Ebola epidemic and global response

The disease caused by Ebola virus has become a global concern though many nations think it to be a problem of West African countries only.
A BRAC team, of which this scribe was a member, visited some African countries in the months of March, April and May this year. We were in Sierra Leone for one month when Ebola virus was first detected in Guinea, a close neighbour of Sierra Leone. Every day, thousands of people pour into Sierra Leone from Guinea. When we went to the border, our car was checked again and again by the security forces to check Ebola virus-bearing people. When we gave our identity as BRAC officials, they smilingly let us go ahead. How will they resist the virus from entering their country from the neighbouring country? During our stay we just tried to avoid making handshake with the officials, teachers and BRAC staff of Sierra Leone. But the locals don't take such precaution and within three months Ebola viral disease took an epidemic form straining severely the public health infrastructure of Sierra Leone.
 According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), more than 1400 patients succumbed to Ebola viral disease by September 02, 2014. WHO has declared the Ebola epidemic a public health emergency of international concern. Besides medical treatment, controlling the outbreak of Ebola epidemic requires the deployment of a large number of people to train health care personnel in infection control measures, to follow up with and trace cases and their contacts, to set up an epidemiological surveillance network, and to promote public health messages. Sierra Leone's Ministry of Health is working with the WHO to reinforce teams for contact tracing. Patients still need to be identified. If patients receive treatment at the first signs of the disease, they have a better chance to survive.
As the disease is caused by infection  and  is spread by direct contact  with a sick person's blood or body fluid, urine, saliva, feces, vomiting, and semen the government  of Sierra Leone has taken some  steps to combat the disease. They have (i) instituted new protocols for arriving and departing passengers at Lungi International Airport; (ii) instituted restrictions on public and other mass gatherings; (iii) instituted quarantine measures for communities affected by Ebola; travel in and out of those communities will be restricted until a medical team clears them; (iv) authorised house-to-house searches to locate and quarantine Ebola patients and reporting all deaths before burial; (v) authorised police and military personnel to help enforce these and other prevention and control measures; (vi) required local government officials to frame rules and regulations to support Ebola prevention efforts.
There is no vaccine or specific treatment for Ebola, and many people who get the disease die. Therefore, it is important to take steps to prevent Ebola. The 2014 Ebola outbreak is one of the largest Ebola outbreaks in history and the first in West Africa. It is affecting four countries in West Africa: Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone, but does not pose a significant risk to the developed countries. Probably this is the cause for which the issue does not get the kind of global attention it deserves. While there is currently no licensed vaccine or cure for Ebola, there is certainly prevention.
Fear has gripped the region, but fear does not help fight the disease. Instead, people  need to stop the spread of the virus by spreading awareness, good advice and helping people to take preventive measures.
Plan International, an international development organisation, has conducted public-awareness sessions reaching hundreds of thousands of people across the region. The organization is also training hundreds of health workers and distributing disinfectant kits and washing devices across the affected countries.
Weak public health systems and poverty are contributing to Ebola's spread. The countries affected are among the poorest in the world and developed countries  need to be generous in their contributions to the battle against Ebola. In fact, this deadly outbreak is a wake-up call for the world. Donors  and developed countries   need to build strong public health systems, early warning systems and preparations for potential future outbreaks.
What global community needs to do now is not speculation, but global action.  Time is running out fast, millions of lives are at stake and the world needs to act now. However, the international response is still slow and derisory. Only a handful of international actors are engaged in the fight against Ebola. Promises of funding and political statements are not sufficient. Case finding must be intensified, more isolation centres  have to be set up, communities must be sensitised,  and general health services  must be reopened. These activities  must be properly  coordinated inside and beyond the borders of the affected countries.
The writer is Program Manager: BRAC Education Program.
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