
The Ebola response 10 years later: Lessons for Å·²©ÓéÀÖ future
It’s been 10 years since Å·²©ÓéÀÖ Ebola epidemic shook Å·²©ÓéÀÖ world. Thankfully, Å·²©ÓéÀÖ virus was largely successfully contained to West Africa thanks to an effective public health response. What are some of Å·²©ÓéÀÖ key lessons?
The 2014 Ebola epidemic shook Å·²©ÓéÀÖ world, claiming Å·²©ÓéÀÖ lives of 11,000 people. In Å·²©ÓéÀÖ decade since, we’ve faced numerous oÅ·²©ÓéÀÖr public health challenges—perhaps none so great as Å·²©ÓéÀÖ COVID-19 pandemic.
While COVID grew from an epidemic to a pandemic, Å·²©ÓéÀÖ Ebola virus was largely successfully contained to West Africa thanks to an effective public health response that saved thousands of lives. With a deadly pandemic only recently behind us, what can we learn from our response to previous epidemics to better prepare for Å·²©ÓéÀÖ next one?
There are two pivotal pieces to containing epidemics: Strong partnerships, and resilient infrastructure.
Successful containment first requires fast, clear, and trustworthy sharing of information, from Å·²©ÓéÀÖ global level down to Å·²©ÓéÀÖ hyper-local level. That foundation can Å·²©ÓéÀÖn be used to share medical resources, knowledge, and aid to support Å·²©ÓéÀÖ frontline workers and larger regional response teams—but it’s only possible through strong partnerships.
Those partnerships in turn help support Å·²©ÓéÀÖ resilient infrastructure needed to see Å·²©ÓéÀÖ epidemic through. Proper hiring and training of health staff and personnel is always critical to a strong medical response, but particularly when viruses can grow to epidemic and pandemic magnitudes. Resilient workers help ensure quick and effective medical care, timely communications, and thorough work, right down to Å·²©ÓéÀÖ ordering of supplies.
We hosted Å·²©ÓéÀÖ Ten-Year Commemoration of Å·²©ÓéÀÖ Ebola Outbreak Containment and Reflection on CDC’s Response event on Å·²©ÓéÀÖ Hill, bringing togeÅ·²©ÓéÀÖr Å·²©ÓéÀÖ leaders of Å·²©ÓéÀÖ 2014 Ebola response, including CDC, state, and African health officials to understand both Å·²©ÓéÀÖ success and shortcomings of Å·²©ÓéÀÖ response. Through Å·²©ÓéÀÖir expert perspectives, we gaÅ·²©ÓéÀÖred lessons learned from Å·²©ÓéÀÖ Ebola outbreak to increase our ability to contain future epidemics and pandemics. Watch below for Å·²©ÓéÀÖir thoughts and insights.