Characterizing risk of Ebola transmission based on frequency and type of case–contact exposures

Laura A. Skrip*, Mosoka P. Fallah, Stephen G. Gaffney, Rami Yaari, Dan Yamin, Amit Huppert, Luke Bawo, Tolbert Nyenswah, Alison P. Galvani

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

9 Scopus citations

Abstract

During the initial months of the 2013–2016 Ebola epidemic, rapid geographical dissemination and intense transmission challenged response efforts across West Africa. Contextual behaviours associated with increased risk of exposure included travel to high-transmission settings, caring for sick and preparing the deceased for traditional funerals. Although such behaviours are widespread in West Africa, high-transmission pockets were observed. Superspreading and clustering are typical phenomena in infectious disease outbreaks, as a relatively small number of transmission chains are often responsible for the majority of events. Determining the characteristics of contacts at greatest risk of developing disease and of cases with greatest transmission potential could therefore help curb propagation of infection. Our analysis of contact tracing data from Montserrado County, Liberia, suggested that the probability of transmission was 4.5 times higher for individuals who were reported as having contact with multiple cases. The probability of individuals developing disease was not significantly associated with age or sex of their source case but was higher when they were in the same household as the infectious case. Surveillance efforts for rapidly identifying symptomatic individuals and effectively messaged campaigns encouraging household members to bring the sick to designated treatment centres without administration of home care could mitigate transmission. This article is part of the themed issue ‘The 2013–2016 West African Ebola epidemic: data, decision-making and disease control’.

Original languageEnglish
Article number20160301
JournalPhilosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
Volume372
Issue number1721
DOIs
StatePublished - 26 May 2017

Funding

FundersFunder number
MIDASU01GM087719
National Institutes of HealthU01 GM15627
National Institute of General Medical SciencesU01GM105627
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious DiseasesT32AI007404

    Keywords

    • Contact tracing
    • Ebola virus disease
    • Infectious disease transmission
    • Targeted intervention
    • West Africa

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