Ebola Viral Disease in West Africa: A Threat to Global Health, Economy and Political Stability

Omoleke, Semeeh Akinwale; Mohammed, Ibrahim; Saidu, Yauba

Analysis of different EVD outbreaks indicates that there are great similarities in factors that have triggered outbreaks and enhanced unprecedented spread of the disease. These include, epizootic challenges accompanying increasing anthropogenic activity around ecological zones of increasing biodiversity (linked to population expansion and poverty), climate change, negative health careseeking practices of some members of the afflicted communities, gate-keeping role by traditional healers and the traditional health care system, water and sanitation challenges, burial practices and corpse management capacity in poor-resource settings, porous borders and weak port health services, strong cross-border cultural and socio-economic ties and, last but not least, a weak formal health care system as evidenced by shortage of healthcare workers, infrastructure, equipment and major gaps in health financing. These are common variables not only for Ebola affected countries but other nations that are at risk of emerging infectious diseases (Table 1 ). In this section, we reviewed some factors that can trigger outbreaks and enhance transmission of the disease.