Causes of fever in Gabon Epidemiology and interventions

Fever is a key sign or symptom exhibited during infectious diseases.
This research project aimed to assess the causes of fever and to contribute to the development of medicines for two locally important infectious diseases: malaria and ebola virus disease. Despite the diversity of pathogens encountered, malaria is still by far the first cause of feverish illnesses leading to hospitalizations in Gabon.
Integrating the burden of malaria, it was imperative to remain devoted to optimising its curative treatment. we performed a meta-analysis on the clinical development of a potential antimalarial drug, fosmidomycin, which was found safe well-tolerated, despite some hematologic adverse events that need to be monitored.
Beyond the curative aspect, we studied preventive measures by vaccines by reading through the chronological history of The RTS, S vaccine clinical development by doing a systematic review covering all phases 1, 2, and 3. Efficacy phase 2 trials showed improved immune responses and protection whilst the Phase 3 trial allowed to see that RTS, S/AS01 induced a higher vaccine efficacy when administered to children aged 5–17 months.
Also in the field of vaccines for the prevention of serious febrile infections; during the largest outbreak ever which occurred in West Africa, our work at CERMEL served to evaluate, in phase 1 randomized trial, the safety and immunogenicity of rVSV-ZEBOV-GP ebola in adults and children (first pediatric cohort) in Lambaréné. Our results and other findings show that this vaccine is safe and immunogenic at the dose of 2x107 PFU in adults.