The challenges and problems of the Ebola virus outbreak in Africa 2014 – 2016

Scientific Essay , 2019 , 10 Pages , Grade: Pass

Health - Public Health

This paper is about the challenges and problems of the Ebola virus outbreak in Africa in 2014 until 2016.

The public health response faced multiple problems and challenges. Over the time, multiple scientists dealt with the topic and published several papers and studies. Today, the knowledge we have received through the outbreak can be used to handle future outbreaks properly.

The outbreak of the Ebola disease in West Africa between 2014 and 2016 was the biggest outbreak of the Ebola virus. Outbreaks of diseases are a danger to states and residents. Their treatment requires special trained and skilled staff, mostly expensive programs and quick intervention due to a possible lack of time. In our modern time, public health and crisis managers must be able to manage complicated situations, they need to face problems like organisational chaos, stress and inaccurate information with the pressure of social and other media in their backs.

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• Abstract
• Background
• The Ebola outbreak in Africa 2014 - 2016
• Search strategy
• Number of cases
• Discussion
• The issue of management and responsibility

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This literature review aims to analyze the challenges and problems faced during the Ebola virus outbreak in West Africa between 2014 and 2016, the biggest outbreak of the Ebola virus to date. It examines the public health response and identifies key issues and lessons learned.

• The impact of the Ebola outbreak on public health systems in West Africa
• The challenges of managing an international health crisis
• The role of international organizations in responding to the outbreak
• The importance of a coordinated and timely response to emerging infectious diseases
• The limitations of existing health infrastructure and the need for improvements

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

• Abstract: Introduces the Ebola outbreak in West Africa (2014-2016) as the largest in history, highlighting the public health response challenges and the potential of using gained knowledge to manage future outbreaks.
• Background: Discusses the general challenges posed by disease outbreaks, emphasizing the need for trained staff, swift intervention, and effective management amidst organizational chaos, stress, and misinformation.
• The Ebola outbreak in Africa 2014 - 2016: Provides a comprehensive overview of the Ebola virus, its characteristics, and the history of outbreaks. Highlights the 2014 outbreak as the largest, tracing its origins in Guinea and its spread to Sierra Leone and Liberia.
• Search strategy: Explains the research methodology used for this literature review, including the sources of data, the keywords used in searching, and the rationale for choosing specific articles and papers.
• Number of cases: Presents a graphical representation of the number of cases in Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea, illustrating the different phases of the outbreak and their characteristics.
• Discussion: Explores the initial stages of the outbreak, the role of the World Health Organisation (WHO), and the division of the outbreak into four phases based on the number of cases. Highlights the importance of the border triangle between the affected countries in facilitating viral spread.
• The issue of management and responsibility: Focuses on the initial lack of international public health response, relying primarily on NGOs like Médecins Sans Frontièrs (MSF). Examines the shortage of healthcare workers, the inadequate response of international organizations, and the impact on healthcare infrastructure and services.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

This literature review focuses on the Ebola virus outbreak in West Africa, highlighting key concepts like public health response, international health crisis, disease management, international cooperation, healthcare infrastructure, and emergency preparedness. It emphasizes the need for a robust and coordinated response to emerging infectious diseases.

• College: James Cook University
• Grade: Pass
• Author: Hans van´t Cris (Author)
• Publication Year: 2019
• Pages: 10
• Catalog Number: V1161611
• ISBN (PDF): 9783346575869
• Language: English
• Tags: Public Health, Crisis Management, Public Health Leadership, Ebola