Category: West Africa
Tracking Lassa Fever Across Three Countries
When a Beninese migrant worker fell ill in Nigeria in December 2017, he decided to return to his parents’ home in Togo for care. His condition deteriorated during his trip through Benin. On his trip he stopped at Tandou Health Center in Tchaourou, Benin, was attended to by two healthcare workers, and continued his Read More >
Posted on byAre Ebola response investments making an impact? CDC Epidemiologist reflects on West Africa then and now
The first time I deployed to West Africa was in September 2014, at the height of the Ebola epidemic in Sierra Leone. I have witnessed many disease outbreaks in my public health career, but this one was more devastating than I could ever have imagined. It eventually took more than 11,000 lives. What was happening Read More >
Posted on by 1 CommentPresident Obama’s Call to Accelerate Battle Against Malaria Builds on Impressive Gains
Malaria is a public health issue that has always been one of our highest priorities. Tweet This President Obama’s call to arms to end malaria worldwide as announced during his recent State of the Union address and the Administration’s request to increase resources for malaria control, underscore the remarkable progress made in the fight against Read More >
Posted on byHard But Fulfilling Work in the Fight Against Ebola
The fruit bat dropped silently from the delivery room ceiling and quickly crawled away as the nurse explained how she mixed the 0.5% chlorine solution used to sterilize the medical instruments. It was a normal day of assessing the infection prevention and control (IPC) procedures of peripheral health units (PHUs) in the rural areas of Read More >
Posted on byWorking collaboratively to support Ebola response efforts in Sierra Leone
CDC’s FETP partnerships with African nations continue to be leveraged beyond their national borders and for new and unexpected health threats. Dr. Bao-Ping’s blog posted originally on March 31 is being highlighted again as a reminder of how FETPs support global as well as individual nation’s health security. In late November 2014, during the peak Read More >
Posted on by 1 CommentStopping Ebola by Land, Water and Air
This blog was originally posted on Huffington Post on February 18, 2015. Speed is paramount in our response to the Ebola epidemic in West Africa as we continue to be vigilant in the fight to extinguish Ebola. The faster we get to communities with suspected cases, the faster we protect the people there. That gets us Read More >
Posted on byWater is Essential
World Water Day is an opportunity to evaluate the importance of improved sanitation and hygiene in the health of the world’s population. Access to basic hygiene and sanitation facilities helps people stay healthy and prevent the spread of disease. Water and Ebola The world is currently battling to stop the largest Ebola outbreak in history. Read More >
Posted on by 2 CommentsA Day in Liberia — John Logan Town
I am not a morning person. In a typical week, it takes a long shower and a cup or two of coffee before I hit my stride. This was not the case for me on October 30th. I sprung out of bed at 5:00am and was ready to start the day’s mission. We were heading Read More >
Posted on by 4 CommentsPreparedness Workshops Help At-Risk Countries Prepare for Ebola
A recent news story in Bloomberg Businessweek proclaims “How to Avert an Ebola Nightmare: Lessons from Nigeria’s Victory.” The article outlines the remarkable achievement of Nigeria’s Ministry of Health with partners, including CDC, to contain the spread of Ebola in that country. Now declared Ebola-free by the World Health Organization (WHO), Nigeria stands as a Read More >
Posted on by 2 CommentsCDC Director: Why I don’t support a travel ban to combat Ebola outbreak
This blog was originally posted on Fox News on October 9, 2014. The first case of Ebola diagnosed in the United States has caused some to call on the United States to ban travel for anyone from the countries in West Africa facing the worst of the Ebola epidemic. That response is understandable. Read More >
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