Will Previous Tactics Work On New Ebola Outbreak? 

Ebola

Guinea reports first Ebola outbreak since 2016: 3 dead, 4 more ill
There has been another wave of the Ebola virus disease in Guinea and DR Congo. [Photo credit: Morgan McFall-Johnson/WHO]
As the world battles against the devastating effects of the coronavirus pandemic, few African countries are witnessing an outbreak of another deadly virus; Ebola virus. On 14 February 2021, health authorities in Guinea declared another outbreak, seven years after the first. Although still in its early stages, the virus has killed persons, while several others are receiving treatment. 

As regional and global health authorities continue the scramble to arrest the situation, several key questions are emerging. This includes how the government should handle the new outbreak using past experience. Considering the already battered economy and stretching of health facilities by COVID-19, an ebola epidemic will have dire consequences.  

Timeline of Past Ebola Virus Outbreaks 

After the first outbreak of the Ebola Virus Disease in Zaire in 1976, the 2014 outbreak was the deadliest. Here is a brief rundown of previous outbreaks.

  • July 1976: Strange disease discovered, which is transmitted from animals to man. 
  • December 2013: Two-year-old dies in the Guinean region of Guéckédou from Ebola-like symptoms. 
  • February 2014: Worker spreads the virus 
  • June 2014: By June, 759 cases reported in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, including 467 deaths.
  • October 2014: 7,470 cases of Ebola and 3,431 deaths. The first case of Ebola diagnosed outside of Africa in Dallas, Texas. 
  • June 2016: The discovery of the Ebola vaccine brings an end to the outbreak.

How are African countries Handling the Latest Outbreak?

A week after the first diagnosed case, Health officials from Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone mobilized to retrieve thousands of vaccine doses. With the compliance of the World Health Organization (who supplied the vaccines), vaccination began with government officials and infected patients in Conakry, the epicenter of the latest outbreak. 

In DR Congo, four days after diagnosing the first case, the health ministry launched a vaccination campaign. The campaign has helped vaccinate thousands in the Eastern region of the country. In both countries where the outbreak occurred, most patients have recovered and thousands are being vaccinated. 

Will Previous Tactics Work this Time Around? 

Before the development of the Ebola virus vaccine, DR Congo registered 10 outbreaks. This will be their eleventh. It is a similar story for Guinea with over 5 outbreaks since 1976. Prior to the vaccine era, most governments relied on quick identification of cases and quarantine to curb the spread. However, the on-going COVID-19 will make that approach difficult. 

Thanks to quick deployment of vaccines, there is a chance that the story will be different this time. Following the launch of vaccination program, both nations continue to record steady declines in infection rates. Hopefully, people will volunteer to take the vaccine without skepticism like the case of COVID-19 vaccine. Notwithstanding that there is now a vaccine against Ebola virus, there should never be complacency in the fight to wipe it out once and for all. 

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