Advancing Infectious Disease Detection and Response in Liberia

The 2014-15 Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) epidemic had a devastating impact in West Africa resulting in 10,678 suspected, probable and confirmed cases and 4,810 deaths in Liberia. The true magnitude of the outbreak is unknown, as not all individuals, who were infected with Ebola virus (EBOV) had laboratory confirmation of EVD. Due to the size of the outbreak in West Africa, the science of the natural history, behavior of, and counter measures for the disease has increased significantly. However, there remains significant gaps in knowledge about the post Ebola sequelae and the immune response to Ebola and its durability over time. The persistence of EBOV in immunologically-protected sites of EVD survivors have resulted in sexual transmission of the virus and subsequent clusters of disease following the end of widespread transmission, and poses a continued risk for resurgence of cases and the potential for a large-scale outbreak.