Western African Ebola virus epidemic

Western African Ebola virus epidemic[edit | edit source]

Western African Ebola virus epidemic is a major outbreak of Ebola virus disease (EVD) that primarily affected three countries in West Africa: Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. The epidemic began in Guinea in December 2013, then spread to Liberia and Sierra Leone, with minor outbreaks occurring elsewhere. It caused significant mortality, with the Case fatality rate varying between 25% and 90% in past outbreaks, and averaging about 50%.

2014 ebola virus epidemic in West Africa simplified

Background[edit | edit source]

Ebola virus disease (EVD) is a severe, often fatal illness in humans. 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%. Case fatality rates have varied from 25% to 90% in past outbreaks.

Outbreak[edit | edit source]

The epidemic began in Guinea in December 2013, then spread to Liberia and Sierra Leone. Other minor outbreaks occurred in Nigeria, Mali and the United States. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the epidemic to be a public health emergency of international concern in August 2014.

Response[edit | edit source]

The response to the epidemic included measures to prevent and control the spread of infections, manage cases, communicate risk and mobilize communities, and coordinate the response. The World Health Organization (WHO), Doctors Without Borders (MSF), and other international organizations were involved in the response.

Impact[edit | edit source]

The epidemic had a significant impact on the affected countries. It caused significant mortality, with the case fatality rate varying between 25% and 90% in past outbreaks, and averaging about 50%. The epidemic also had significant social, economic, and political impacts in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone.

See also[edit | edit source]

Western African Ebola virus epidemic Resources
Need Help Finding a Doctor? Need help finding a doctor or specialist anywhere in the world? Explore our world directory. WikiMD's DocFinder can assist you in locating millions of physicians.	Medical Knowledge Access the latest research - Most recent articles Ongoing trials.