Summary
Ebola, in recent months, has emerged as a major health hazard to the world populace. African countries such as Liberia and Sierra Leone are affected by this contagion. This epidemic is likely to become a momentous global event. Critical global response is needed to deal with this tribulation. According to the WHO, Liberia and Sierra Leone reported growing Ebola incidence of 0.49 percent.
Hordes of Ebola cases are not reported. This implies underreporting with reference to this ailment. At present, this disease has infected 14,000 people. This ailment is likely to infect 1.4 million people in Liberia and Sierra Leone by January 2015.
In Liberia, approximately 263 people die every week due to this ailment. Compared to this, malaria contributes to the death of 140 persons. It is apparent that Ebola has the potency to affect large numbers of people (Michaud & Kates, 2014).
Relevance to global health policy
Paucity of data has affected the capability of global health policy makers to prepare for the Ebola contagion. In all probability, medical experts have miscalculated the impact of Ebola on the world population. Global health professionals need to obtain precise data concerning the potency of Ebola. It is imperative that the WHO gives guidance to the government and non-governmental organizations to deal with this predicament.
Dearth of a pertinent policy is expected to affect large numbers of people in the world (Michaud & Kates, 2014). Ebola virus has affected the African countries. In the near future, it is likely to extend to other parts of the world. It is vital to create a suitable global health strategy to deal with Ebola.
The U.S. government & global emerging infectious disease preparedness and response
Summary
Emerging infectious disease (EID) has appeared as a major health-related tribulation for the US and the world community. In the 1980s, EID such as HIV/AIDS contributed to the death of 39 million people. This disease affected 79 million people in varied parts of the world. The American and world population have discerned EIDs such as mad cow disease, bird flu, SARS, and MERS.
Swine flu led to the bereavement of more than 200,000 people, and it distressed the world community. Global health leaders have comprehended the need to report and prevent EIDs. To achieve this object, International Health Regulations (IHRs) have been executed. These rules oblige governments to report EIDs to the international community.
Governments are also compelled to implement measures to restrain their expansion to other regions of the world. Simultaneously, factors such as poverty and lack of healthcare technology have affected the wherewithal of underdeveloped countries to take effectual measures to deal with this challenge (Kaiser Family Foundation, 2014).
Relevance to global health policy
Since the 1990s, the U.S. government has made substantial investment to identify and report EIDs. Agencies such as Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), USAID, and DoD are active in reporting and averting the spread of EID (Kaiser Family Foundation, 2014).
The U.S. has initiated measures to impede the proliferation of EIDs in the country. At the same time, it is imperative for American healthcare institutes to work closely with the global health organizations to deal with this distress.
References
Michaud, J., & Kates, J. (2014). Measuring the impact of Ebola: Will it reach 1.4 million?. Web.
Kaiser Family Foundation. (2014). The U.S. government & global emerging infectious disease preparedness and response. Web.