This modeling study examined the impact of conflict events on disease control efforts during an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The model used a timeline of conflict events and an ethnographic appraisal of attacks on health care workers and treatment centers to estimate their impact on the epidemic trajectory of Ebola. Overall, the population-level effectiveness of vaccination was reduced by 43% due to disruptive conflict events. The researchers also found that declining incidence of Ebola was repeatedly reversed by conflict events. This framework can be extended to other diseases and regions experiencing conflict.
Full Citation:
Wells CR, Pandey A, Ndeffo Mbah ML et al.. 2019. The exacerbation of Ebola outbreaks by conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 116(48).
Title of Article: The exacerbation of Ebola outbreaks by conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Author(s): Wells CR, Pandey A, Ndeffo Mbah ML et al.
Publication Year: 2019
Publication Name: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Publication Volume: 116(48)
Publication Source URL: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31636188/
DOI (Digital Object Identifier): 10.1073/pnas.1913980116
Topics: Conflict & Humanitarian Emergencies | Global Issues
Disease Vaccines: Ebola
Countries: Congo - The Democratic Republic Of The
WHO Regions: Africa