• Yokouide Allaranga, Mamadou Lamine Kone, Pierre Formenty, Francois Libama, Paul Boumandouki, Celia J I Woodfill, Idrissa Sow, Sambe Duale, Wondimagegnehu Alemu, and Adamou Yada.
• WHO, Regional office for Africa, Brazzaville, Congo. allarangary@gw.afro.who.int
• East Afr J Public Health. 2010 Mar 1;7(1):30-6.

ObjectiveTo review epidemiological surveillance approaches used during Ebola and Marburg hemorrhagic fever epidemics in Africa in the past fifteen years. Overall, 26 hemorrhagic epidemic outbreaks have been registered in 12 countries; 18 caused by the Ebola virus and eight by the Marburg virus. About 2551 cases have been reported, among which 268 were health workers (9,3%).MethodsBased on articles and epidemic management reports, this review analyses surveillance approaches, route of introduction of the virus into the population (urban and rural), the collaboration between the human health sector and the wildlife sector and factors that have affected epidemic management.FindingsSeveral factors affecting the epidemiological surveillance during Ebola and Marburg viruses hemorrhagic epidemics have been observed. During epidemics in rural settings, outbreak investigations have shown multiple introductions of the virus into the human population through wildlife. In contrast, during epidemics in urban settings a single introduction of the virus in the community was responsible for the epidemic. Active surveillance is key to containing outbreaks of Ebola and Marburg virusesConclusionsCollaboration with those in charge of the conservation of wildlife is essential for the early detection of viral hemorrhagic fever epidemics. Hemorrhagic fever epidemics caused by Ebola and Marburg viruses are occurring more and more frequently in Sub-Saharan Africa and only an adapted epidemiological surveillance system will allow for early detection and effective response.

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