Abstract
Abstract: The Ebola virus disease (EVD) was first reported to have been identified in Africa in 1976 when it occurred in south Sudan and Zaire (now Democratic Republic of Congo). Its first occurrence in West Africa was in a 1994 lone infection of an ethnologist in Cote d’Ivoire but in 2014, there was an outbreak in West Africa stemming from an index case in Guinea. The outbreak is still ongoing. The EVD is one of the filoviral hemorrhagic fevers. This paper examined the political economies in West African nations in relation to the management of their natural resources and to the resultant susceptibility to an infectious disease outbreak. It reviewed the African Development Bank Reports from 2007 to 2011 and also searched Google Scholar database using conflict and natural resource as search terms. The findings from this study showed that abundant natural resources did not translate to improved economic opportunities but usually a downturn in economic resources and poor governance riddled by civil conflicts over the regions of natural resources. The foundational issues in the current outbreak lie in the political economies of the West African countries. The numerous conflicts have left the West African nations susceptible to preventable diseases like EVD. The findings also suggest that changes in climatic conditions around the West African country of Guinea enabled the Ebola virus to come in contact with humans. Further, the author suggests that governments of West African nations should develop a transborder framework for regions around natural resources and those governments should be more transparent with the people they rule. In addition, individuals and communities should take ownership in the prevention and control of EVD. Key words : Ebola Virus Disease (EVD); filoviral hemorrhagic fevers; outbreak; West Africa; natural resource, Political Economy; civil conflicts; ownership; Governance; Guinea;
Highlights
The Ebola virus disease (EVD) was first reported to have been identified in Africa in 1976
Prior to the current outbreak, EVD had never been reported in any West African country not counting the single incident of an ethnologist that got infected in Tai Forest Park, Côte d’Ivoire [6]
We should delve into the foundational causes of what has made the West African nations a prolonged source of EVD
Summary
The Ebola virus disease (EVD) was first reported to have been identified in Africa in 1976. Prior to the current outbreak, EVD had never been reported in any West African country not counting the single incident of an ethnologist that got infected in Tai Forest Park, Côte d’Ivoire [6]. The people in these countries have been impoverished despite an abundance of natural resources The citizens of these nations have been left poor with weak and struggling infrastructures that cannot combat the EVD disease. West African nations should be looking at long term solutions These foundational issues have led to mistrust of the government, fatal antagonism of health care workers, hospital vandalism and removal of EVD patients by their relatives, EVD stigmatization and lack of basic infrastructure [33, 34]. Government Level: West African nations should develop a transboundary framework among areas of natural resources to prevent conflict. International Organizations: International Organizations should continue in their efforts but must maintain sustainable plans that can be carried out even after the outbreak becomes controllable
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
