Impact Of the 2014/2015 Ebola Virus Disease Epidemic on Malaria Cases and Control in Some West African Countries. A Mini Review

Ukpai O. M¹ and Ubiaru P.C.^1,

¹Department of Zoology and Environmental Biology, College of Natural Sciences, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Umuahia Abia State, Nigeria

Cite this paper:
Ukpai O. M and Ubiaru P.C.. Impact Of the 2014/2015 Ebola Virus Disease Epidemic on Malaria Cases and Control in Some West African Countries. A Mini Review. American Journal of Medical Case Reports. 2015; 3(10):325-328. doi: 10.12691/ajmcr-3-10-6

Abstract

Ebola hemorrhagic Disease (EHD) is a severe, often fatal disease in humans and nonhuman primates (monkeys, gorillas, and chimpanzees) that has appeared sporadically since its initial recognition in 1976. Malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by Plasmodium that is transmitted to people through the bites of infected mosquitoes. Increased malaria prevention and control measures are dramatically reducing the malaria burden in many places. Disease outbreaks and catastrophes can affect countries at any time, causing substantial human suffering, deaths, and economic losses. Ebola virus disease outbreak in Western African countries; Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone caused the cases of malaria to increase and death rate from malaria also increased in that region. Capacity health systems and external health related aid to Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone increased in combating the disease neglecting malaria. The lack of balanced investment in the health systems contributed to the challenges of controlling and combating malaria cases. Ebola caused a spike in malaria cases in the three West African countries heavily affected by the disease which have undermined previous efforts to curb malaria. Thousands of malaria cases went untreated in Guinea in 2014 as people with symptoms avoided health clinics for the fear of being sent into isolation at Ebola treatment centers as the early symptoms of malaria mimic those of Ebola virus disease. Ebola overwhelmed health care systems in the year 2014, making adequate care for malaria impossible and disrupted the distribution of bed nets in the affected areas. Rather than label one disease as more important than the others, equal attention or near equal attention should be given to all the diseases of the public health concern to lower the death tolls for all of them. Malaria control efforts must be kept on track during an Ebola epidemic so that progress made in malaria control is not jeopardized.

Keywords:
ebola malaria disease impact West Africa

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