Understanding Ebola: the 2014 epidemic.
Near the end of 2013, an outbreak of Zaire ebolavirus (EBOV) began in Guinea, subsequently spreading to neighboring Liberia and Sierra Leone. As this epidemic grew, important public health questions emerged about how and why this outbreak was so different from previous episodes. This review provides a synthetic synopsis of the 2014-15 outbreak, with the aim of understanding its unprecedented spread. We present a summary of the history of previous epidemics, describe the structure and genetics of the ebolavirus, and review our current understanding of viral vectors and the latest treatment practices. We conclude with an analysis of the public health challenges epidemic responders faced and some of the lessons that could be applied to future outbreaks of Ebola or other viruses.
Department of Epidemiology, Oregon Health and Science University, 3181 S.W. Sam Jackson Park Rd., Portland, OR, 97239, USA.|Department of Biology, Reed College, 3203 SE Woodstock Blvd, Portland, OR, 97202, USA.
Jolie
J
Kaner
Department of Biology, Reed College, 3203 SE Woodstock Blvd, Portland, OR, 97202, USA. schaackmobile@gmail.com.
Sarah
S
Schaack
D000354:Africa, Western; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D029043:Ebolavirus / Q000472:pathogenicity; D019142:Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007391:International Cooperation; D011634:Public Health / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
2014 outbreak; Ebola; Ebolavirus; Epidemic; Review