Ebola in Liberia, Africa

Introduction of Ebola in Liberia, Africa

Throughout the years, Ebola virus disease (EVD) has been an infectious disease that has been known about and has slowly grown, expanding the world. Ebola is a infectious disease that is rare but also deadly to humans and nonhuman primates, such as monkeys, gorillas, and chimpanzees (CDC, 2018). The infectious disease is believed to be transmitted by an infected animal to a human then continue to be spread by human to human by direct contact with blood or secretions (Medline Plus, 2018). As EVD continues to spread, a global health epidemic begins affecting many individuals of all ages. Interventions can be provided to an infected human when new onset of symptoms are noticed. As education and resources should be provided to help reduce the fatal outcome and help prevent further complications, financial needs are requested.

Nature and magnitude of the problem of Ebola in Liberia, Africa

In 1976, the Ebola virus disease was first discovered by the Ebola River that is now known as the Democratic Republic of Congo (CDC, 2018). As the EVD is uncertain how it came about by scientist, outbreaks affecting multiple individuals occur, especially within African countries (CDC, 2018). As stated above, the virus is transmitted from an infected animal to a human, then from an infected human to another human. As this virus is transmitted by direct contact with blood and secretions, the virus is still severely contagious.

Affected population & Ebola in Liberia, Africa

Ebola is known about mostly in west Africa, as it has infected many individuals, ranging all ages. In 2015, the Ebola epidemic mainly effected Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone within the west Africa but also spreading throughout the global reaching the United States of America (Evans, Goldstein, & Popova, 2015). Liberia was effect by the EVD the most, as evidenced by reviewing the chart created by CDC (2017), Liberia had the most deaths caused by EVD. As Liberia is known as the hardest country to be effected by the EVD, means this country needs higher interventions. As Kobayashi, Beer, Bjork, Chatham-Stephens, Cherry, Arzoaquoi, & Painter (2015),reports “As of July 1, 2015, Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone have reported a total of 27,443 confirmed, probable, and suspected Ebola virus disease cases and 11,220 deaths.” The EVD is not only dangerous to the people and community but also hazardous to the medical field. As stated within the Evans, Goldstein, & Popova’s (2015) article, in 2015 when the outbreak of EVD reached Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone’s hospital it killed many doctors, nurses, and midwives (Evans, Goldstein, & Popova, 2015), causing increased death rates of women during childbirth due to these medical professions dying related to the EVD.

Risk Factors of Ebola in Liberia, Africa

The biggest risk factor of EVD is death. Unfortunately, EVD can harm the human body so badly that death occurs. Early warning sign includes fever, associated with severe headache, muscle pain, weakness, fatigue, diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, unexplained hemorrhage that usually appear anywhere from 2 to 21 days after contact with EVD (CDC, 2018) which may mock the influenza or malaria viruses. Once signs and symptoms occur, it is necessary to report these symptoms concerning for the EVD. With EVD outbreaks, as known, has killed multiple individuals and actions need to be taken within a certain timeframe.

Impact on Health System of Ebola in Liberia, Africa

With outbreaks and fatal deaths as outcomes, it has effect the health care system. As some doctors, nurse, midwives may not be fully educated on this disease, results can be fatal to themselves and their families. As the medical profession is the first line of treatment for these infected individuals, being unaware of what they are involving themselves with, they must always remain cautious with all patients. As also stated above, on how many deaths have occurred within the medical field in 2015, it also has increased death rates with women during difficult childbirth due to shortage of doctors, nurses, and midwives. The EVD needs multiple resources to properly treated and help decrease exposure.

Priority Action Steps of Ebola in Liberia, Africa

Actions that need to be taken include establishing a vaccination, continued education, and providing more resources. As reported by Kobayashi et al., (2015), low-income countries has minimum knowledge about transmission of EVD. Educating the community about the EVD, how it is transmitted, prevented, signs and symptoms and treatment, should help the reduction of outbreaks, along with extended education with medical staff. By providing more resources, with shortage of medical doctors, nurses, and midwives in Africa, this will also help provide proper care for the countries’ population. Also providing treatment equipment such as intravenous fluids, electrolytes, oxygen therapy, medications to help interact with other issues caused by EVD such as vomiting, high blood pressure, fever, and pain, also treating any other infections if they occur within that time (CDC, 2018). Lastly, establishing a vaccination. There has not been one developed yet, but has been currently under process. In the meantime, providing funds to expand knowledge about this infectious disease and providing resources will help reduce death rate throughout west Africa, including Liberia, and help decrease outbreaks throughout the world.

Reference of Ebola in Liberia, Africa

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2017, December 27). Case Counts, 2014-2016 Outbreak West Africa, History,  Ebola (Ebola Virus Disease), CDC. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/history/2014-2016-outbreak/case-counts.html

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2018, May 15). Ebola (Ebola Virus Disease), CDC. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/

Evans, D. K., Goldstein, M., & Popova, A. (2015). Health-care worker mortality and the legacy of the Ebola epidemic. The Lancet Global Health, 3(8), e439-e440.

Kobayashi, M., Beer, K. D., Bjork, A., Chatham-Stephens, K., Cherry, C. C., Arzoaquoi, S., ... & Painter, J. E. (2015). Community knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding Ebola virus disease—five counties, Liberia, September–October, 2014. MMWR. Morbidity and mortality weekly report, 64(26), 714.Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4584843/

Medline Plus. (2018, March 14). Ebola: MedlinePlus. Retrieved from https://medlineplus.gov/ebola.html