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Case study

Emergence of a febrile illness of unknown causes among the population and visitors of Upper Egypt

Emergence of a febrile illness of unknown causes among the population and visitors of Upper Egypt

Maged Mounir Ibrahim1, Afreenish Hassan Amir2, Ricardo Strauss3, Muhammad Asif Syed4, Eva Mertens3,5,&

 

1Central Laboratory for Evaluation of Veterinary Biologics (CLEVB), Agriculture Research Center (ARC), Cairo, Egypt, 2National Institutes of Health, Islamabad, Pakistan, 3Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Bernhard-Nocht-Strasse 74, 20359 Hamburg, Germany, 4Field Epidemiology Laboratory Training Program (FELTP) Pakistan, Islamabad, Pakistan, 5Global Partnership Initiated Biosecurity Academia for Controlling Health Threats (GIBACHT), Hamburg, Germany

 

 

&Corresponding author
Eva Mertens, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Bernhard-Nocht-Strasse 74, 20359 Hamburg, Germany

 

 

Abstract

This is a fictional case study for training that encourages participants to interact and apply theory into practice. A febrile illness of unknown cause that occurred in Upper Egypt in 2002 was chosen for the events. The location of Aswan was selected to define the climate, topography, and location with the characteristics that support the events. Data obtained from applied research work in Egypt was included. The case study deals with the incidence of severe cases of fever of unknown origin accompanied by neurological and intestinal symptoms, as well as a high percentage of deaths. Most of the symptoms appear in people with direct contact with farm animals especially equines and birds, or those who were near waterways, either tourism workers or tourists. Most of the infected cases or deaths have accumulated in Aswan and some in the neighbouring governorates. This case study focusses on the steps taken during an outbreak investigation, and deals with investigative challenges as well as concepts of biosafety and biosecurity.

 

 

How to use this case study    Down

General instructions: this is a fictional case study and some of its real data was obtained from an applied research work and investigations in Egypt [1]. The details of the original research work have been modified to enhance learning objectives and support the instructional goal. Fifteen (15) participants should be matched to two facilitators in a training room, preferably at a round table. Each participant should be issued a copy of the case study prior to its implementation. The facilitator guide remains with the facilitator. The facilitator introduces the learning objectives of the case study and materials that participants should have at hand before starting the case study. Participants take turns to read the case scenario and the questions or tasks that follow. The participants then discuss and attempt to provide the answer to the question. The facilitator should stimulate participants to discuss and arrive at the correct responses.

Audience: health care providers, epidemiologists, clinicians, undergraduate/ postgraduate students and public health professionals.

Prerequisites: before using this case study, participants should have received lectures or other instruction in outbreak investigation.

Materials: note book, pen, flipcharts, chart papers, markers, calculators and laptops.

Level of training and associated public health activity: Novice - Outbreak investigation

Time required: the expected time for the case study is about 3 hours

Language: English

 

 

Case study material Up    Down

 

 

Competing interests Up    Down

The authors declare no competing interests.

 

 

Acknowledgement Up    Down

The authors wish to acknowledge the Global Partnership Initiated Academia for Controlling Health Threats (GIBACHT) and their funding body, the German Federal Foreign Office, for their support in developing this case study.

 

 

References Up    Down

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