An update on the 2014 Ebola outbreak in Western Africa

Haaris A Shiwani; Rebabonye B Pharithi; Barkat Khan; Christian Binoun-A Egom; Peter Kruzliak; Vincent Maher; Emmanuel Eroume-A Egom

doi:10.1016/j.apjtm.2016.12.008

An update on the 2014 Ebola outbreak in Western Africa

Asian Pac J Trop Med. 2017 Jan;10(1):6-10. doi: 10.1016/j.apjtm.2016.12.008. Epub 2016 Dec 27.

Authors

Haaris A Shiwani¹, Rebabonye B Pharithi², Barkat Khan², Christian Binoun-A Egom³, Peter Kruzliak⁴, Vincent Maher², Emmanuel Eroume-A Egom⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Clinical Medicine, Education Division, Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
² Department of Cardiology, The Adelaide and Meath Hospital Dublin, Incorporating the National Children Hospital, Tallaght, Dublin, 24, Ireland.
³ University of Ndjamena, Faculty of Medicine, Ndjamena, Chad.
⁴ International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne's University Hospital and Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic.
⁵ Department of Clinical Medicine, Education Division, Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin, Dublin, Ireland; Department of Cardiology, The Adelaide and Meath Hospital Dublin, Incorporating the National Children Hospital, Tallaght, Dublin, 24, Ireland; Egom Clinical and Translational Research Services, Dartmouth, NS, Canada. Electronic address: egomemmanuel@gmail.com.

PMID: 28107867
DOI: 10.1016/j.apjtm.2016.12.008

Abstract

The recent Ebola outbreak in Western Africa was the most devastating outbreak witnessed in recent times. There have been remarkable local and international efforts to control the crisis. Ebola Virus Disease is the focus of immense research activity. The progression of events in the region has been evolving swiftly and it is of paramount importance to the medical community to be acquainted with the situation. Over 28000 people were inflicted with the condition, over 11000 have died. Novel data has emerged regarding modes of transmission, providing rationale for recent flare-ups. Similarly, studies on survivors are elucidating the later stages of the disease recovery process. Novel techniques for diagnosis are also discussed. Finally, the current research regarding treatment and vaccine development is reviewed, particularly the implementation of rVSV-ZEBOV vaccination programs.

Keywords: EBOV; Ebola virus disease; Ebola virus vaccination; Western Africa.

Publication types

Review