Ebola Virus Disease Crisis in Western Africa
Dr Marcos Espinal
Director, Communicable Diseases and Health Analysis
Washington DC, 24 September 2014
What is Ebola?
A rare and deadly disease caused by infection
with one of Ebola virus strains.
It was
discovered in 1976 near the Ebola River in
what is now the Democratic Republic of Congo
The United Nations Security Council
declared the Ebola crisis in West Africa to be
a threat to international peace and security
Resolution 2177 (18 September 2014)
As of 22 September 5800 cases have been
reported and 2800 known deaths
Status of Ebola Outbreak 2014
West and Central Africa, as of 22 September 2014
• Unprecedented
• Dynamic situation rapidly
deteriorating
• Capacity of the international
response being exceeded
• Unrelated
simultaneous
outbreak in DRC
Distribution of Ebola cases by week of onset
West Africa, as of 22 September 2014
•
•
•
Multiple countries and
multiple hotspots
Capitals/large urban areas
affected
Cross border movement
Strategy for the control of Ebola outbreaks
• National leadership and risk
communication
• Outbreak control measures to
stop transmission:
• Clinical Management and
Infection Prevention Control
• Epidemiological investigation,
surveillance and laboratories
• Behavioral and social
interventions
• Logistics
• Need for Complementary, community-led approaches essential and
non conventional interventions
IHR Emergency Committee
regarding the 2014 Ebola Outbreak in West Africa
• Public Health Emergency of
International Concern (PHEIC)
determined by WHO Director General
on 8 August 2014
• Temporary Recommendations
• States with Ebola transmission
• States with a potential or confirmed Ebola
case, and unaffected States with land
borders with affected States
• All States
WHO Ebola Response Roadmap
https://extranet.who.int/ebola/
What needs to be done in the Americas?
Strengthen preparedness in all countries to rapidly detect and
respond to an Ebola exposure
1. Establish active surveillance for clusters of unexplained deaths or
febrile illness
2. Provide the public with accurate and relevant information to reduce
the risk of exposure - importance of risk communication
3. Establish a protocol for managing travelers who arrive at major land
crossing points with unexplained febrile illness
4. Identify isolation units where suspected Ebola cases can be properly
investigated and managed
5. Arrange a process for rapidly shipping diagnostic specimens to the
WHO-recognized laboratories (US and Canada)
Considerations for the American Region (1)
PAHO Actions: Preparedness activities
1. Director creates a strategic high level Task Force on Ebola*
2. An operational technical Working Group led by the Communicable Diseases
Department
3. Alert & Response Team (24/7)
4. Virtual meetings with Ministry of Health personnel and PAHO Country Offices at
weekly basis
5. Technical documents and guidelines for preparedness activities (surveillance,
laboratory, points of entry, etc.) have been disseminated
6. Select country visits
7. Acquisition of supplies and personal protective equipment to assist priority countries
8. Close interaction\collaboration with sister agencies
9. Support to pre-deployment training to affected countries
* Department Directors and PAHO Country Representatives
Considerations for the American region (2)
Objective of ongoing public health efforts
and preparedness activities:
To contain and prevent establishment of local
transmission of Ebola following the introduction of
a case in a country previously free of the disease
Considerations for the American Region (3)
Collaboration with international organizations
-
Travel and Transport Task Force: WHO, the
International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO),
World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), Airports
Council International (ACI), International Air
Transport Association (IATA) and World Travel
and Tourism Council (WTTC), OAS Inter
American Committee on Ports
-
ICAO Electronic Bulletin
- Facilitation of transport by air of infectious
substances and infectious patients
- Facilitation of relief flights undertaken in
response to the emergency
-
Joint letter WHO-ICAO
Considerations for the American region (4)
Preparedness activities
Core capacities to meet the International
Health Regulations requirements:
Members States should build on existing
Preparedness and Response mechanisms
using the temporary Recommendations
issued by the IHR Emergency Committee
as basis to refine actions
Concluding Remarks
1. PAHO would like to stress the importance for Governments to support the
implementation of the IHR not only involving Ministries of Health but also
inter sectorial partners, such as airport and port authorities, customs and
transport departments, civil defense, etc.
2. PAHO is working closely with its Member States regarding Ebola
preparedness activities including activation of the national IHR and Health
Emergency Plans.
3. Countries of the Americas must focus their activities on strengthening
capacity to manage Ebola events at both Points of Entry and Health Care
Facilities including isolation facilities, provision of Personal Protection
Equipment and specimen sampling & shipping procedures.
- Ebola virus disease
- www.paho.org