Madi Savadogo

Poultry farming is an important socio-economic sector in Burkina Faso. However, disease outbreaks can substantially impact livestock production, so appropriate preventive measures should be implemented. The present study aimed to assess the implementation of biosecurity measures in poultry farms in the Haut-Bassins Region, Burkina Faso. The present cross-sectional study included 79 poultry farms and used a validated questionnaire. Questions were asked of each poultry farmer through interviews, and farms were observed to verify the implementation of certain biosecurity measures, including the presence and quality of foot baths, the presence of stagnant water, the orientation of the buildings, and the presence of gates. The current results indicated that the majority of farms were managed by men (86.1%), and 45.6% of farmers had more than 10 years’ experience. Regarding farm capacity, 68.4% could house up to 10,000 poultry, and 64.6% of the reported farms had facilities that could accommodate more than 1,000 poultry. Over 59.5% of farms were located more than 300 meters away from the main road; however, 64.6% were located less than 500 meters from the nearest poultry farm. More than 97.5% of farms were enclosed by fences, and 87.3% of these fences were made from waterproof materials. On farms, 60.8% had functional footbaths, 11.4% produced poultry feed, and 92.4% were not protected against wild birds entering their airspaces. Most farms (97.5%) regularly cleaned and disinfected materials and equipment, but only 38% had suitable waste disposal practices, and 22.8% kept water waste outside the farm. The present study reported that 56.9% of farms implemented a satisfactory level of biosecurity. Farmers who attended poultry farming training were more likely to apply biosecurity practices on their farms. The present study delineated the application of biosecurity measures on farms and emphasized the importance of raising awareness about biosecurity among poultry farmers in the Haut-Bassins Region of Burkina Faso.

Background: In low‐ and middle‐income countries, meat consumption is often associated with health risks due to limited awareness of zoonotic disease transmission. Burkina Faso is not exempt from these public health threats. This study aimed to assess knowledge and practices related to meat‐borne zoonotic risks among meat consumers in Burkina Faso. Methods: A cross‐sectional descriptive and analytical survey was conducted from August to November 2022, including 849 participants. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire administered through face‐to‐face interviews. Scores were attributed to assess levels of knowledge and practices regarding zoonotic risks associated with meat handling and consumption. Statistical analysis was performed using descriptive statistics and chi‐square and Fisher's exact tests. Results: According to findings, although 90.22% acknowledged that meat could transmit zoonotic diseases to humans, only 31.22% could name at least one zoonotic disease. Poor hygiene in meat sale outlets was reported by 50.77% of respondents. Good practices, such as proper meat storage, were inconsistently reported, as 66.90% reportedly stored meat exposed to open air, and 46.29% used the same utensils for meat preparation and meal service in households. Overall, level of education, professional occupation, religion and position held in the household were significantly associated with both knowledge and practices ( p < 0.05), and participants having better knowledge were more likely to adopt safer practices ( p < 0.05). Conclusion: Despite a general awareness of meat‐related health risks, including zoonotic diseases, knowledge gaps and unsafe practices remain prevalent among consumers. Reducing meat‐borne zoonotic diseases requires shifting from general awareness to actionable, behaviour‐oriented interventions. By combining community education, improved market hygiene and multi‐sectoral collaboration, public health authorities can substantially reduce preventable exposure to zoonotic pathogens while preserving the nutritional benefits of meat consumption.

Background: The burden of viral co‐infections among COVID‐19 patients is underexplored in low‐resource settings such as Burkina Faso. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and associated factors of respiratory viral co‐infections among laboratory‐confirmed COVID‐19 patients. Methods: A cross‐sectional study was conducted from January 1 to December 31, 2023, across 13 sentinel sites in Burkina Faso. Patients presenting with influenza‐like illness or severe acute respiratory infection had nasopharyngeal and/or oropharyngeal swabs collected and tested for SARS‐CoV‐2 and other respiratory viruses using multiplex real‐time RT‐PCR. Descriptive statistics, univariate, and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify predictors of viral co‐infections. Results: Among 201 SARS‐CoV‐2‐positive patients enrolled (median age: 1 year; interquartile range: 0.5–7). Co‐infections was identified in 48.8% (95% CI: 41.8–55.6) of cases and a single co‐infections was detected in 33.8% (95% CI: 27.5–40.6) of patients. Human rhinovirus (17.9%), adenovirus (14.4%), respiratory syncytial virus (11.4%), and influenza A/B (9.9%) were most frequently detected. In multivariate analysis, children aged 6 months to 14 years had higher odds of co‐infection (aOR 2.7; 95% CI: 1.2–5.9; p = 0.013). Fever (aOR 2.6; 95% CI: 1.3–5.5; p = 0.008) and hospitalization (aOR 4.3; 95% CI: 1.6–12.0; p = 0.005) were also independently associated with co‐infection. Conclusion: Viral co‐infections were frequent among SARS‐CoV‐2 positive patients, particularly in children and hospitalized individuals. Strengthening multiplex diagnostic capacity and integrated respiratory virus surveillance in resource‐limited settings may improve clinical management and inform public health response strategies.

Background: Influenza is a major cause of acute respiratory infections worldwide. In tropical regions such as Sub‐Saharan Africa, influenza circulates year‐round with irregular peaks, yet genomic data guiding prevention strategies remain limited. This study characterized the genetic diversity and seasonal dynamics of influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 and A(H3N2) viruses circulating in Burkina Faso in 2024. Methods: A cross‐sectional study was conducted from January to December 2024, including seven sentinel surveillance sites. Patients presenting with influenza‐like illness or severe acute respiratory illness were enrolled. Respiratory specimens were tested by real‐time RT‐PCR. Influenza‐positive samples with a cycle threshold ≤ 30 underwent whole‐genome sequencing using Oxford Nanopore and Illumina platforms. Phylogenetic analyses and clade assignment were performed using MEGA Version 12. Results: Out of 2951 samples tested, 6.74% were positive for influenza viruses. Females had higher odds of influenza positivity than males (OR = 1.48; 95% CI: 1.11–1.98). A significantly higher risk of positivity was observed in the age groups of 5–15 years (OR = 1.67; 95% CI: 1.07–2.52; p = 0.02) and 25–50 years (OR = 2.54; 95% CI: 1.53–4.03; p < 0.001). Influenza A(H3N2) peaked in July, while A(H1N1)pdm09 peaked in October. Phylogenetic analysis of 43 genomes revealed co‐circulation of multiple clades within both subtypes. Conclusion: Influenza A viruses circulating in Burkina Faso in 2024 showed substantial genetic diversity, underscoring the need for continuous genomic surveillance to inform vaccine strain selection and public health strategies in tropical Africa.

Rabies is recognized among the top five priority zoonotic diseases in Burkina Faso. As in other endemic countries around the world, implementing the One Health approach is a best way towards rabies control. In 2022, Burkina Faso adopted a national strategic plan (NSP) with the aim of advancing collaborative efforts towards the elimination of domestic dog-mediated human rabies by 2030. The first two years following the adoption of this strategic plan were characterized by a low level of commitment from involved stakeholders and unsuccessful implementation due to a wide range of constraints that those stakeholders are facing. To review the ongoing strategy with these stakeholders, a multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) approach has been proposed to establish a prioritization of interventions. Participatory workshops joined relevant 45 institutional and community stakeholders (22 participants for human health group, 23 participants in animal health group, 45 participants for the plenary session) involved in animal and human rabies control, as well as actors from other sectors or civil society. The method was applied in parallel in two groups centred around sectoral participants from human and animal health, then combined through discussions in plenary sessions. Overall, 41 interventions were selected, related to data collection and analysis, prevention and control, laboratory diagnosis, dog population management, advocacy and public awareness, and cross-cutting issues. Seven analysis criteria were defined by the stakeholders, related to rabies elimination, strategic and operational aspects, One Health capacity development, and social impact. The results revealed distinct prioritization between the sectoral groups. However, a relative agreement could be highlighted on the importance ascribed to a set of cross-sectoral interventions, including harmonization of procedures for surveillance, data sharing as well as prevention and control. Accordingly, interventions perceived as sector-specific were attributed with the lowest scores. The results of the study inform decision-makers regarding the interventions that are best supported by implementing stakeholders, hence showing the potential for increased their ownership, commitment, and eventually efficacy.

Influenza and COVID-19 remain major public health concerns due to their high morbidity, mortality, and epidemic potential. The COVID-19 pandemic notably disrupted health and economic systems worldwide in 2020. Despite reduced global attention, these pathogens continue to circulate, and emerging disease resurgence remains a constant threat, emphasizing the importance of ongoing epidemiological and virological surveillance. This study aimed to describe year-long surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 and influenza viruses in post-pandemic Burkina Faso. A prospective cross-sectional survey was conducted from January to December 2023 in sentinel surveillance sites across four regions. Patients with influenza-like illness (ILI), severe acute respiratory infection (SARI), and their contacts were recruited. Nasopharyngeal or oropharyngeal swabs were collected and tested for influenza and SARS-CoV-2 using real-time RT-PCR. Socio-demographic and clinical data were obtained from medical records or interviews. Among 3,311 samples, 11.41% tested positive for influenza and 6.07% for SARS-CoV-2. Influenza A viruses predominated (90.21%), followed by type B (7.79%). Of all participants, 68.4% were ILI and 31.6% SARI cases. Influenza A was more common among ILI patients. Two influenza waves were observed, during the dry/cold season (February–March) and the end of the rainy season (October). Children were most affected by influenza, while SARS-CoV-2 was more frequent among adolescents and adults. Influenza and SARS-CoV-2 were significantly present in ILI and SARI cases. Targeted vaccination for high-risk groups and during peak influenza seasons could enhance prevention and reduce disease burden.

Contexte : Les zoonoses constituent un défi majeur pour le développement des productions animales, le commerce international, la sécurité sanitaire des aliments et la santé publique dans le monde. L'approche « Une seule santé » promeut l’intégration et la complémentarité entre les secteurs de la santé humaine, de la santé animale et de l’environnement. Elle est essentielle pour le développement de systèmes de santé capable de prévenir, détecter précocement et riposter rapidement contre les menaces de la sécurité sanitaire dont les zoonoses. L’objectif de cette étude était d’évaluer les connaissances et les pratiques des professionnels en charge de la santé humaine, de la santé animale et de l’environnement sur les défis de la sécurité sanitaire ainsi que sur l’approche One Health. Méthodes : Il s’est agi d’une enquête transversale à visée descriptive et analytique conduite auprès de 362 professionnels. Les analyses statistiques ont été effectuées avec le logiciel R. Résultats : La rage et l'Influenza aviaire hautement pathogène étaient les zoonoses les mieux connues par les acteurs. Par ailleurs, la régression logistique a montré que le profil, l'expérience, la connaissance des maladies et de l’approche One Health étaient des facteurs influençant les pratiques en matière de gestion d’évènements sanitaires ou zoosanitaires (p<0,05). Conclusion : Pour améliorer la gestion des risques sanitaires et assurer une sécurité sanitaire durable, il est primordial d’associer aux formations techniques sectorielles, des compétences transversales essentielles à la pratique de l’approche One Health.

Background and Aim: Canine rabies is an endemic form of zoonosis and represents a major public health threat in Guinea, similar to other African countries. However, few investigations on the epidemiology of rabies in animals and humans have been conducted, and evidence-based data required to inform health policies remain inadequate. This study was conducted to update our knowledge of human dog-mediated rabies epidemiology and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) accessibility-related factors in Guinea. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study, conducted from January 2018 to December 2020, collected data on animal bite cases, veterinary observations, rabies diagnoses through fluorescent antibody test, and PEP delivery from three veterinary and medical entities. Statistical analysis utilized Chi-square test and Fisher’s exact test to evaluate relationships between variables. Results: An average of 775 bites was recorded annually, and dogs were responsible for 98% of bites. However, only 64% of the biting dogs were under veterinary observation as required for integrated bite case management. Regarding the geographical distribution of bite cases, the entire country was affected, with the highest number of bites recorded in the prefectures of Nzérékoré and the special zone of Conakry. In addition, the laboratory diagnosis of brain samples from biting dogs indicated that 72% of the samples were rabies-positive. However, regarding prevention, only 58% of the bitten individuals received full PEP. Conclusion: Improving disease surveillance and PEP provision for dog-transmitted rabies is crucial to preventing human cases and deaths. Increasing community awareness is essential for enhancing dog vaccination and PEP utilization. A national action plan integrating stakeholders for controlling canine rabies should be developed for effective One Health collaboration. Keywords: animal bite management, cats, cattle, dogs, fluorescent antibody test, Guinea, humans, monkeys, rabies.