Ivory Coast
On 14 August 2021, The Ministry of Health of Cote d’Ivoire confirmed the countrys first case of Ebola since 1994. This came after the Institut Pasteur in Cote dIvoire confirmed the Ebola Virus Disease in samples collected from a patient, who was hospitalized in the commercial capital of Abidjan, after arriving from Guinea.However, on 31 August 2021, the WHO found that, after further tests in a laboratory in Lyon, the patient did not have Ebola. The cause of her disease is still being analyzed. 2022
On 23 April 2022, a case of Ebola was confirmed in the DRC in the Equateur province. The case was a 31-year-old man whose symptoms began on 5 April, but did not seek treatment for over a week. On 21 April, he was admitted to an Ebola treatment centre and died later that day. By 24 May 2022, there were 5 recorded deaths in the DRC. On 15 August, the fifth case was buried, and the outbreak was declared over, 42 days after, on 4 July 2022. In September 2022, Uganda reported 7 cases infected with the Ebola Sudan strain. Society and culture
Weaponisation
Ebolavirus is classified as a biosafety level 4 agent, as well as a Category A bioterrorism agent by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It has the potential to be weaponised for use in biological warfare, and was investigated by Biopreparat for such use, but might be difficult to prepare as a weapon of mass destruction because the virus becomes ineffective quickly in open air.
Serrated polyposis syndrome (SPS), previously known as hyperplastic polyposis syndrome, is a disorder characterized by the appearance of serrated polyps in the colon. While serrated polyposis syndrome does not cause symptoms, the condition is associated with a higher risk of colorectal cancer (CRC). The lifelong risk of CRC is between 25 and 40%. SPS is the most common polyposis syndrome affecting the colon, but is under recognized due to a lack of systemic long term monitoring. Diagnosis requires colonoscopy, and is defined by the presence of either of two criteria: ≥5 serrated lesions/polyps proximal to the rectum (all ≥ 5 mm in size, with two lesions ≥10 mm), or >20 serrated lesions/polyps of any size distributed throughout the colon with 5 proximal to the rectum.A family history of SPS and smoking tobacco are associated with a higher risk of serrated polyposis syndrome, whereas the use of aspirin and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are associated with a lower risk. While the only validated genetic cause of SPS is RNF43, additional important genetic abnormalities include BRAF mutations, abnormal CpG island methylator phenotype, and microsatellite instability. However, most individuals with the syndrome do not have an associated germline mutation. The types of polyps found in SPS include sessile serrated adenomas/polyps, traditional serrated adenomas, and hyperplastic polyps. SPS occurs in 2 phenotypes: proximal and distal. Proximal SPS has a greater risk of CRC than distal SPS. The vast majority of cases may be managed with colonoscopy with removal polyps (polypectomy).