How Is the World Responding to the Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Compared with the 2014 West African Ebola Epidemic? The Importance of China as a Player in the Global Economy
Elisa M. Maffioli
Abstract
This article describes similarities and differences in the response of governments and the international community to the current 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and the 2014 West African Ebola epidemic. It expresses the opinion that the speed and scale of the response to COVID-19 are affected by the important role that China plays in the global economy. By contrast, insufficient and less timely action was initially undertaken in West African countries during the 2014 Ebola epidemic. It concludes by stating why preparedness for and response to all disease outbreaks, also in countries of lower economic importance, should become a priority in the global health agenda.
Topics & Concepts
PreparednessOutbreakChinaCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)Global healthDevelopment economicsPandemicEconomic growthDiseaseCoronavirus2019-20 coronavirus outbreakSevere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)Political scienceGeographyVirologyInfectious disease (medical specialty)MedicineEconomicsHealth carePathologyLawViral Infections and Outbreaks ResearchCOVID-19 epidemiological studiesCOVID-19 Pandemic Impacts