title: Operational Perspective of Lessons Learned From the Ebola Crisis.
abstract: Given its potential to quickly spread internationally and initially uncontrollable nature, the 2014 to 2015 Ebola outbreak has implications for global biosecurity. The Defense Threat Reduction Agency's Technical Reachback provided near real-time analysis and recommendations as outbreak-relevant events unfolded. Our review of often-conflicting or incomplete information was required to answer policy decision makers about the expanding Ebola epidemic, and enable the formulation of best-possible U.S. Department of Defense and Government response. Challenging questions often did not have obvious information available from which to provide a definitive answer. Nevertheless, through use of best-practice science and medicine, we provided timely and scientifically accurate weekly review for decision makers. Our comprehensive analyses included the nature of the outbreak, its global and national impact, contributing factors to this and future Ebola outbreaks, the U.S. Government and international response, and continuing interventions. We also provided guidance for Ebola transmission outside of West Africa, medical countermeasures, challenges with the international response, lessons learned, major constraints, and considerations for future preparedness. We believe an assessment of these events may help an improved response for future infectious disease outbreaks with global and national security implications.
authors.affiliation: Battelle Connecticut Operations, Medical Readiness and Response Group, 131 Third Street, Suffield, CT 06078-1824.
authors.forename: Zygmunt F
authors.initials: ZF
authors.lastname: Dembek
authors.affiliation: Battelle, Medical Readiness and Response Group, 1 Enterprise Parkway, Suite 350, Hampton, VA 23666-5845.
authors.forename: Jerry L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Mothershead
authors.affiliation: Battelle, Defense Threat Reduction Agency, Technical Reachback (J9-ISR), 8725 John J. Kingman Road, Stop 6201, Fort Belvoir, VA 22060-6201.
authors.forename: Tesema
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chekol
authors.affiliation: Defense Threat Reduction Agency, Technical Reachback (J9-ISR), 8725 John J. Kingman Road, Stop 6201, Fort Belvoir, VA 22060-6201.
authors.forename: David B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Myers
authors.affiliation: Defense Threat Reduction Agency, Technical Reachback (J9-ISR), 8725 John J. Kingman Road, Stop 6201, Fort Belvoir, VA 22060-6201.
authors.forename: Ronald G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Meris
authors.affiliation: Battelle, Defense Threat Reduction Agency, Technical Reachback (J9-ISR), 8725 John J. Kingman Road, Stop 6201, Fort Belvoir, VA 22060-6201.
authors.forename: Dana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Meranus
authors.affiliation: Defense Threat Reduction Agency, Technical Reachback (J9-ISR), 8725 John J. Kingman Road, Stop 6201, Fort Belvoir, VA 22060-6201.
authors.forename: Aiguo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000354:Africa, Western / Q000453:epidemiology; D000533:Altruism; D002959:Civil Defense / Q000379:methods*; D003666:Decontamination / Q000379:methods; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D014943:Global Health / Q000639:trends*; D019142:Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008887:Military Medicine / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data