Question

When you consider the response to Ebola in West Africa, and what you know about the response to COVID-19 in the United States is, how do you compare them?

Were there any lessons learned that should have been applied?

Were there any mistakes in the COVID-19 response? Could the US have learned from other countries? How can community building contribute to a successful COVID response?

Answer 1

The 2014-2016 Ebola outbreak in West Africa was the largest Ebola outbreak since the virus was first discovered in 1976 while the Covid-19 pandemic in the United States is a part of the worldwide pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019.Both the countries were not themselves prepared for the outbreaks and these contagious diseases resulted in high mortality rates. Delayed identification resulted in rapid spread of these epidemic as rate of contamination through close contact is very high. For ebola outbreak as well as for Covid 19 pandemic, strict preventive measures were taken such as examination of all who were entering or leaving the country, encouraging hand washing and use of sanitisers, awareness creation etc. State and local responses to the Covid outbreak in United States also includes prohibitions and cancellation of large scale gatherings, stay at home orders and closures of schools. Researches regarding Covid 19 vaccines and funding are still ongoing.