Lyden, Katherine
(2020)
The Ongoing Ebola Epidemic in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: Contributing Factors that have Influenced Disease Control.
Master Essay, University of Pittsburgh.
Abstract
Ebolavirus outbreaks and epidemics have affected regions of Africa since its discovery in 1976. Presently, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is experiencing its tenth and largest outbreak of Ebolavirus, infecting nearly 3,432 individuals and causing 2,253 deaths. First declared an official outbreak on August 1, 2018, the DRC Ministry of Health (MOH) and other global health institutions are having difficulties in controlling the spread of infection due to community resistance and mistrust, poor healthcare infrastructures, political conflict, civil unrest, and porous geographic boundaries. A literature review and analysis were performed to evaluate contributing factors to the ongoing outbreak in the DRC. In this essay, I outline the contributing factors that have led to the continuity of the ebolavirus epidemic in the DRC and predict long-term effects it may have on the country. By analyzing up-to-date World Health Organization (WHO) situation reports, journal articles, and newspaper reports, I have found that in order to sufficiently control the outbreak, continued surveillance and contact tracing is required in combination with building community trust and transparency. It is important to understand outbreak and infection control measures in historically underdeveloped areas, especially those with poor healthcare infrastructure and politically unstable environments. By gaining insight on the successes and shortcomings of specific public health control measures, health ministries and global health organizations can improve upon their actions and distribution of resources in times of dangerous outbreaks.
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Details
| Item Type: |
Other Thesis, Dissertation, or Long Paper
(Master Essay)
|
| Status: |
Unpublished |
| Creators/Authors: |
|
| Contributors: |
| Contribution | Contributors Name | Email | Pitt Username | ORCID  |
|---|
| Committee Chair | Martinson, Jeremy | jmartins@pitt.edu | UNSPECIFIED | UNSPECIFIED | | Committee Member | Russell, Joanne | joanner@pitt.edu | UNSPECIFIED | UNSPECIFIED |
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| Date: |
20 April 2020 |
| Date Type: |
Submission |
| Number of Pages: |
38 |
| Institution: |
University of Pittsburgh |
| Schools and Programs: |
School of Public Health > Infectious Diseases and Microbiology |
| Degree: |
MPH - Master of Public Health |
| Thesis Type: |
Master Essay |
| Refereed: |
Yes |
| Date Deposited: |
29 Aug 2020 02:13 |
| Last Modified: |
29 Aug 2020 02:13 |
| URI: |
http://d-scholarship.pitt.edu/id/eprint/39279 |
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