title: Perspectives on West Africa Ebola Virus Disease Outbreak, 2013-2016.
abstract: The variety of factors that contributed to the initial undetected spread of Ebola virus disease in West Africa during 2013-2016 and the difficulty controlling the outbreak once the etiology was identified highlight priorities for disease prevention, detection, and response. These factors include occurrence in a region recovering from civil instability and lacking experience with Ebola response; inadequate surveillance, recognition of suspected cases, and Ebola diagnosis; mobile populations and extensive urban transmission; and the community's insufficient general understanding about the disease. The magnitude of the outbreak was not attributable to a substantial change of the virus. Continued efforts during the outbreak and in preparation for future outbreak response should involve identifying the reservoir, improving in-country detection and response capacity, conducting survivor studies and supporting survivors, engaging in culturally appropriate public education and risk communication, building productive interagency relationships, and continuing support for basic research.
authors.forename: Jessica R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Spengler
authors.forename: Elizabeth D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Ervin
authors.forename: Jonathan S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Towner
authors.forename: Pierre E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Rollin
authors.forename: Stuart T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Nichol
mesh_terms: D000354:Africa, Western / Q000453:epidemiology; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D029043:Ebolavirus; D062306:Geography, Medical; D019142:Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000266:history / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006801:Humans; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012307:Risk Factors
keywords: Ebola; Ebola hemorrhagic fever; Ebola virus disease; West Africa; emergence; epizootic; outbreak; spillover; viral hemorrhagic fever; viruses; zoonoses