1.External quality assessment for arbovirus diagnostics in the World Health Organization Western Pacific Region, 2013–2016: improving laboratory quality over the years
Mohammad Yazid Abdad ; Raynal Squires ; Sebastien Cognat ; Christopher John Oxenford ; Frank Konings
Western Pacific Surveillance and Response 2017;8(3):27-30
Arboviruses continue to pose serious public health threats in the World Health Organization (WHO) Western Pacific Region. As such, laboratories need to be equipped for their accurate detection. In 2011, to ensure test proficiency, the WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific piloted an external quality assessment (EQA) programme for arbovirus diagnostics. By 2016, it had grown into a global programme with participation of 96 laboratories worldwide, including 25 laboratories from 19 countries, territories and areas in the Region. The test performance of the 25 laboratories in the Region in 2016 was high with 23 (92%) reporting correct results in all specimens for dengue and chikungunya viruses. For Zika virus, 18 (72%) of the 25 laboratories reported correct results in all specimens, while seven (28%) demonstrated at least one error. When comparing iterations of this EQA programme in the Region between 2013 and 2016, the number of participating laboratories increased from 18 to 25. The first round only included dengue virus, while the latest round additionally included chikungunya, Zika and yellow fever viruses. Proficiency for molecular detection of dengue virus remained high (83–94%) over the four-year period. The observed proficiency for arbovirus diagnostics between 2013 and 2016 is an indicator of laboratory quality improvement in the Region.
3.Surveillance of avian influenza viruses in Papua New Guinean poultry, June 2011 to April 2012
Jonduo Marinjho ; Wong Sook-San ; Kapo Nime ; Ominipi Paskalis ; Abdad Mohammad ; Siba Peter ; McKenzie Pamela ; Webby Richard ; Horwood Paul
Western Pacific Surveillance and Response 2013;4(4):11-15
We investigated the circulation of avian influenza viruses in poultry populations throughout Papua New Guinea to assess the risk to the poultry industry and human health. Oropharyngeal swabs, cloacal swabs and serum were collected from 537 poultry from 14 provinces of Papua New Guinea over an 11–month period (June 2011 through April 2012). Virological and serological investigations were undertaken to determine the prevalence of avian influenza viruses. Neither influenza A viruses nor antibodies were detected in any of the samples. This study demonstrated that avian influenza viruses were not circulating at detectable levels in poultry populations in Papua New Guinea during the sampling period. However, avian influenza remains a significant risk to Papua New Guinea due to the close proximity of countries having previously reported highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses and the low biosecurity precautions associated with the rearing of most poultry populations in the country.
4.Towards elimination of yaws in Papua New Guinea
Wendy Houinei ; Regina A. Wangnapi ; James Wangi ; Mohammad Yazid Abdad ; Michael Marks ; Lucy N. John ; Sibauk V. Bieb ; Oriol Mitja
Papua New Guinea medical journal 2016;59(3-4):137-146
Yaws is a chronic infectious disease caused by Treponema pallidum subsp. pertenue, which causes disease of the skin, bones and joints and is spread by skin-to-skin contact. Most cases are seen in young children living in rural remote communities in coastal areas. A major campaign to eradicate yaws between 1953 and 1958, by mass treatment of affected communities with long-acting, injectable penicillin, reduced the number of cases by 95% in Papua New Guinea (PNG), but yaws has reappeared in recent years. In the period 2008- 2015 PNG reported >25,000 cases per year, and the country is currently home to about 40% of all the cases of yaws in the world. In 2012, one oral dose of azithromycin was shown to be as effective as intramuscular penicillin in the treatment of the disease, and the World Health Organization launched a new initiative to eradicate yaws by 2020. The new treatment policy recommends mass azithromycin treatment of the entire population in endemic areas. Continued vigilance for the development of macrolide resistance in T. pallidum ssp. pertenue will be important as the drug is introduced into public health practice.
5.A large outbreak of shigellosis commencing in an internally displaced population, Papua New Guinea, 2013
Benny Edwin ; Mesere Kelly ; Pavlin Boris ; Yakam Logan ; Ford Rebecca ; Yoannes Mition ; Kisa Debbie ; Abdad Mohammad Y ; Menda Lincoln ; Greenhill Andrew R ; Horwood Paul F
Western Pacific Surveillance and Response 2014;5(3):18-21
Objective:The objective of this study was to investigate a large outbreak of shigellosis in Papua New Guinea that began in a camp for internally displaced persons before spreading throughout the general community.Methods:Outbreak mitigation strategies were implemented in the affected area to curtail the spread of the disease. Data were collected from the surveillance system and analysed by time, place and person. Rectal swab samples were tested by standard culture methods and real-time polymerase chain reaction to determine the etiology of the outbreak.Results:Laboratory analysis at two independent institutions established that the outbreak was caused by
7.Diarrhoeal disease surveillance in Papua New Guinea: findings and challenges
Mohammad Yazid Abdad ; Kevin Soli ; Bang Pham ; Grace Bande ; Tobias Maure ; Marinjo Jonduo ; Debbie Kisa ; Glennis Rai ; Suparat Phuanukoonnon ; Paul Horwood ; Andrew Greenhill
Western Pacific Surveillance and Response 2020;11(1):7-12
Abstract
Diarrhoeal diseases are among the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in the Western Pacific Region. However, data on the major causes of infectious diarrhoea are limited in many countries within the Region, including Papua New Guinea. In 2013–2014, we conducted surveillance for acute diarrhoeal illness in four provinces in Papua New Guinea. One rural health clinic from each province participated in the surveillance activity. Samples were sent to central laboratories and batch analysed for bacterial and viral gastrointestinal pathogens that are commonly associated with diarrhoea. Across the four sites, the most commonly detected pathogens were Shigella spp., Campylobacter spp. and rotavirus. In this paper, we report the results of the surveillance activity and the challenges that we faced. The lessons learnt may be applicable to other parts of the Region with a similar socioeconomic status.