EBOLA VIRUS AND GLOBAL HEALTH EMERGENCIES: IMPACTS, PREVENTION AND CONTROL
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.63330/aurumpub.068-007Keywords:
Biosafety, Ebola, Global health, Health emergencies, PreventionAbstract
The Ebola virus remains an important threat to public health and global health security, particularly because of its potential to cause severe outbreaks and epidemiological, social, economic, and institutional consequences. This study aimed to analyze the impacts of the Ebola virus in the context of global health emergencies, emphasizing prevention, preparedness, surveillance, and control strategies. This is an integrative literature review conducted in the PubMed/MEDLINE, Livre, Diadorim, and Miguilim databases, including publications available in Portuguese and English between 2021 and 2026. Studies addressing epidemiology, transmission prevention and control, health system preparedness, biosafety, community mobilization, and the impacts of Ebola outbreaks were considered. The findings demonstrated that Ebola outbreaks can compromise the continuity of health services, increase social vulnerabilities, and generate significant economic consequences. The evidence also indicated that combined strategies, including case isolation, contact tracing, safe burial practices, surveillance, and infection prevention and control, contribute to reducing viral transmission. Institutional preparedness, professional training, risk communication, and intersectoral cooperation were identified as essential components of effective responses. It is concluded that sustainable Ebola control requires continuously prepared health systems and integrated policies capable of articulating prevention, equity, surveillance, and rapid response to health emergencies.
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