Responding to the ebola virus disease in West Africa: Lessons for India.

Abstract

The first cases of the current Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak, were seen in Guinea in December 2013 and confirmed three months later as Ebola by World Health Organization (WHO) in March 20141. Since then, the virus has been spreading in an unprecedented manner not only to two neighbouring countries in West Africa namely Liberia and Sierre Leone but also to countries outside of West Africa including Europe and United States, causing widespread fear and hysteria. On August 8, 2014, the WHO declared the Ebola outbreak in West Africa a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) under the International Health Regulations (IHR, 2005)2. This was based on the recommendation of the Emergency Committee which deliberated on the issue during August 6-7, 2014. According to the Emergency Committee, the Ebola outbreak in West Africa constituted an ‘extraordinary event’ and a public health risk to other States; the possible consequences of further international spread are particularly serious in view of the virulence of the virus, the intensive community and health facility transmission patterns, and the weak health systems in the currently affected and most-at-risk populations.