title: Enabling Rapid Response to the 2014-2016 Ebola Epidemic: The Experience and the Results of the National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani.
abstract: The unprecedented epidemic of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in West Africa highlighted the need for stronger systems for disease surveillance, response, and prevention worldwide. Tackling an epidemic event today requires a broader view, not only limited to medical management of the patients, but which also includes heroic efforts by clinicians and public health personnel.Since its foundation in 1936, INMI has been devoted to the prevention, diagnosis and care for infectious diseases. In 2009, INMI became a WHO collaborative center for clinical care, diagnosis, response and training on Highly Infectious Diseases. This paper is aimed to present the activities and the challenging issues encountered by INMI during the 2014-2015 EVD outbreak in terms of preparedness and response to the epidemiological, clinical, diagnostic and research controversial aspects of EVD, both in Italy and in the field.
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Infectious Diseases "Lazzaro Spallanzani", IRCCS, Via Portuense, 292, 00149, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Emanuele
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nicastri
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Infectious Diseases "Lazzaro Spallanzani", IRCCS, Via Portuense, 292, 00149, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Concetta
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Castilletti
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Infectious Diseases "Lazzaro Spallanzani", IRCCS, Via Portuense, 292, 00149, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Mirella
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Biava
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Infectious Diseases "Lazzaro Spallanzani", IRCCS, Via Portuense, 292, 00149, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco Maria
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Fusco
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Infectious Diseases "Lazzaro Spallanzani", IRCCS, Via Portuense, 292, 00149, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Petrosillo
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Infectious Diseases "Lazzaro Spallanzani", IRCCS, Via Portuense, 292, 00149, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Puro
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Infectious Diseases "Lazzaro Spallanzani", IRCCS, Via Portuense, 292, 00149, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco Nicola
authors.initials: FN
authors.lastname: Lauria
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Infectious Diseases "Lazzaro Spallanzani", IRCCS, Via Portuense, 292, 00149, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Rosaria
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Capobianchi
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Infectious Diseases "Lazzaro Spallanzani", IRCCS, Via Portuense, 292, 00149, Rome, Italy. antonino.dicaro@inmi.it.
authors.forename: Antonino
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Di Caro
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Infectious Diseases "Lazzaro Spallanzani", IRCCS, Via Portuense, 292, 00149, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ippolito
mesh_terms: D000354:Africa, Western / Q000453:epidemiology; D003140:Communicable Disease Control / Q000379:methods*; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D058872:Epidemics / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006282:Health Personnel; D019142:Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D015397:Program Evaluation; D013997:Time Factors; D014944:World Health Organization
keywords: Clinical management; Ebola virus; High containment laboratory; High isolation unit; Mobile laboratory; Preparedness