GeMUN 2015
AFRICAN UNION
Measures to Combat Ebola
Study Guide
By: Ahmed Abdulrahman
Definitions of Key Terms
Ebola Virus Disease: A hemorrhagic fever that is usually fatal caused by disease-causing virus
Body Fluids: Any type of liquid found in the body, e.g. Blood, urine, saliva
Outbreaks: A sudden occurrence of public disturbance
Symptoms: An indication of something
Transmission: The passing or spreading of a disease
Prevention: To stop from occurring
Vaccination: Preparation against a disease by providing immunity against it
Quarantine: A strict isolation imposed to prevent the spread of disease
Introduction
The Ebola Virus Disease is a potentially fatal disease to man. The disease has had numerous outbreaks in
the 20th and 21st Century, however to this day there is still no known cure or vaccination for the epidemic.
Ebola is also a very contagious disease, i.e. the virus can spread easily in a community, therefore the virus
is especially dangerous in African societies as health care is relatively poor due to limited human resources
and advanced facilities needed to contain the virus. African culture also plays a role in how fast the disease
spreads since many burial techniques cause contamination to others.
Combating the virus and preventing it has proven its risk since the doctors are a high risk when treating the
patients, this means that strict procedures and regulations are compulsory when tackling the Ebola virus.
In infected patients, death occurs around one month from exposure, this means that quick and efficient
action is critical when curing patients. Finding a cure or vaccine will need intensive research and time since
the Ebola virus has different species.
Background Information
The Ebola Virus was first discovered in 1976 in two coexistent epidemics. The first of the two locations is
in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), more specifically in the village of Yambuku in the north of
the DRC. The second location is Nzara, Maridi, in the south of Sudan (modern day South Sudan) near the
border of the DRC. The name Ebola comes from the Ebola River near the village where it first appeared.
After the first outbreak around 30 other outbreaks were to follow affecting numerous counties around the
world. The number of cases were, on average, relatively low, however the fatality rates remain high as an
alarming percentage of the original number of cases eventually die. This reflects how serious of a disease
Ebola is and the gravity of this issue.
The most recent outbreak is by far the largest and most dangerous outbreak since its discovery, with cases
exceeding 19000 compared to the 318 cases of the initial outbreak. Some figures may be understatements
of the actual figures which means that the cost is higher than it already is. This spread is underway and
already and it currently poses a threat to the continent of Africa.
Diagnosing people with the Ebola Virus Disease has proven its difficulty since the rudimentary symptoms,
such as headaches and fevers, are very similar to minor sicknesses such as the flu. Once the infection has
reached a deep enough stage most victims suffer from bruising or bleeding gums, in severe cases bleeding
will occur through the eyes or nose which increases danger as this increases contamination risk. In African
countries where health care is not very sophisticated, early diagnosis is barrier that must be overcome.
In a high density settlement, a contagious disease such as Ebola is likely to spread easily, it is initially
passed from animals to humans through consumption or direct contact. Human-to-human contact involves
coming into contact with the body fluids of an infected person, this endangers relatives or people that come
into close contact with the infected patient, and this also involves sexual intercourse. African religious
beliefs and culture also aids the spreading of the disease as some burial techniques and other practices
involve touching the blood of another person, however convincing religious leaders will be an obstacle
since they are not willing to defy their tradition. Cut skin is extremely vulnerable to contamination since
the virus can access the blood with no intervening membrane. The virus can also rapidly spread in a clinic
or hospital (potentially infecting doctors and other staff) when patients share equipment such as syringes or
needles, i.e. an infected person may pass on the virus through using a needle and then the needle is re-used
without proper cleaning.
Doctors responsible of treating the virus are encouraged to be professionally taught on how to study the
virus and simultaneously avoid getting infected themselves, however that is not always the case, some
medical centers little if not no medical preparation whatsoever which means that staff are at risk of
contamination. Approaching areas in which the virus is present requires special equipment such as gloves,
goggles, suits in which no skin is exposed as well as other safety procedures to destroy contaminated
objects, also all labs and facilities should be sterilized. The general public should also be educated on the
basics of avoiding contamination and preserving personal hygiene.
Major Countries Involved
As of 17/12/14
Liberia
Liberia is the most affected country by the March 2014 outbreak. The death toll has exceeded 3,300, this
reflects the quality of medical care in the country. Liberia’s plans to control to spread of include placing
the country’s largest slum West Point into quarantine to contain the virus and stop it spreading, this sparked
many protests in the country as well as the residents of the slum. The president has also enforced a nocturnal
curfew to help minimize human contact. Ebola has had its hardest hit on Liberia and the government is
fighting to contain the virus.
Sierra Leone
The government of Sierra Leone had struggled to effectively contain the spreading of the Ebola virus.
Echoes of the civil war that ended in 2002 have still not faded, putting the country in a weaker state. The
rapidly increasing population of Sierra Leone means that the country’s has meant that the resources in the
country have been overexploited leaving behind two issues; starvation as well as the Ebola outbreak. In
September 2014 Sierra Leone introduced a 3-day lockdown to search over one million households for Ebola
victims, this search resulted in the discovery of 130 new cases. By mid-December 2014, the Ebola deaths
in Sierra Leone had reached approximately 2,500 deaths.
Guinea
Gueckedou, Guinea is the village where the most recent outbreak occurred, and from there the disease
crossed two different borders. Despite Guinea being the country where the first infection occurred, it the
lowest deaths due to Ebola at over one and a half thousand deaths. This figure is still high and medical
teams are still at risk and remain working very hard. Various mobile clinics have been set up for quick
response to counter any new cases.
UN Involvement
World Health Organization (WHO) - This United Nations organization has dispatched a large team of
doctors to the affected zones in which the Ebola virus is active. The specialists have been given designated
jobs on how to safely dispose of dead Ebola victims, raise awareness and social mobilization, in addition
to studying the virus and trying to find a reliable cure. This organization also aims on training other medical
staff on certain policies when approaching an Ebola risk zone.
United Nations Mission for Ebola Emergency Response (UNMEER) - This newly set organization is a
health emergency mission created to aid the fight against Ebola. It provides the necessary resources,
equipment and manpower needed to stop the virus from spreading. The UNMEER also works in
coordination with major governments to schematically come with solutions to prevent Ebola.
United Nations Development Program (UNDP) - The UNDP has been involved with ensuring Ebola
workers are being paid sufficiently and quickly to ensure their guaranteed assistance and support. This
organization also helps identify possible cases and trace contacts and educate people on how the disease
spreads. The UNDP also intends to maintain the peaceful political and development gains achieved between
Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea in these difficult times.
Reliable Useful Links
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs103/en/
http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-28755033
http://www.un.org/ebolaresponse/mission.shtml
http://www.un.org/ebolaresponse/index.shtml#&panel1-1
http://pages.au.int/ebola