Outbreak containment

Abstract

Containment of AFHF outbreaks and epidemics can be divided into two parts. On a global level, import and export controls and enhanced disease surveillance likely would decrease the risk of filovirus introduction and spread in nonendemic countries by infected animals and humans. On a national and local level, organized and collaborative intervention (defined by case identification and surveillance, case management and isolation, social mobilization, education, and logistics, such as finances, transport, and communication [1924]), should decrease and, ideally, prevent filovirus transmission. Although the principles of containment are of a general nature, fundamental differences occur among nations that are in different stages of development regarding health care and technical equipment, local customs and beliefs, and the willingness of individuals, local peoples, or organizations to collaborate or follow behavioral recommendations. Therefore, outbreak intervention strategies successfully applied in one country might not necessarily be useful in another.