Ebola in general & research task

Magnitude of 2018 DROC

2200 deaths, 3400 cases

Duration of 2018 DROC

22 months

Frequency of DROC

12 outbreaks since 1976

Probability of DROC

higher in women and children, 2/3 of the cases were women

scale of spatial impact DROC

largely local, 3 provinces affected

What is the average fatality rate of the Ebola virus?

50%

what type of disease is ebola?

animals and humans (zoonotic)

What type of virus is the Ebola virus?

RNA virus

When did the Ebola virus outbreak begin?

In Africa 1976

Is the Ebola virus considered infectious?

Yes

What is the magnitude of the Ebola virus?

High

How is the Ebola virus transmitted between individuals?

- direct contact via skin

- bodily fluids (blood, spit, semen)

- dirty needles

- contact with infected corpse

- eating fruit bats

symptoms of Ebola

dry phase: fever, headache, fatigue, muscle soreness

wet phase: vomiting, Diarrhea, bleeding, loss of consciousness, death

incubation period of Ebola

2-21 days

origin of Ebola

unknown origin, evidence points to fruit bats

what are stakeholders

individuals, communities and organisations that are affected by something or have interests in the outcome of the process

example of a stakeholder

WHO (world health organisation)

how does conflict increase vulnerability to ebola

recent or ongoing conflict can distract and damage health systems, increasing vulnerability

spatial distribution of EVD

isolated in mainly equatorial

larger probability in Africa due to LEDC

greater risk in equatorial Africa because high humidity increases fruit production for fruit bats

how does gov response increase vulnerability

effective gov can significantly impact vulnerability

enforcing quarantines and lock downs can rapidly stop transmission and spread of EVD

spatial & temporal processes - climate

risk of evd and fruit bats is high

high humidity increases fruit production and fruit bats

high rainfall, blocks roads and infrastructure

spatial & temporal - geographical location

initially rural, isolated areas so easier to control

higher population density= EVD spread quickly

fruit bats increase EVD risk

how does climate increase vulnerability

regularly transmitted through the eating of bats so countries without bats, ebola can only be transmitted through humans

how does geographical location increase vulnerability

countries in driving distance more vulnerable

more difficult to quarantine, people in car spread easier because there are no records of it.

people in planes easier to record and track

Role of women DROC 2018

look after children, and to the ill

family members, often do not take ill out of home as it signifies that the mother cannot take care of the ill accordingly

increased transmission in household and likelihood of fatality

example of role of women DROC

Women in Beni are also chief mourners after the death of a family members, around dead and assist in prep

- if dead from ebola, increasing transmission

environmental impact of DROC

wildlife - Western lowland Gorilla population

- reduce birth rates of gorilla

- social dynamics change

- male social groups move to solidarity

- females, breeding moving to non breeding group

social impact DROC 1

children

2,100 children orphaned

lose parent, become infected, often stigmatised, isolated and abandoned

social impact DROC 2

schools

before school closure many parents kept sending kids to school due to lack of education

6500 schools in Ebola infected areas

economic impact DROC

affected trade, agriculture

- North Kivu + Itori

- Itori loss 3 successive harvests because of conflict and displacement

Cultural practises DROC

traditional burials

- spread of disease faster, as people normally touched and cleaned the diseased therefore spreading ebola to tgem

- spreads to villages, community funerals

Cultural practises DROC example

June 2019, 3 people positive in Uganda after travelling from DRC to funeral

temporal distribution of EVD

30 EVD outbreaks since 1976

34000 cases

case numbers spike in last quarter due to healthcare workers grow complacent

how does rapid urbanisation increase vulnerability

fast growing urban can lead to slums

- lower access to sanitation

- clean water & encourage overcrowding

slums barely regulated by officials

example of rapid urbanisation increasing vulnerability

1 slum in Africa floated dead bodies down river, contaminating water

social behavior increasing vulnerability

- caring for sick relatives, increase risk

- fleeing/seeking refuge, fleeing across borders spread into neighbourhood

economy increasing vulnerability

high risk countries developing

- spatial magnitude amplified due to more road networks, large population migration

health system increasing vulnerability

- being inexperienced with EVD -> 25% didnt think real

- dense population, high population in small areas, amplified in health care facilities

cause of origin CONGO outbreak

believed to be from unsafe burial, an infected 65 year olds, seven members of her family died shortly after

how does education increase vulnerability

limited literacy and education, making it hard for government to educate citizens on EVD protection, increasing vulnerability

how does poverty increasing vulnerability

reduces health care system and availability of healthcare professionals

lowering sanitation

underdeveloped infrastructure making it more difficult to provide aid and healthcare

mitigation strategy 2018 DROC

vaccinations 2 doses

positive of mitigation strategy DROC

anonymous vaccination site

350,000 vaccination administered

during trial everyone who received vaccine didn't get Ebola

negative of mitigation strat DROC

every 8 weeks apart, so can catch ebola during that 8 weeks

statistic mitigation DROC

90% of people in Kivu offered Vaccinations took it

preparedness strategy DROC

testing and treatment, WHO helps countries at risk by establishing preparedness plans

positives of preparedness strat DROC

laboratory technicians received training from WHO so they can safely collect & test ebola samples

results in 2 hours

traditional healers were trained to recognise ebola

preparedness DROC statistic

16,000 front line local responders trained