From 2014 to 2016, the world’s first and largest Ebola epidemic occurred in West Africa. An estimated 28,600 cases and 11,300 deaths occurred across 10 countries during the two years. The U.S.’s CDC played a key role in managing the outbreak from abroad, while limiting domestic cases and fatalities.
In this case study, Morris dives into the CDC’s critical role in establishing an incident management system in Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia during the outbreak. Morris highlights that the agency was highly effective in controlling the spread of infection and demonstrated a successful example of rapid emergency response through proactive coordination and leadership.