A Global Health Discussion: Ebola Response

An article by Michaud and Kates seems to suggest that if there are no changes in the projected epidemic outbreak, then the possible future outcome of Ebola epidemic could reach 1.4 million by the end of January 2015 based on the CDC’s new Ebola model (Michaud & Kates, 2014).A Global Health Discussion: Ebola Response

This estimate could be the worst-case scenario for Liberia and Sierra Leone. The earliest case of Ebola was diagnosed over six months ago in West Africa and the outbreak has persisted steadily, particularly in the two West African states (Michaud & Kates, 2014).

The article depicts a grim case for Ebola epidemic in the future, if there is no substantial action adopted immediately. It creates a sense of urgency by relying on stark new data from the WHO, which show vast underestimates, unreported, uncounted and undetected cases and projections from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).A Global Health Discussion: Ebola Response

While the CDC has provided the future possible projections for Ebola, the WHO as acted an authoritative source by providing data which the global health community and other stakeholders depend on for updates and situation reports. The WHO has actively gathered data from relevant stakeholders since August. The WHO figures represent the ‘gold standard’.