Ebola Virus Analysis

On March 21, 2014, the first cases of Ebola were confirmed after being misdiagnosed since December 2013. “Ebola, an infectious hemorrhagic disease, is transmitted through contact with infected bodily fluids; such as, urine, vomit, semen, and blood.” (Ebola). The way Ebola is transmitted caused a great deal of stress for health workers and others who may have come in contact with an infected person during the three-month period Ebola was being misdiagnosed. At the time of confirmation, Ebola was misunderstood and frightening to the citizens of West Africa because of West Africa’s inadequate health system and poor infrastructure. The Ebola virus, discovered in 1976, along a river in the Democratic Republic of Congo, recently started appearing
sporadically in Africa because of a natural host that carries the virus to humans (“Ebola”). According to Gostin and Friedman, West Africa was the worst area for an epidemic to ensue. The authors explain how West Africa’s poor infrastructure allowed the virus to develop into a worldwide crisis.
At the time Ebola hit West Africa, the health system and regulations were insufficient. Gostin and Friedman blame the “unfamiliarity of the Ebola virus for its delayed detection” (1902). In the first stages of Ebola, government leaders who acted in early response to the virus failed to educate citizens. Residents became frightened when doctors in hazmat suits arrived to relocate the ill to health facilities, as a result, residents started hiding the ill creating an “… underground transmission chain” (1902). As Ebola intensified, many paid doctors and health workers fled their jobs leaving health centers and health facilities in need of volunteers and funding. Frustration continued to grow when government funding started being neglected and professionals pay became scarce; doctors started reporting months without “hazard pay” or proper equipment (Salaam-Blyther 535). The 2014 Ebola crisis started breaking records, being recognized as the most infectious spread of Ebola in world history (Salaam-Blyther 523). Authors Gostin and Friedman’s article points out flaws in the Global Health System; the authors use important organizations as government funded programs failures during the West Africa Ebola crisis to drive their
argument. The Authors use their expert opinions to offer ways the government can reform the Health System to create a unified and prepared Global Health System. The Ebola virus transformed into an epidemic in just three short months.
“In June, the virus had been confirmed in at least sixty different locations and within the next month, Ebola made its way to the United States” Gostin and Friedman pointed out. “By August 20, 2014, The World Health Organizations released a statement confirming 2,615 Ebola cases” (Salaam-Blyther 523). Many Health workers found themselves with little protective equipment, funding, and proper Ebola education. The numbers of health workers who became infected skyrocketed forcing health facilities to close and Ebola patients to fend for themselves. “On August 2014, the World Health Organization declared Ebola a Public Health Emergency… ” (Gostin and Friedman 1902). Following WHO’s announcement, international donations from the World Bank and the U.S started assisting the World Health Organization to support a “seventy-one million dollar” action plan (Gostin and Friedman 1902). Anxiety rose over the Ebola virus when the “Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) [released] a worst-case scenario of 1.4 million infections by mid-January, 2015” (1903). Governments started to take action and by February 2015, international contributions neared one billion. The goal to reach zero new Ebola patients became the main focus of the global health system. In the article, Gostin and Friedman are informing readers how the Ebola Epidemic revealed the weak points within the global health system. The authors explain
how late international responses, uncoordinated strategies, and ill-defined responsibilities are the motivators for change. Gostin and Friedman are writing to rouse support and change by informing readers what the problems are with the global health system and describing ways to reform the system by empowering the World Health Organization to form a stable global foundation. Lawrence A. Gostin, a Professor at Georgetown University Law Center, has degrees in Health Policy Management and Research from Duke University. Gostin is considered an expert on Constitutional Law, Global Health Law, and Human Rights Law. He is an associate Dean and acts as a Health Service Administrator in his community. Gostin partners up with Eric A. Friedman to write articles; such as, “Analysis of the West African Ebola Virus Disease Epidemic.” Friedman and Gostin start their article by describing the events and actions taken during the Ebola outbreak. The authors discuss the delayed response and hesitation from officials as “eye opening” claiming reform is needed to empowering the World Health Organization, from a stable Global Health framework, and unite organizations. The authors address their disappointment in the Global Health System by pointing out how the West African government failed to follow proper outbreak procedure and government officials failed to unite in the face of adversity. Gostin and Friedman explain how the government failed to act as a unit, but instead, acted for themselves when they enacted airline restrictions and closed borders. The airline