10.17037/DATA.00002018
In 2018/19, Eastern Sudan experienced the largest epidemic of CHIKV in Africa to date, affecting an estimated 487,600 people. Known locally as Kankasha, this study examines the clinical characteristics, risk factors, and phylogenetics of the CHIKV A prospective cohort of 102 adults and 40 children were enrolled at Kassala Teaching Hospital in October 2018. Clinical information, socio-demographic data, and sera samples were analysed to confirm diagnosis, characterise illness, and identify viral strain. CHIKV infection was confirmed by real-time reverse transcription-PCR in 84.5% (120/142) of participants. Nine had concurrent CHIKV/Dengue virus (DENV) infection; 28.8% had a positive Rapid Diagnostic Test for Plasmodium falciparum. Five percent had haemorrhagic symptoms including two children with life-threatening haemorrhage. One CHIKV-positive participant died with acute renal injury. Age was not associated with severity of illness though CHIKV-infected participants were younger (p=0.003). Two to four months post-illness, 63% of adults available for follow-up (30) were still experiencing arthralgia in one or more joints, and 11% remained moderately disabled using Rapid3 assessment. Phylogenetic analysis showed all CHIKV cases identified belonged to a single clade within the Indian Ocean Lineage (IOL) of the East/Central/South African (ECSA) genotype. History of contact with an infected person was the only factor associated with infection (p=0.01), suggesting vector transmission in households is important.
A quantitative dataset containing information on 142 patients (102 adults and 40 children) enrolled at Kassala Teaching Hospital in October 2018. It was collected as part of “Kankasha” in Kassala, a prospective observational cohort study of the clinical characteristics, epidemiology, genetic origin, and chronic impact of the 2018 epidemic of Chikungunya virus infection in Kassala, Sudan.
Anonymised data may be requested for use in ethically approved research, subject to the signing of a Data Transfer Agreement. Researchers wishing to analyse the data should submit a list of variables that they wish to access. The list will be reviewed and additional processing performed where necessary to protect participant identity.
The study was a prospective hospital-based observational cohort of consecutive patients presenting to the Kassala Teaching Hospital medical and paediatrics outpatient departments between 10th and 16th October 2018. Recruitment criteria were individuals of any age or sex with symptoms consistent with the KTH case definition for Chikungunya, namely history of fever or a measured fever of >37.5oC (tympanic), and at least three of the following clinical features: headache, anorexia, lethargy, aching muscles or joints, breathing difficulties, vomiting, diarrhoea, stomach pain, difficulty swallowing, and hiccups, or bleeding of any kind. Patients with a positive malaria RDT were enrolled if they fit the study syndrome in case of co-infection. Participants were enrolled at presentation and blood samples taken immediately. Epidemiological information, clinical symptoms at presentation and subsequent laboratory results were recorded on standardised pro-formas (Supporting Information 1). The follow-up component took place 70-120 days after enrolment (Jan-Feb 2019) depending on the availability of participants. Adults who responded to phone follow-up provided convalescent samples and completed the WHO-validated Routine Assessment of Patient Index Data 3 (RAPID3) disability and pain survey.30 Children were not asked to return due to common reluctance to allow blood-draw from healthy children, but outcome and duration of hospital stay were confirmed with parents by phone. All contactable participants were given their PCR test results.
Questionnaire, Field observation, Lab observation
Chikungunya, Clinical presentation, Genetic sequencing, Diagnostics, Sudan, Chikungunya infection, Kankasha, CHIKV
Bower, H, el Karsany, M, Adam, Abd Alhadi Adam Hussein, Idriss, MI, Alzain, MA, Alfakiyousif, MEA, Mohamed, R, Mahmoud, I, Albadri, O, Mahmoud, SAA, Abdalla, OI, Eldigail, M, Elagib, N, Arnold, U, Gutierrez8, B, Pybus, OG, Carter, DP, Pullan, ST, Jacob, ST, Abdallah, TM, Gannon, B and Fletcher, TE
el Karsany, M (Principal Investigator), Fletcher, TE (Principal Investigator) and Gannon, B (Co-Investigator)
| Project title | Project | Funder | Grant number |
| Kankasha in Kassala: a prospective observational cohort study of the clinical characteristics, epidemiology, genetic origin, and chronic impact of the 2018 epidemic of Chikungunya virus infection in Kassala, Sudan | UK Public Health Rapid Support Team Research | DHSC Overseas Development Aid | RRT-1015-001 |
| Filename | Description | Access status | Licence |
| KAS_dataset | Tabular dataset containing information collected on 142 who received treatment. Consult codebook for information | Controlled | Data Transfer Agreement |
| KAS_dataset_codebook | Codebook for KAS dataset | Open | Creative Commons Attribution (CCBY) |
| UFOS_Case_Report_Form | Aetiology of severe undifferentiated febrile illness outbreaks in Sudan Case Report Form (v 21.12.17) | Open | Creative Commons Attribution (CCBY) |
| CHKV_follow-up_form | CHKV follow-up form | Open | Creative Commons Attribution (CCBY) |
| UFOS_ConsentForm_adult | UFOS – Consent form for adult participants | Open | Creative Commons Attribution (CCBY) |
| UFOS_participantInfoSheet | UFOS – Participant Information Sheet | Open | Creative Commons Attribution (CCBY) |
| KAS_UserGuide | User guide for KAS dataset (this document) | Open | Creative Commons Attribution (CCBY) |