Community Outbreak of Ebola

One of the primary mandates of healthcare professionals is to safeguard public health. The professionals take all steps to insulate members of the public against disease and poor health. For example, they conduct public education and sensitization campaigns. However, despite their best efforts, there are developments that pose serious threats to public health. Outbreaks of contagious infections are among these developments. While progress has been made in preventing and containing these infections, there are outbreaks that have devastated communities and crippled healthcare delivery systems. The Ebola Virus outbreak that plagued several West African nations is among the challenges that underscore the need for greater effort.

Ebola Virus and Countries Involved 

As noted above, the Ebola virus is among the illnesses that have brought healthcare systems to their knees. It is indeed unfortunate that the outbreaks often occur in poor nations which lack the resources and infrastructure for successful containment. The first case of the virus was reported in the end of 2013 (CDC, 2019). This report was made in Guinea. It would not be until March 2014 that the authorities in Guinea would declare an outbreak after close to 50 people had become infected. In the months that followed, the virus spread to neighboring countries. Sierra Leone and Liberia are among the countries that were most devastated (CDC, 2013). Thousands of deaths were reported in these countries. As a result of failure to contain the virus properly, it soon spread to such other countries as Italy, Senegal, Spain and Nigeria (CDC, 2013). The US was also affected with some of the medical practitioners working in the West African countries contracting the virus. However, no death was reported. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) places the number of fatalities at over 11,000 (CDC, 2013). This figure represents the devastation that the outbreak caused. The following table summarizes the dates when each of the affected countries reported their first cases:

Route of Transmission 

The Ebola virus follows a rather complex route of transmission. According to the World Health Organization, fruit bats serve as the natural hosts of the virus. The virus finds its way into human populations when humans have contact with the bodily fluids of the bats (WHO, 2018). Humans can also contract the virus from such other animals as chimpanzees, monkeys, forest antelopes and gorillas that have been infected. When an individual has contracted the virus, they can spread it to other humans through direct contact (WHO, 2018). For example, when an individual comes into contact with the blood or other bodily fluids of an infected person, they may contract the virus. Additionally, handling such items as the clothing and bedding of someone who is infected could cause the transmission of the virus. It is understood that even after death, an individual remains infectious (WHO, 2018). In fact, it is in death that the virus is more contagious.

Epidemiological Determinants and Risk Factors 

To fully understand the Ebola virus, it is essential to examine its epidemiological determinants and risk factors. Among the epidemiological determinants of this virus include high human population density in the affected countries, limited healthcare capacity and the cultural practices of the people in these countries (Wambani et al., 2015). The virus spread rapidly because it mostly affected the capital centers of the affected West African countries. Additionally, these nations neighbor one another and this accelerated the spread. The outbreak was also accelerated by the fact that the West African nations are poor and lack the resources to properly contain the outbreak. Such cultural practices as burial rites and the consumption of bush meat also contributed to the outbreak. The outbreak was compounded by the fact that the West African nations are exposed to various risk factors. These risk factors include being exposed to medical equipment that has been contaminated, intimate human contact, using the same hospital bed with an infected person, sharing meals and funeral rituals (Galas, 2014).

Impact of Outbreak 

The Ebola outbreak can have devastating impacts on communities and entire nations. This was indeed the case in 2014 when the virus decimated the African nations that it affected. In addition to causing thousands of deaths, the outbreak also depressed agricultural production, discouraged business and hampered free movement of people (CDC, 2019a). It also led to the deaths of dozens of medical practitioners such as nurses and created an orphan crisis. The affected countries were forced to shut down schools and incurred huge amounts as they struggled to contain the outbreak. Given these effects, it can be expected that when it strikes any community, the Ebola outbreak will force schools and businesses to suspend operations. Hospitals are likely to be overwhelmed as local governments also struggle to consolidate the resources needed to tackle the outbreak. Basically, no aspect of society would be spared.

Reporting Protocol 

In the US, elaborate and clear policies and procedures have been put in place to facilitate the reporting of Ebola cases. When a health practitioner detects a case, they are required to move with speed and notify the local health authorities (DOH, 2014). Laboratories are also expected to report cases to the same local authorities. Having received the report, the authorities notify the state agency responsible for public health. For example, in Washington State, reports should be made to the Office of Communicable Disease Epidemiology (DOH, 2014). The purpose of the reporting protocol is to facilitate multi-stakeholder intervention and contact tracing. It should be noted that the reporting protocol varies from one area to another.

Prevention Strategies 

While it is true that Ebola is a serious virus with devastating impacts, there are some steps that can be taken to prevent the spread of the virus. Training healthcare professionals and launching public health campaigns are some of the most effective prevention interventions (Jan, Ahmed & Zafar, 2015). In West Africa, nurses and other personnel contracted the virus because they had not been properly trained about how to stay safe. Through training, practitioners obtain the skills and knowledge that they need to protect themselves and treat the virus. Public education also promises to halt the spread of the virus. For example, the public can be sensitized on the need to avoid contact with infected individuals.

In closing, the Ebola virus that hit West Africa in 2014 is among the worst healthcare challenges that the globe has witnessed. This outbreak killed thousands and crippled the healthcare system. Furthermore, it caused economic losses and forces businesses and schools to close. The devastating impacts of the outbreak underscore the need for nations to brace for such outbreaks. To cushion themselves against such viruses as Ebola, nations should invest in public education and the training of healthcare practitioners.

References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2019). Ebola (Ebola virus disease). CDC. Retrieved May 6, 2019 from https://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/history/2014-2016-outbreak/index.html

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2019a). Cost of the Ebola epidemic. CDC. Retrieved May 6, 2019 from https://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/history/2014-2016-outbreak/cost-of-ebola.html

Galas, A. (2014). The determinants of spread of Ebola virus disease- an evidence from the past outbreak experiences. Folia Medica Cracoviensia, 54 (3), 17-25.

Jan, M. D., Ahmed, R., & Zafar, U. (2015). Ebola virus: the need to take some preventive measures. Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences, 31 (2), 483-6.

Wambani, R.J., Ogola, P. E., Arika, W. M., Rachuonyo, H. O., & Burugu, M. W. (2015). Ebola virus disease: a biological and epidemiological perspective of a virulent disease. Journal of Infectious Disease and Diagnosis. doi: 10.4172/2576-389X.1000103

Washington State Department of Health (DOH). (2014). Viral haemorrhagic fever (Ebola). DOH. Retrieved May 6, 2019 from https://www.doh.wa.gov/Portals/1/Documents/5100/420-126-Guideline-Ebola.pdf

World Health Organization (WHO). (2018). Ebola virus disease. WHO. Retrieved May 6, 2019 from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/ebola-virus-disease