Ebola Timeline

Ebola virus was first discovered in 1976 near the Ebola River in the Democratic Republic of Congo.  Ebola virus disease (EVD) is deadly. Since then, the virus has emerged periodically and infected people in several African countries. What follows is a timeline of the most significant episodes during the 2014-2016 epidemic.

July 29, 2014

The death of Sierra Leone's "hero" doctor. 
Reuters Report

July 31, 2014
WHO, regional leaders to “launch intensified Ebola outbreak response plan”
WHO Report

August 1, 2014
CDC issues Ebola guidelines
Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for Hospitalized Patients with Known or Suspected Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever in U.S. Hospitals

Guidelines for Evaluation of US Patients Suspected of Having Ebola Virus Disease 

August 12, 2014
WHO panel: “it is ethical to offer unproven interventions with as yet unknown efficacy and adverse effects, as potential treatment or prevention.”
Summary of panel discussion.

Panel report: Ethical considerations for use of unregistered interventions for Ebola virus disease

Two doctors in Liberia to receive experimental drugs to treat Ebola.  
BBC: Liberia to receive ZMapp drug to treat Ebola virus
Reuters: Liberia to give two doctors trial drug, Ebola toll at 1,013

Indian physicians in Nigeria report they are being forced to stay in the country to treat Ebola patients after local physicians did not report for work. The CEO of Primus Hospital in India confirmed the doctors were afraid of contracting the disease but said it was their duty to treat patients, adding it was “against medical morality” not to do so.
Thompson Reuters Report
Hindustan Times Report

August 20, 2014
CDC Releases Interim Guidance for Environmental Infection Control in Hospitals for Ebola Virus
Interim Guidance

Florida Department of Health provides update on its monitoring efforts
DOH memo

August 25, 2014
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and WHO sign a confidentiality memorandum “to help facilitate communications ... regarding an actual or potential public health crisis or public health emergency of international concern…”
Text of memo

August 28, 2014
NIH announces plan for initial human testing of an investigational vaccine to prevent Ebola virus.
NIH News Release

August 29, 2014
Number of deaths at 1,552
WHO Report

September 2, 2014
CDC director says epidemic is “spiraling out of control”
CBS News Report
Business Insider Report

September 12, 2014
Roberto Morales Ojeda, Cuba’s Minister of Public Health, announces Cuba will send a medical team of 165 people to Sierra Leone.
WHO Report

September 16, 2014
President Obama announces an expansion of military and medical resources to address the epidemic.
White House Blog

October 10, 2014
Number of deaths passes 4,000

November 12, 2014
Number of deaths passes 5,000


OTHER RESOURCES: REPOSITORIES & REFERATORIES  

OTHER RESOURCES: IN THE LITERATURE  

OTHER RESOURCES: EBOLA BLOGS  

Please email suggestions and corrections to ethics@miami.edu

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