2014 West Africa Ebola virus outbreak

Disease	Ebola virus disease
Virus strain	Zaire ebolavirus
Source
Location	West Africa
First outbreak	Guinea
First reported
Index case
Dates
Date	December 2013 – June 2016

The 2014 West Africa Ebola virus outbreak was the most widespread outbreak of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in history, causing significant loss of life and socioeconomic disruption in the region. The outbreak began in December 2013 in Guinea and spread to neighboring countries, including Liberia and Sierra Leone.

Background

Ebola virus disease is a severe, often fatal illness in humans caused by the Ebolavirus, a member of the Filoviridae family. The virus is transmitted to people from wild animals and spreads in the human population through human-to-human transmission. The average EVD case fatality rate is around 50%, but it can vary from 25% to 90% in past outbreaks.

Timeline of the Outbreak

Initial Cases

The outbreak is believed to have started in December 2013 in a small village in Guinea. The first known case was a two-year-old boy who died in December 2013. The disease quickly spread to the capital, Conakry, and then to neighboring countries.

Spread to Liberia and Sierra Leone

By March 2014, the outbreak had spread to Liberia and Sierra Leone. The porous borders and high mobility of the population facilitated the rapid spread of the virus.

International Response

In August 2014, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). International aid and health organizations, including Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), were heavily involved in the response efforts.

Impact

Humanitarian Impact

The outbreak resulted in 28,646 confirmed cases and 11,323 deaths. The healthcare systems in the affected countries were overwhelmed, and the outbreak had a devastating impact on the local economies and social structures.

Economic Impact

The outbreak severely affected the economies of Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, with significant losses in GDP and trade. The World Bank estimated that the economic impact of the outbreak was over $2.2 billion in lost GDP for the three countries.

Lessons Learned

The outbreak highlighted the need for better global preparedness and response mechanisms for infectious disease outbreaks. It underscored the importance of strengthening health systems, improving surveillance, and ensuring rapid response capabilities.

Also see

• Ebola virus disease
• Zaire ebolavirus
• World Health Organization
• Public Health Emergency of International Concern
• Médecins Sans Frontières