The response to the recent Ebola outbreak in East Africa has shown signs of improvement, suggesting the world has learned from previous experiences with Ebola and the Covid-19 pandemic, according to public health experts.
Despite challenges, such as the Bundibugyo virus spreading undetected in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda for months and treatment centers lacking basic medical supplies, experts see progress. “If the world earned an F on the response to the West Africa outbreak, then we’re at maybe a C+ now,” said Suerie Moon, a global health researcher. Moon led an international review of the response to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, which lasted two years and killed over 11,000 people.
Improvements include increased coordination and cooperation among governments and scientists, and more investment in infrastructure for rapid scientific response. Funding has been secured for research on potential vaccines and treatments for Bundibugyo.
“The fact that we’re even talking about clinical trials is a world away from where we were in 2014,” noted Dr. Daniel Bausch. He has extensive experience responding to hemorrhagic fever outbreaks in Africa. Bausch emphasized that not all is negative in the current situation.
However, experts point out ongoing issues, especially in sustaining funding for treatments and ensuring they are accessible to anyone in need.