Ebola is now a disease that can be diagnosed and treated. To prevent Ebola outbreaks from occurring in the first place, the world needs to be proactive to be better prepared.

The West African Ebola epidemic of 2014 resulted in more than 28,000 suspected cases and 11,000 deaths. At the time, there were no vaccines and no treatments to help combat the disease. Because the amount of virus present in the body is known to be highest at point of death, traditional funeral practices – which include washing and touching the corpse – led to many people becoming infected in the earlier stages of the epidemic.

This epidemic was the catalyst for prioritising critical research to have better tools to prevent and respond to Ebola.

First, aid workers and researchers worked with the communities that adhered to traditional burial practices to negotiate slightly different practices. This made sure that future burials and funerals were medically safe but still acceptable to the community. Burial teams made up of local volunteers, gained the trust of the communities, which was critical to success.

It’s unlikely that we would ever be able to prevent Ebola from reappearing completely because of the animal reservoir, but we can do more to protect those at risk:

  • Community engagement and education 
  • Widespread surveillance and monitoring systems  
  • Prevention-led vaccination strategies  
  • Prioritising filling the research gaps 

Read the full article about lessons from the global response to Ebola by Josie Golding at Wellcome.