New INDEPTH paper in Emerging Infectious Diseases

Ebola virus disease (EVD) has demonstrated the devastating impact that zoonotic diseases can have on human populations . The recent EVD outbreak exposed national and international weaknesses in existing systems of outbreak response. The ability for this relatively rare virus to quickly spread merits the need for better preparedness plans in at-risk countries. Because zoonotic diseases account for most emerging infectious diseases, effective interventions must focus on animal reservoir hosts in addition to human health-seeking behavior and health system effectiveness.

The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) in collaboration with INDEPTH network hosted an Ebola risk mapping and preparedness planning workshop for the countries identified as at risk for a possible outbreak. The workshop was held on February 25 and 26, 2016, in Accra, Ghana, and was attended by participants from 19 at-risk countries across Africa.

The workshop’s focus on networking fostered a culture of collaboration between animal and human health experts, as well as across countries. Read more