Introduction
The West Africa Ebola Outbreak of 2014-2016 was the largest Ebola virus outbreak in history, affecting multiple countries in West Africa. This outbreak, which began in Guinea in December 2013 and spread to Sierra Leone, Liberia, Nigeria, and Senegal, resulted in more than 28,000 confirmed cases, with over 11,000 deaths (CDC, 2017). The outbreak was officially declared over on June 9, 2016, after two full incubation periods had passed without any new cases. The outbreak was caused by the Zaire strain of the Ebola virus, the most deadly of the five known strains. According to the CDC (2017), the virus is spread primarily through contact with bodily fluids from an infected person, and the high mortality rate of the virus (up to 90%) heightened the outbreak’s severity.
Epidemiological Determinants and Risk Factors
The exact origin of the virus is unknown. However, several epidemiological determinants and risk factors are believed to have contributed to the outbreak. These include a lack of public health infrastructure, insufficient access to healthcare facilities, poor surveillance systems, and inadequate public health preparedness. Additionally, high poverty levels, overcrowded living conditions, and low levels of education contributed to an increased risk of the virus spreading. Other risk factors included the presence of bats, which are known to carry the virus, as well as non-compliance with preventive and control measures, such as the improper handling of corpses, contact tracing, and the lack of adequate protective equipment for healthcare workers.
Route of Transmission
The outbreak is thought to have started in December 2013 in Guinea, though the first case was not officially confirmed until March 2014. The virus is believed to have first infected wild animals before spreading to people, perhaps through contact with a contaminated bat or monkey flesh (Subissi et al., 2018). It then spreads through human-to-human contact, primarily through contact with bodily fluids. In some cases, it was also spread through contact with contaminated objects. Additionally, the virus was spread through funerals and burial ceremonies, where people had direct contact with the bodies of the deceased. The virus spread quickly, moving from Guinea to Liberia and Sierra Leone, as well as other countries in the region. It was also exported to the U.S., Spain, and the U.K.
Geographic Range
Geographically, the Ebola virus affected three countries in West Africa but spread to other regions due to traveling. According to experts, the Ebola virus is carried by either apes or fruit bats in the tropical woods of Africa and is transmitted to people by consuming raw, undercooked, or tainted meat (World Health Organization, 2019). Since 1976, when the first case was discovered in the Ebola River in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, there have been 22 outbreaks of Ebola, with the 2014-2016 outbreak being the deadliest (Huber et al., 2018). Since the Congo incident, West Africa has experienced the epidemic as well.
Impact of the Ebola Virus on the Community
The outbreak caused extensive economic damage, especially in poverty-stricken countries, as production and trade were disrupted, and many businesses and industries were forced to close down. It also significantly impacted the health system, with hospitals and other health facilities overwhelmed by the number of patients and the lack of medical personnel. The outbreak also had a significant impact on the community’s social fabric. Gatiso et al. (2018) state that individuals were stigmatized and that it affected the families of those who died from the virus, as they were often shunned and not allowed to participate in funerals and other social rituals.
According to Gatiso et al. (2018), reduced access to healthcare services can lead to an increased risk of contracting the virus and a lack of access to preventative care, early detection, and treatment. Erosion of trust in government institutions can lead to decreased confidence in the government’s ability to manage the outbreak and can also lead to social unrest as people become increasingly concerned and frustrated with the government’s response to the crisis. Loss of foreign investments can also have a severe economic impact on the community, resulting in job losses, reduced economic growth, and a decrease in the overall standard of living.
Reporting Protocol for an Outbreak
In the event of an outbreak, the following protocols should be followed to ensure our community members’ safety and to help contain the spread of the epidemic. According to CDC (2017), it is essential to identify the source of the epidemic and the risk factors that may have contributed to its occurrence. This can be done by collecting information about the affected individuals, their health history, and the environment in which the outbreak occurred. Once the source and risk factors have been identified, it is essential to report the attack to the appropriate public health authorities. In addition to reporting the outbreak, it is also essential to take steps to reduce the risk of further spread. Finally, monitoring the situation and updating the public health authorities as needed is crucial. This may include reporting any changes in the affected individual’s health, any new information about the outbreak, and any new risk factors.
One of the main ways to prevent widespread epidemics is through rapid detection. For any suspected or confirmed person under investigation instances, the questions and criteria laid out by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention help in identification. Isolation, quarantine, and thorough checkups are used to safeguard the public. Further, using monoclonal antibodies as part of a therapy plan approved by the FDA can help in treatment.
Prevention Strategies
To prevent an outbreak of Ebola, several strategies can be employed. First, it is essential to ensure that all community members practice proper hygiene. This includes washing hands regularly with soap and water, avoiding contact with blood and body fluids and properly disposing of any medical waste. Second, it is essential to ensure that the necessary medical supplies are available to treat any potential cases of Ebola (Kamorudeen et al., 2020). This includes having access to personal protective equipment (PPE) such as gloves and gowns. Medical practitioners should also be trained to use PPE to adequately protect themselves and their patients. Third, it is crucial to create awareness among the community about the dangers of Ebola and how it can be prevented. This can be done through public health campaigns that provide information to the public. Additionally, it is essential to make sure that people are aware of the signs and symptoms of Ebola so that they can seek medical help if they experience any of them. Finally, it is important to have a plan in place if an outbreak occurs. This plan should include ways to quickly identify and isolate potential cases, contact tracing, and other measures to contain its spread.
Preventative Measures
The most important of these measures is educating the public about the virus’s potential risks, signs, and symptoms. According to the World Health Organization (2019), good hygiene and sanitation habits are also essential. In addition, people should avoid traveling to areas where outbreaks are known to occur and should practice safe sex at all times. To further prevent the spread of the virus, it is essential to practice proper disposal of medical waste. Any items that have come into contact with a person infected with the virus should be disposed of properly. They are practicing proper food safety when handling and preparing food is also essential. Food should be cooked thoroughly, and all surfaces and utensils should be disinfected before and after each use. Finally, if a person is suspected of having Ebola, it is essential to seek medical attention immediately. Healthcare workers should use proper protective gear and follow protocols to reduce the risk of spreading the virus.
Factors Affecting Scope and Severity
Several factors contributed to the spread of Ebola within West Africa. Firstly, lack of preparation since Ebola has never been encountered before. Even though Ebola was not a brand-new disease, it had never previously appeared in the impacted countries which resulted in challenges. Secondly, poor infrastructure networks following years of civil strife have left the affected countries with poor roads. That makes it difficult to transfer patients, hospitals that lack the resources to treat the disease, and inefficient communication systems.
Access to healthcare, population density, and the availability of resources can all play a role. In areas where healthcare access is limited or inadequate, cases of Ebola can go undetected and spread rapidly, leading to a more significant number of issues and a higher fatality rate. In areas with high population density, the virus can spread quickly through contact with infected individuals, leading to a more widespread outbreak. Furthermore, the availability of resources such as medical personnel, supplies, and preventive materials can also play a role in the scope and severity of an outbreak (Herbert, 2020). If resources are scarce, the effectiveness of containment and treatment efforts can be hampered, leading to a broader spread of the virus and a higher death toll.
Pre-disaster Mitigation Efforts
Various effective pre-disaster strategies can be adopted. These include developing infrastructure, building and equipping hospitals, ensuring political stability, and training healthcare providers. Regarding education, a learned person is more likely to abandon harmful customs, such as relying too much on traditional healers during epidemics. In the event of Ebola exposure, people need to know how to protect themselves and what to do next. There must be efficient mechanisms for identifying Ebola cases and dealing with them (Yang et al., 2021). When an Ebola epidemic occurs in another country, people still require access to reliable information.
Additionally, it is essential to maintain good hygiene practices, such as regular hand-washing and avoiding contact with contaminated surfaces and bedding. Health workers should also be adequately trained in the use of personal protective equipment, such as face masks, gloves, and gowns. It is also essential to maintain proper sanitation and waste disposal practices to reduce the spread of the disease. Finally, it is essential to rapidly identify and isolate any cases of Ebola and provide timely medical treatment to those affected.
Conclusion
The 2014-2016 Ebola outbreak in West Africa was one of the deadliest in history. It had a significant impact on the economies and societies of the countries it affected, with many people suffering from psychological and physical trauma caused by the virus. While the outbreak may have been contained, the international community needs to remain vigilant and prepared for future outbreaks. Governments and organizations need to develop better systems for responding to emerging health threats and work to strengthen the healthcare infrastructure of affected countries to better respond to and prevent future outbreaks.
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2017). Ebola virus disease. Web.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). 2014-2016 Ebola outbreak distribution in West Africa. Web.
Gatiso, T. T., Ordaz-Németh, I., Grimes, T., Lormie, M., Tweh, C., Kühl, H. S., & Junker, J. (2018). The impact of the Ebola virus disease (EVD) epidemic on agricultural production and livelihoods in Liberia. PLoS neglected tropical diseases, 12(8), e0006580. Web.
Herbert, R. (2020). Socio-Economic Determinants of Ebola Outbreak Intensity and Severity: A Study of the West-African Outbreak in 2013-2016.
Huber, C., Finelli, L., & Stevens, W. (2018). The economic and social burden of the 2014 Ebola outbreak in West Africa. The Journal of Infectious Diseases, 218(Supplement_5), 698-701. Web.
Kamorudeen, R. T., Adedokun, K. A., & Olarinmoye, A. O. (2020). Ebola outbreak in West Africa, 2014–2016: Epidemic timeline, differential diagnoses, determining factors, and lessons for future response. Journal of Infection and Public Health, 13(7), 956-962. Web.
Ravi, S. J., Snyder, M. R., & Rivers, C. (2019). Review of international efforts to strengthen the global outbreak response system since the 2014–16 West Africa Ebola epidemic. Health policy and planning, 34(1), 47-54. Web.
Subissi, L., Keita, M., Mesfin, S., Rezza, G., Diallo, B., Van Gucht, S., & Fall, I. S. (2018). Ebola virus transmission caused by persistently infected survivors of the 2014–2016 outbreak in West Africa. The Journal of Infectious Diseases, 218(suppl_5), S287-S291. Web.
World Health Organization. (2019). Ebola virus disease. Web.
Yang, M., Kumar, S., Wang, X., & Fry, M. J. (2021). Scenario-robust pre-disaster planning for multiple relief items. Annals of Operations Research, 1-26.