EVD is a major threat to child health, especially among children under 5 years of age. To date, none of demographic and clinical features, except younger age, have been consistently shown to affect mortality outcome in children infected with Ebola virus. What is Known: • The 2014-2015 West Africa Ebola epidemic is the largest and most widespread outbreak of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in history, with more than 11,000 deaths in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. • During ongoing outbreak investigations, it is suggested that young children aged less than 5 years are particularly vulnerable and highly susceptible to death. What is New: • Demographic and clinical characteristics of the nationwide cohort of pediatric patients with laboratory-confirmed EVD in Guinea are reported. • The results confirm the high rate of death among EVD children under 5 years of age, while none of demographic and clinical features, except younger age, could serve as a predictor of mortality outcome in pediatric patients with EVD.

Background Pyrethroid resistance poses a major threat to the efficacy of insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) in Burkina Faso and throughout sub-Saharan Africa, particularly where resistance is present at high intensity. For such areas, there are alternative ITNs available, including the synergist piperonyl butoxide (PBO)-based ITNs and dual active ingredient ITNs such as Interceptor G2 (treated with chlorfenapyr and alpha-cypermethrin). Before deploying alternative ITNs on a large scale it is crucial to characterize the resistance profiles of primary malaria vector species for evidence-based decision making. Methods Larvae from the predominant vector, Anopheles gambiae sensu lato (s.l.) were collected from 15 sites located throughout Burkina Faso and reared to adults for bioassays to assess insecticide resistance status. Resistance intensity assays were conducted using WHO tube tests to determine the level of resistance to pyrethroids commonly used on ITNs at 1×, 5 × and 10 × times the diagnostic dose. WHO tube tests were also used for PBO synergist bioassays with deltamethrin and permethrin. Bottle bioassays were conducted to determine susceptibility to chlorfenapyr at a dose of 100 µg/bottle. Results WHO tube tests revealed high intensity resistance in An. gambiae s.l. to deltamethrin and alpha-cypermethrin in all sites tested. Resistance intensity to permethrin was either moderate or high in 13 sites. PBO pre-exposure followed by deltamethrin restored full susceptibility in one site and partially restored susceptibility in all but one of the remaining sites (often reaching mortality greater than 80%). PBO pre-exposure followed by permethrin partially restored susceptibility in 12 sites. There was no significant increase in permethrin mortality after PBO pre-exposure in Kampti, Karangasso-Vigué or Mangodara; while in Seguenega, Orodara and Bobo-Dioulasso there was a significant increase in mortality, but rates remained below 50%. Susceptibility to chlorfenapyr was confirmed in 14 sites. Conclusion High pyrethroid resistance intensity in An. gambiae s.l. is widespread across Burkina Faso and may be a predictor of reduced pyrethroid ITN effectiveness. PBO + deltamethrin ITNs would likely provide greater control than pyrethroid nets. However, since susceptibility in bioassays was not restored in most sites following pre-exposure to PBO, Interceptor G2 may be a better long-term solution as susceptibility was recorded to chlorfenapyr in nearly all sites. This study provides evidence supporting the introduction of both Interceptor G2 nets and PBO nets, which were distributed in Burkina Faso in 2019 as part of a mass campaign.

Neonatal mortality remains very high in Mali. Health authorities should take measures to decentralize the care of sick newborns in order to reduce neonatal mortality in Mali.

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RESUME L'usage d'insecticides botaniques comme alternatives aux insecticides chimiques constitue une piste prometteuse pour contrôler les ravageurs avec très peu de risque sur la santé humaine et l'environnement. L'objectif de ce travail était d'évaluer in vitro l'effet insecticide et anti appétant des huiles essentielles de Cymbopogon citratus DC et d'Ocimum canum Sims contre Cylas puncticollis Boheman, principal ravageur de la patate douce. Les tests de laboratoire ont été conduits pour déterminer l'effet insecticide par fumigation de ces huiles en fonction du temps et à différentes concentrations. Les résultats obtenus ont montré que les huiles essentielles de O. canum et C. citratus possèdent de remarquables potentiels insecticides contre Cylas puncticollis. Elles ont induit 100% de mortalité de C. puncticollis Boheman adultes à la concentration de 50 µL/L après 72 h d'exposition. Les concentrations létales causant respectivement la mort de 50% (CL 50) et 90% (CL 90) des populations testées, ont été déterminées pour chacune des huiles essentielles. L'huile essentielle de O. canum a été plus efficace avec des valeurs respectives de CL 50 = 19,77 µL/L et CL 90 = 68,22 µL/L par rapport à C. citratus (CL 50 = 33,87 µL/L et CL 90 = 72,22 µL/L). Les deux huiles essentielles ont révélé un effet anti appétant se traduisant par la réduction de la consommation des racines de la patate douce comparativement au témoin. D'après ces résultats, les huiles essentielles de ces plantes aromatiques peuvent être utilisées dans la lutte contre les ravageurs de stocks de la patate douce. Cependant, son utilisation en plein champ pourrait être envisagée pour confirmer ces résultats.