A Path to Extinguishing Ebola
A Path to Extinguishing Ebola
By Winston Patrick Kuo, Abdallah Elkhal and Ronald G. Jubin
Earlier this year, it appeared that the Ebola virus outbreak would be contained in West Africa; however, as seen of late, epidemics tend to be unpredictable. Instead, the Ebola virus has become an increasing concern and even more challenging since the first reported case from Guinea in March 2014. As of November 23, the World Health Organization reported at least 15,935 cases and 5,689 deaths in seven affected countries [1]. Given these statistics, the questions now are how far will it spread and at what rate? To mediate this situation, can a diagnostic test be developed to determine whether a patient is infected (exposed) but presents as asymptomatic in order to shorten or avoid quarantine? Overall, as epidemics continue to come and go, can we develop testing to differentiate between bacterial and viral infections? And as the global community embraces the Ebola virus epidemic, how will we move forward in the absence of effective early diagnostic tests and vaccines or therapeutics? Or is there a companion diagnostic test to monitor the effectiveness of a vaccine or drug in development?
