About this Research Topic
EVD first appeared in 1976 in 2 simultaneous outbreaks in Sudan and Zaire (now, the Democratic Republic of Congo). Outbreaks were confined to Sub-Saharan Africa until the largest outbreak in the history of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), which was first identified in Guinea in March 2014, and subsequently spread in West Africa to Sierra Leone, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal, Mali, and then outside Africa to the United States of America and Spain. This outbreak led to an estimated 27,984 cases and 11,298 deaths compared to 2,388 cases in all previously identified outbreaks. Subsequent Ebola outbreaks in the DRC, and more recently in Guinea, were also challenging but significantly benefited from using vaccines as interventions in the response.
Ebola and Marburg viruses are two genera of the family Filoviridae and are among the most pathogenic organisms known to humans. The genus Ebolavirus is divided into five species (Zaire, Sudan, Ivory Coast, Bundibugyo, and Reston); the Zaire virus species is the etiologic agent of the 2014-2015 epidemic in West Africa.
Although the viral reservoir for Ebola has not been definitely established, preliminary data is suggestive that bats are one of the reservoir hosts of the Ebola virus. The reservoir for the 2014-2015 Ebola epidemic in West Africa is thought to have been a fruit bat that presumably transferred the Ebola virus to a human via fruit consumption.
Human transmission of the Ebola virus occurs when an individual with EVD transmits infected body fluids via direct contact with another human. Blood, urine, and semen have been identified as body fluids that can transmit the Ebola virus. The surface of a body can also serve to transmit the Ebola virus even after death. The traditional burial practices that involve the washing of the body have been associated with Ebola virus transmission in the most recent and previous epidemics.
Until the West African outbreak, there was limited public interest in EVD and a limited body of research. Many cases and unprecedented media coverage created awareness, which translated into an ability to learn much about this specific disease and apply new knowledge to prevent and mitigate future outbreaks of EVD and other infectious diseases. Significant strides have been made regarding innovations in the prevention, treatment, and vaccine. However, there remains much to be learned, including concerning the eco-social determinants that enable the development and spread of disease. Ebola has had effects well beyond the direct effects on the health system. What are the consequences of this disaster on the function of an already fragile health system? What can be done to protect and prepare health systems in low-income countries? How and why we need to be concerned about emerging diseases even if they occur elsewhere in the world. How can we more effectively support disease prevention and timelier outbreak response in an ethical manner whilst minimizing infringement of human rights both at home and abroad? What mechanisms are important to facilitate and improve international response?
This Research Topic aims to stimulate interest in the generation of new research knowledge and allow opportunities for analysis, reflection, and knowledge exchange related to the subject. It is intended to cover a broad range of Ebola-related interests generally categorized along with the following themes:
1) Primordial and primary prevention of human disease (reducing exposure, viral persistence, increasing resilience, ecological and social factors).
2) Clinical research, including disease manifestations, diagnostics, infection prevention and control, patient management.
3) Epidemiological studies or case investigations on the various ongoing transmission chains in general, or in specific, Ebola epidemics.
4) Outbreak control, including surveillance, case prevention, isolation and contact tracing, public health measures, vaccines, and communications.
5) Disaster and event management, local and international response, including governance and the complexities of multiple agencies working together,
6) Ethical considerations, including the complex considerations of privacy, confidentiality, and provider responsibility in the setting of an epidemic. Also, the ethics of funding models and allocation, including collateral impacts and opportunity costs.
7) New research, explanations of new theories or observations, opinion articles, and reviews are welcome.
Ebola and Marburg viruses are two genera of the family Filoviridae and are among the most pathogenic organisms known to humans. The genus Ebolavirus is divided into five species (Zaire, Sudan, Ivory Coast, Bundibugyo, and Reston); the Zaire virus species is the etiologic agent of the 2014-2015 epidemic in West Africa.
Although the viral reservoir for Ebola has not been definitely established, preliminary data is suggestive that bats are one of the reservoir hosts of the Ebola virus. The reservoir for the 2014-2015 Ebola epidemic in West Africa is thought to have been a fruit bat that presumably transferred the Ebola virus to a human via fruit consumption.
Human transmission of the Ebola virus occurs when an individual with EVD transmits infected body fluids via direct contact with another human. Blood, urine, and semen have been identified as body fluids that can transmit the Ebola virus. The surface of a body can also serve to transmit the Ebola virus even after death. The traditional burial practices that involve the washing of the body have been associated with Ebola virus transmission in the most recent and previous epidemics.
Until the West African outbreak, there was limited public interest in EVD and a limited body of research. Many cases and unprecedented media coverage created awareness, which translated into an ability to learn much about this specific disease and apply new knowledge to prevent and mitigate future outbreaks of EVD and other infectious diseases. Significant strides have been made regarding innovations in the prevention, treatment, and vaccine. However, there remains much to be learned, including concerning the eco-social determinants that enable the development and spread of disease. Ebola has had effects well beyond the direct effects on the health system. What are the consequences of this disaster on the function of an already fragile health system? What can be done to protect and prepare health systems in low-income countries? How and why we need to be concerned about emerging diseases even if they occur elsewhere in the world. How can we more effectively support disease prevention and timelier outbreak response in an ethical manner whilst minimizing infringement of human rights both at home and abroad? What mechanisms are important to facilitate and improve international response?
This Research Topic aims to stimulate interest in the generation of new research knowledge and allow opportunities for analysis, reflection, and knowledge exchange related to the subject. It is intended to cover a broad range of Ebola-related interests generally categorized along with the following themes:
1) Primordial and primary prevention of human disease (reducing exposure, viral persistence, increasing resilience, ecological and social factors).
2) Clinical research, including disease manifestations, diagnostics, infection prevention and control, patient management.
3) Epidemiological studies or case investigations on the various ongoing transmission chains in general, or in specific, Ebola epidemics.
4) Outbreak control, including surveillance, case prevention, isolation and contact tracing, public health measures, vaccines, and communications.
5) Disaster and event management, local and international response, including governance and the complexities of multiple agencies working together,
6) Ethical considerations, including the complex considerations of privacy, confidentiality, and provider responsibility in the setting of an epidemic. Also, the ethics of funding models and allocation, including collateral impacts and opportunity costs.
7) New research, explanations of new theories or observations, opinion articles, and reviews are welcome.
Keywords: Ebola, Ebola epidemic, Ebola Virus Disease, EVD outbreak, EVD disaster and event management, Ebola treatment center
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