The Political Economy of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD); Taking Individual and Community Ownership in the Prevention and Control of EVD.

Titilola Obilade

doi:10.3390/healthcare3010036

Abstract

The outbreak of an emerging infectious disease of zoonotic origin has exposed the weaknesses in the health systems of the nations affected. The purpose of this paper was to explore the political economy of the existing outcome of the management strategies. In addition, it proposed a new strategy in the management of the current Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak. This paper admits that the current management strategy which is a top to bottom approach has not worked in reducing the spread of the disease. Instead of waiting for the disease before treatment is commenced, this paper suggests aggressively preventing infection from the EVD. It presents a bottom to top approach where there is individual ownership and community ownership in the prevention and control of the EVD outbreak. In addition, the paper presents the socio-economic situation of the three most affected countries including the ecology and stigmatization of EVD. It highlights the need for cross border surveillance across the West African nations to prevent importation of the disease as occurred in Nigeria and Senegal. It points out the need for aggressive international cooperation, an aggressive prevention and a sustainable control strategy.

Highlights

The outbreak of an emerging infectious disease of zoonotic origin has exposed the enormous logistical challenges faced by least developed countries in the ongoing Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak
This paper examines the political, economic and socio cultural factors in the outbreak of EVD and the exponential mortality and morbidity of infected persons across West African nations
In a qualitative study of health care workers involved in the care of patients during the EVD outbreaks in Uganda, The Democratic Republic of Congo and Republic of Congo, the findings showed that lack of protective equipment, lack of basic equipment, lack of necessary resources especially at the onset of the outbreak and stigmatization were recurring themes in the countries studied [46]

Summary

Introduction

The outbreak of an emerging infectious disease of zoonotic origin has exposed the enormous logistical challenges faced by least developed countries in the ongoing Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak. Sudan and in Zaire ( Democratic Republic of Congo) [4,5]. The causative pathogens were later known as Sudan Ebolavirus and Zaire Ebolavirus [4,5] In this current outbreak, the countries most affected rank the lowest in the 2013 United Nations. In 1976, filoviral hemorrhagic fever occurred simultaneously in southern Sudan and in Zaire ( the Democratic Republic of Congo) [4,5]. This was later to be the first reported outbreak of EVD in Africa. The Côte d’Ivoire ebolavirus was the first EVD to occur in West Africa. Transmission has occurred through skin contact with an infected person and contact with a cadaver [11]

The Socio Ecology of EVD

Taking Ownership in the Prevention and Control of EVD

Findings

Conclusions