Ebola: Anatomy of an Epidemic

• Published in: Annual review of medicine Vol. 68; no. 1; pp. 359 - 370
• Main Authors: Lo, Terrence Q, Marston, Barbara J, Dahl, Benjamin A, De Cock, Kevin M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Annual Reviews 14.01.2017; Annual Reviews, Inc
• Subjects: Biomedical Research; disease outbreaks; Ebola Vaccines; Ebola virus; Ebolavirus; Ebolavirus Zaire; Epidemics; Epidemiology; global health security; Guinea - epidemiology; Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola - epidemiology; Humans; Liberia - epidemiology; Medical personnel; Public Health; Sierra Leone - epidemiology; West Africa; Liberia; Sierra Leone; United States > US; Guinea; epidemiology; disease outbreaks; Ebolavirus Zaire; West Africa; global health security
• ISSN: 0066-4219; 1545-326X
• DOI: 10.1146/annurev-med-052915-015604

As of the end of March 2016, the West Africa epidemic of Ebola virus disease (Ebola) had resulted in a total of 28,646 cases, 11,323 of them fatal, reported to the World Health Organization. Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone were most heavily affected, but Ebola cases were exported to several other African and European countries as well as the United States, with limited further transmission, including to healthcare workers. We review the descriptive epidemiology of the outbreak, novel aspects and insights concerning the unprecedented response, scientific observations, and public health implications. The large number of Ebola survivors has highlighted the frequency of persistent symptoms and the possibility of virus persistence in sanctuary sites, sometimes leading to delayed transmission. Although transmission appears to have ceased in 2016, the West Africa Ebola epidemic has profoundly influenced discussions and practice concerning global health security.