. Distribution of Lassa virus activity in Liberia: hospital staff surveys.

Serological testing of hospital personnel by the indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) technique was used to indicate the distribution of Lassa virus (LV) activity in Liberia. Determination of the places of origin of the staff members as well as the sites of the hospitals indicated that LV is active in throughout Liberia. Prevalences of IFA varied from 3.8% at the J. J. Dossen Hospital on the coast in the south-east to 22.3, 23.5 and 40.4% in Lofa County hospitals inland in the north-west. Rises in LV antibody prevalences, high prevalences and relatively high IFA titres in hospital personnel suggest the LV activity is particularly high in Lofa, Grand Cape Mount and Nimba Counties.

Antigens, Viral↗
PubMed1984

Endemic Lassa fever in Liberia. VI. Village serological surveys for evidence of Lassa virus activity in Lofa County, Liberia.

Six villages in Lofa County, north-west Liberia, and one near the coast were surveyed for the presence of indirect fluorescent antibodies (IFA) to Lassa virus (LV). Prevalences were similar among males and females, and among various age groups. The prevalence of IFA positive sera, 6.4%, in two roadside villages was significantly higher than in two matched villages "in the bush", 1.9%. It was also higher in Gbanwei, a roadside village which did not maintain traditional sanitary measures, than in Zuwulo, similarly located but with maintenance of clean-swept areas without shrubbery or rubble between the houses. In another pair of villages, the one adjacent to a Mission Clinic with a very high prevalence of IFA positive staff members had significantly higher prevalence, 14.1%, than did the other, a roadside village with 5.1% seropositives. LV antibodies were also found in 4.3% of the inhabitants of a small coastal village near Robertsfield International Airport. Though LV infections are more common in villages in which traditional practices have been modified, they are present even in villages which are relatively unchanged. In the former they appear to be continuous while sporadic in the latter. The prevalences of IFA in the villages with the highest rates are about one third of what is found in personnel of hospitals near them, suggesting that hospital staff members acquire infections from patients as well as from the communities in which they live.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Endemic Lassa fever in Liberia. I. Clinical and epidemiological aspects at Curran Lutheran Hospital, Zorzor, Liberia.

In a study to assess the epidemiological and clinical aspects of endemic Lassa fever (LF) in Liberia at Curran Lutheran Hospital (CLH), 44 cases were diagnosed by virological and serological techniques over a 22-month period. During one calendar month, testing of febrile patients admitted to the medical-surgical ward revealed six cases of LF, 13% of all febrile cases and 17% of those who were tested. As the study progressed the diagnostic skills of the hospital staff improved. The most common mistake was the diagnosis of a case of LF as pneumonia; the most potentially serious diagnostic problem was differentiating LF from typhoid fever, a readily treatable infection. LF may also mimic other diseases such as aseptic meningitis, pelvic inflammatory disease, gastroenteritis or arbovirus infection. We found a previously unreported symptom of LF, rib tenderness typical of costochondritis. The mortality rate in the medical-surgical ward was 5.4%; the over-all case-fatality rate was 13.6%. Women outnumbered men by nearly three to one, and had a higher mortality particularly noted in the pregnant. LF is common at CLH, and as many as 100 cases may occur annually at this hospital.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Studies on nodules and adult Onchocerca volvulus during a nodulectomy trial in hyperendemic villages in Liberia and Upper Volta. II. Comparison of the macrofilaria population in adult nodule carriers.

In the Liberian rain-forest and the savanna of Upper Volta 189 adult nodule carriers were operated on. From 2231 extirpated nodules 3327 male and 5713 female macrofilariae were isolated. About 98% of the male worms and 88% of the female worms were found alive. The sex ratio of the live male and female worms was 1:1.5 in Liberia and 1:1.6 in Upper Volta. Less than 1% of all live macrofilariae were immature in both countries. 22% of the live male worms in Liberia were regarded as old. The percentage of old male and female worms in Upper Volta and that of the old female worms in Liberia were similar (5-7%). The portion of old worms was independent of the age of the patients in Liberia. Dead worms were found in 66% of the Liberians and in 85% of the Voltaics. The percentage of patients with dead worms increased with the age. About 0.5% of all male and 8% of all female worms were calcified. In Liberia the percentage of calcified worms increased with the age of the patients. In both countries the highest number of live and dead worms were found on the pelvic girdle. On the thorax many more macrofilariae were found in Upper Volta than in Liberia. This may contribute to the severe eye lesions in this savanna area. The presented findings provide some basic information for the planning and performance of trials with macrofilaricidal drugs in hyperendemic areas of West Africa. However, the striking differences between individual worm burdens have to be considered.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Evaluation of natural family planning programmes in Liberia and Zambia.

Studies to evaluate use-effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of natural family planning (NFP) were conducted in Liberia and Zambia. The Liberian programme provided uni-purpose NFP services to 1055 clients mainly in rural areas; the Zambian programme provided NFP services integrated with MCH to 2709 clients predominantly in urban areas. The one-year life table continuation and unplanned pregnancy rates were 78.9 and 4.3 per 100 woman-years in Liberia, compared to 71.2 and 8.9 in Zambia. However, high rates of loss to follow-up mandate caution in interpretation of these results, especially in Zambia. More women progressed to autonomous NFP use in Liberia (58%) than in Zambia (35.3%). However, programme costs per couple-year protection were lower in Zambia (US$25.7) than in Liberia (US$47.1). Costs per couple-year protection were higher during learning than autonomy, and declined over time. These studies suggest that NFP programmes can achieve acceptable use- and cost-effectiveness in Africa.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Evaluation of HIV/AIDS prevention resources in Liberia: strategy and implications.

The purpose of this preliminary study was to assess the HIV/AIDS prevention needs, services, and resources in Liberia, including the readiness of local providers to conduct HIV/AIDS-related prevention programs based on a set of six key dimensions (prevention needs, knowledge, leadership, environment, risky behaviors, and resources). A valid self-administered qualitative-based health survey, based on a community readiness model, was utilized as the primary data collection source. A cross-sectional design that utilized a convenient sample of key informants such as health coordinators, program directors, and health administrator from both public and private HIV/AIDS-based organizations was used. Furthermore, an extensive review of the National Library of Medicine database of published articles from mid-1980 to 2002 was simultaneously conducted to gauge the extent of scientific publications on HIV/AIDS-related prevention services in Liberia. The findings from this study strongly suggest that Liberia is in a stage of vague awareness, as defined by the Tri-Ethnic Center community readiness framework, regarding HIV/AIDS-related activities, including a significant lack of HIV/AIDS-related resources and scientific publications. Accordingly, there is a critical need to acquire adequate resources and build capacity to implement effective HIV/AIDS-related prevention programming services in order to avert the negative public health consequences associated with HIV/AIDS, including the implementation of relevant evaluation and dissemination strategies. Most importantly, this model has the potential to be utilized in other resource-constraint settings, especially in the developing world, to assess prevention-related resources and programmatic readiness. This is the first published study to evaluate Liberia's HIV/AIDS prevention resources and to systematically document the extent and magnitude of the HIV/AIDS crises in the country.

HIV Infections↗
PubMed1992

The anthropology of sexually transmitted disease in Liberia.

In sub-Saharan African countries where AIDS is established, HIV transmission is primarily by means of heterosexual intercourse. A major co-factor in such transmission is the presence of other, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Efforts to limit the heterosexual transmission of HIV in Africa must therefore address the high prevalence of other, standard STDs. The present study attempts to establish a preliminary information base for interventions to prevent the spread of HIV in Liberia where there is relatively high incidence of standard STDs but low incidence of HIV seropositivity. Employing in-depth, key-informant interviews with traditional healers, prostitutes and others, as well as focus group discussions with groups selected on the basis of several criteria, knowledge, beliefs, attitudes and behavior related to AIDS and STDs were elicited. Although evidence of exposure to scientific concepts was found, traditional, ethnomedical views predominated. Notions of sorcery, taboo violation and contamination were often expressed when describing the etiologies of locally-recognized sexually transmitted diseases. More 'naturalistic' explanations were often based on simplified notions of human anatomy and biochemistry. Three basic messages about AIDS that were broadcast in a recent radio campaign were retained, namely 'AIDS kills;' 'there is no cure for it;' and 'it is transmitted through sex.' There was also evidence of Liberians beginning to view AIDS in frameworks of interpretation compatible with traditional ethnomedical beliefs, such as sorcery. Most traditional healers reported they knew little or nothing about AIDS, including those who had a lot to say about other STDs that are well-established in Liberia. Many cases of STDs seem to be handled by traditional healers. Treatment typically consists of decoctions from the leaves and roots of various medicinal plants, administered as teas--less often as enemas or vaginal implants--to be taken over a 2-4 day period. It is recommended that efforts to lower incidence of standard STDs be given priority comparable to promotion of condom use and 'safer sex' in efforts to slow the transmission of HIV in Liberia. Strategies for combating STDs will have to take into account popular beliefs and attitudes regarding STDs as well as the role and influence of traditional healers. Strategies of this sort are recommended.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1992

Mission Liberia--1989. A memorable experience.

As I write this article, Liberia is being torn apart by a bloody civil war. Information about individuals is nonexistent. One of our biggest supporters was a church that was bombed, and the civilians taking refuge within the church courtyard were all killed by rival soldiers. The main headquarters of Operation Smile in Liberia also was destroyed. Reports indicate that the insurrectionists seem to be concentrating on the educated population. The time I spent with Operation Smile in Liberia was one of my most rewarding and memorable experiences (Fig 5). Perhaps this experience can never be repeated, but it will never be forgotten.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

High Plasmodium falciparum resistance to chloroquine and sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine in Harper, Liberia: results in vivo and analysis of point mutations.

In Liberia, little information is available on the efficacy of antimalarials against Plasmodium falciparum malaria. We measured parasitological resistance to chloroquine and sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) in Harper, south-west Liberia in a 28-d study in vivo. A total of 50 patients completed follow-up in the chloroquine group, and 66 in the SP group. The chloroquine failure rate was 74.0% (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 59.7-85.4%) after 14 d of follow-up and 84.0% (95% CI 70.9-92.8%) after 28 d (no polymerase chain reaction [PCR] analysis was performed to detect reinfections in this group). In the SP group, the failure rate was 48.5% (95% CI 36.2-61.0%) after 14 d and 69.7% (95% CI 57.1-80.4%) after 28 d, readjusted to 51.5% (95% CI 38.9-64.0%) after taking into account reinfections detected by PCR. Genomic analysis of parasite isolates was also performed to look for point mutations associated with resistance. Genotyping of parasite isolates revealed that all carried chloroquine-resistant K-76T mutations at gene pfcrt, whereas the triple mutation (S108N, N511, C59R) at dhfr and the A437G mutation at dhps, both associated with resistance to SP, were present in 84% and 79% of pretreatment isolates respectively. These results seriously question the continued use of chloroquine and SP in Harper and highlight the urgency of making alternative antimalarial therapies available. Our study confirms that resistance to chloroquine may be high in Liberia and yields hitherto missing information on SP.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Evaluation of chloroquine as a potent anti-malarial drug: issues of public health policy and healthcare delivery in post-war Liberia.

Chloroquine-resistant plasmodium falciparum malaria is a serious public health threat that is spreading rapidly across Sub-Saharan Africa. It affects over three quarters (80%) of malarial endemic countries. Of the estimated 300-500 million cases of malaria reported annually, the vast majority of malarial-related morbidities occur among young children in Africa, especially those concentrated in the remote rural areas with inadequate access to appropriate health care services. In Liberia, in vivo studies conducted between 1993 and 2000 observed varying degrees of plasmodium falciparum malaria infections that were resistant to chloroquine, including sulfadiazine-pyrimethamine. As the country emerges from a prolonged civil war, the health care delivery system may not be adequately prepared to implement an effective nation-wide malarial control strategy. As a result, the management of uncomplicated malaria in Liberia poses a significant public health challenge for the government-financed health care delivery system. Therefore, based on extensive literature review, we report the failure of chloroquine as an effective first-line drug for the treatment of uncomplicated plasmodium falciparum malaria in Liberia and recommend that national health efforts be directed at identifying alternative drug(s) to replace it.

Antimalarials↗
PubMed1987

Geographical distribution of Glossina palpalis gambiensis and G.p.palpalis in Liberia.

The two subspecies of Glossina palpalis (Robineau-Desvoidy) occurring in Liberia could be reliably separated morphometrically by measuring the width of the terminal dilatations of the male inferior claspers. Subspecies differentiation of female flies was less conclusive. Identification of flies from fifty-four sites revealed that most of Liberia lies in the belt of Glossina palpalis palpalis. However, pure and substantial populations of G.p.gambiensis Vanderplank occur north of 8 degrees 20'N in the north-west of Liberia.

Animals↗
PubMed1981

Haemoglobin variants, beta-thalassaemia and G-6-PD types in Liberia.

Haemoglobin variants, beta-thalassaemia and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD) types were studied in 702 individuals from Buchanan, Liberia. In this population haemoglobins S and C, beta-thalassaemia and G-6-PD deficiency were found together. There was a considerable tribal variation. In the tribes of eastern Liberia the S- and C-genes were uncommon and the beta-thalassaemia gene was rather frequent, while in western Liberia the S- and C-genes were more frequent and beta-thalassaemia uncommon. In the central and northern parts the S- and beta-thalassaemia genes were found together in relatively high frequencies. The rate of malaria infection was found to be lower in individuals with the sickle cell and beta-thalassaemia traits than in individuals with haemoglobin AA, but the difference was not statistically significant. The frequency of the delta-chain gene B2 was 1.4% in the total material and there was no significant tribal variation for this gene. The frequency of G-6-PD deficiency estimated in males was 16%.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1975

The geographical distribution of Onchocerca volvulus infection in Liberia.

The survey carried out for the assessment of onchocerciasis prevalence in Liberia from 1968 to 1971 covered about 1% of the rural population. From 10.885 persons examined parasitologically, 38% were carriers of microfilariae of O. volvulus in the skin, and an additional 6.8% carried nodules but no mf. One or more onchocercal nodules were prevalent in a total of 27% of the population. Geographic and sex differences were observed as well as several different patterns of increasing age. A description of the geographic distribution patterns is given but evaluation of population clusters classified by overall endemicity is considered more profitable for analyses of parasitological and clinical lesions related to the transmission of the filarial infection. Regional differences of the age-adjusted mf-rates ranging from 0 to 78% prevalence were obtained from the analysis of 121 communities throughout the country. The general onchocerciasis distribution pattern showed the highest endemicity in the western part of the country with a general decline towards hypoendemic condition in the Eastern regions. Exceptions were found in that sizable pockets of high transmission activity seems to exist in Eastern Liberia near the coast and also in Central Liberia.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1975

On the ecology and distribution of the species of the simulium damnosum complex in different bioclimatic zones of Liberia and Guinea.

A chromosomal identification of Simulium damnosum material collected in Liberia and Guinea revealed five species of this complex. S. yahense Vajime and Dunbar: Widely distributed in the rain forest zone (Liberia, Southern Guinea) and in the Fouta Djallon mountains. Breeding places typically in small watercourses, shaded streams and narrow rivers. S. sanctipauli Vajime and Dunbar: Restricted to the rain forest zone. Breeding confined to large rivers. S. soubrense Vajime and Dunbar: Breeding established in large and medium rivers under high forest (Liberia) and in the Guinea savanna (head waters of the Niger and its southern tributaries). S. damnosum Theobald: Distributed in the forest zone and Guinea savanna. Breeding in rivers and irrigation systems. S. sirbanum Vajime and Dunbar: Confined to the Northern Guinea savanna. Breeding in rivers and irrigation plants, occasionally in streams arising from lakes. Larvae of S. yahense and S. sanctipauli could be separated by morphological characters. The associations with other blackfly species are discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Liberia-IAC has been reactivated.

The former national committee of Liberia ceased activities at the outbreak of civil unrest, but as soon as the situation allowed, a group of former committee members and new volunteers held meetings starting in March 1993. However, it is not until 1994 that activities started again in earnest. Thanks to UNICEF, a potential committee leader was invited to the IAC Regional Conference in April 1994, Addis Ababa. There, Miss Patricia Marbey met with other members of the IAC network, notably from neighboring countries, which share similar problems concerning traditional practices. Soon after her return she reorganized the committee. Elections were in August 1994 under the auspices of UNICEF. Officers were elected to key posts for a two-year term renewable only once. The name of the new committee was changed for Liberia IAC National Committee, or IAC-LI for short. Even before it was formally reorganized, IAC-Liberia was called into action to represent a girl who had been forcibly initiated. This affair provided the necessary impetus for the committee to start a sensitization campaign toward the eradication of FGM in and around the capital.

Africa↗
PubMed1991

The dwarf river crab Liberonautes latidactylus nanoides Cumberlidge & Sachs, 1989, from Liberia--a new second intermediate host of Paragonimus uterobilateralis.

Large populations of the dwarf river crab Liberonautes latidactylus nanoides Cumberlidge & Sachs, 1989, collected from the St. Paul river at the Haindi/Mauwa focus of paragonimiasis in Liberia were examined for parasitization by the human lung fluke, Paragonimus uterobilateralis. Four specimens out of 763 L. l. nanoides proved to be positive for P. uterobilateralis (0.52%), and each of these specimens contained only 1 metacercaria. The dwarf river crab forms the basis of a seasonal commercial fishery in Liberia, and it is sold for human consumption in rural markets. However, the low levels of parasitization of L. l. nanoides, together with its limited seasonal availability make it doubtful that L. l. nanoides constitutes a public health risk to the rural population of Liberia.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Mycobacterium ulcerans in Liberia: a clinicopathologic study of 6 patients with Buruli ulcer.

Two patients with Buruli ulcer (infection by Mycobacterium ulcerans) in the Foya region of Liberia have recently been reported. We describe three more patients which together with the two original patients establish the Mayor River basin as an endemic area of Buruli ulcer. We also describe a patient from the St. Paul River basin. This disease, unrecognized in Liberia before 1978, now seems to be widespread in Liberia and has been reported in neighboring Sierra Leone and observed in Ivory Coast as well. The possibility of Buruli ulcer appearing in other regions of West Africa should be anticipated. Diagnosis involves finding acid-fast bacilli in smears of the exudate from typical lesions or by finding in biopsy specimens the characteristic zone of coagulation necrosis containing acid-fast bacilli. The bacillus, Mycobacterium ulcerans, stains readily with the Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN) and Fite-Faraco (FF) procedures. Treatment is excision when the lesion is small and by debridement and grafting, combined with heat and chemotherapeutic agents when the lesion is large.

Adult↗