Examination of Pandemic Evolution: Ebola and COVID-19 Public Health Comparison

Comparison of Ebola and COVID-19 Mortality and Magnitude

While both Ebola and COVID-19 are categorized as deadly viruses, the distinct methods by which they were handled highlights the evolution of pandemic response strategies and their resulting impacts on daily life. Information regarding the origin and magnitude of the Ebola virus is explored through Richard Preston’s book, The Hot Zone. As of 2025, the World Health Organization identifies six species of the virus that cause Ebola disease, including Ebola Sudan, Ebola Zaire (the deadliest strain), and Ebola Reston. The average mortality rate for Ebola sits at $50\%$, though historical outbreaks have reached mortality rates as high as $90\%$. Ironically, though COVID-19 has a significantly lower mortality rate of approximately $4\%$, it has resulted in a much higher total number of deaths. In 2020 and 2021, the COVID-19 pandemic was linked to nearly $15\,million$ excess deaths globally, representing $12\%$ of all deaths during that period.

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Epidemiological Statistics and Geographic Distribution

The majority of Ebola cases originate in Africa, and the virus is named after the Ebola River. Since the discovery of the virus in 1976, there have been $34$ reported outbreaks in Africa, resulting in $34,356$ cases and $14,823$ deaths. The largest outbreak occurred in 2014 in West Africa, with at least $28,600$ reported cases, though the actual number is suspected to be higher. During the same 2014 epidemic, the United States reported only $11$ cases and $2$ fatalities. In stark contrast, reported COVID-19 cases in the United States totaled $99,596,741$, with $1,104,000$ deaths. In Africa, the highest reported death toll from COVID-19 was only $5,300$. The primary strains responsible for large African outbreaks are the Ebola virus, Sudan virus, and Bundibugyo virus.

Transmission Mechanisms and Public Health Responses

The disparity in the spread of these viruses is largely attributed to their modes of transmission. Ebola is a Level Four hot agent typically spread through direct contact with infected bodily fluids and tissues, a mechanism similar to the AIDS virus. Because of this, containment involves hazmat suits, the avoidance of glass to prevent accidental cuts and exposure, decon showers, and sterilization. COVID-19 is spread through aerosol droplets and proximity to infected individuals. Public health responses for COVID-19 included mandatory masks, six feet of social distancing, and the closure of stores and public places. While Ebola containment is often confined to laboratories, hospitals, or specialized facilities like monkey houses, COVID-19 measures transformed the lives of the general public through lockdowns and remote transitions.

The 1989 Reston Ebola Incident

In 1989, Ebola was first seen in the United States at a monkey house in Reston, Virginia, owned by Hazelton Research Products. A shipment of cynomolgus macaque monkeys from the Philippines arrived infected with a strain that reacted with the blood of Nurse Mayinga, who had previously been infected with the deadly Ebola Zaire. This suggested the monkeys carried a strain nearly identical to the deadliest known version of the virus. A full-scale Army mission was launched to euthanize the monkeys and collect samples. The operation utilized specialized biocontainment procedures, including hazmat suits, back-entrance access, and sterilization of the facility. Ultimately, scientists discovered a new strain named Ebola Reston. In this specific incident, the four humans who tested positive for the virus remained asymptomatic and stayed alive, leading to the classification of Ebola Reston as a type that does not affect humans in the same way as other strains.

COVID-19 Timeline and Evolution

COVID-19 emerged in late December 2019, though it was not officially proclaimed a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) until early March 2020. By the end of March 2020, schools were closed, initially for a promised two-week period which ultimately extended much longer. Over the following months, education and employment moved online. The virus saw the emergence of variants, specifically Delta and Omicron. A vaccine was eventually developed and released on August 23, 2021. The pandemic lasted approximately three years, with the WHO declaring an end to the public health emergency of international concern in May 2023.

Determinants of Viral Spread and Societal Impact

COVID-19, believed to have originated from bats in Wuhan, China, spread rapidly due to its cold-like symptoms and aerosol transmission. China’s status as the second most populated country facilitated the rapid infection of large numbers of people. Ebola, which comes from monkeys, is harder to transmit and is often misdiagnosed as malaria, leading to many cases going unreported. The societal impact of COVID-19 was profound; for instance, students in the 3rd grade and Kindergarten had to adapt to online learning. The return to school a year later was marked by a technology-driven environment and the use of masks, which obscured facial features. Technology has since remained a larger part of the educational process.

Philosophical and Ethical Reflections on Nature

The existence of viruses like Ebola serves as a reminder of nature’s primal force, which humans have struggled against throughout history. These diseases represent nature in its truest form, beyond simple forests and animals, acting as a primal being that is difficult, if not impossible, to tame. The COVID-19 pandemic served as a global wake-up call regarding the dangers lurking in jungles and animal populations. While the potential for high-mortality viruses to cause significant population decline exists, advancements in modern medicine and the containment procedures demonstrated by the United States Army in 1989 provide a degree of trust in current public health capabilities.

Reference List of Sources

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024a, May 6). Ebola outbreak history.

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024b, July 8). COVID-19 timeline.

• Food and Drug Administration. (2021, August 23). FDA approves first COVID-19 vaccine.

• Kortepeter, M. (2020, July 31). Why is COVID-19 more deadly than Ebola? Forbes.

• Northwestern Medicine. (2023, March). COVID-19 pandemic timeline.

• Preston, R. (2019). The hot zone. Anchor Books.

• Rugarabamu, S., Mboera, L., Rweyemamu, M., Mwanyika, G., Lutwama, J., Paweska, J., & Misinzo, G. (2020). Forty-two years of responding to Ebola virus outbreaks in Sub-Saharan Africa: A review. BMJ Global Health, 5(3), e001955.

• USA Facts. (2023, July 23). Coronavirus live map | US coronavirus cases by county.

• World Health Organization. (2025a, April 24). Ebola disease.

• World Health Organization. (2025b). Ebola outbreak 2014–2016 – West Africa.

• World Health Organization. (2025c). COVID-19 deaths | WHO COVID-19 dashboard.

• Yorke, L. (2022, September 12). PRB releases 2022 world population data sheet, providing comprehensive look at COVID-19 pandemic’s demographic impacts in more than 200 countries. Population Reference Bureau.