UNRIC Library Backgrounder: Ebola
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Ebola virus disease (formerly known as Ebola haemorrhagic fever) is a rare but severe, often fatal illness, with a death rate of up to 90% in humans caused by the Ebola virus, a member of the filovirus family. Death rates have varied from 25% to 90% in past outbreaks. The Ebola virus was first identified in 1976 when 2 simultaneous outbreaks occurred, 1 in Yambuku, a village not far from the Ebola River in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the other in a remote area of Sudan. The origin of the virus is unknown, but current evidence suggests that fruit bats (Pteropodidae) may be a host.
Source: World Health Organization (WHO) - Frequently asked questions on Ebola virus disease
DR Congo: Ebola Outbreak - Aug 2018:
https://reliefweb.int/disaster/ep-2018-000129-cod
DR Congo: Ebola Outbreak - May 2018:
https://reliefweb.int/disaster/ep-2018-000049-cod
DR Congo: Ebola Outbreak - May 2017:
https://reliefweb.int/disaster/ep-2017-000048-cod
West Africa: Ebola Outbreak - Mar 2014:
http://reliefweb.int/disaster/ep-2014-000041-gin
UN Entities
- Global Ebola Response:
http://ebolaresponse.un.org/
The UN system and the international community are coming together as never before to deliver a rapid, robust and effective response to help the Governments and the people of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.
- United Nations Mission for Ebola Emergency Response (UNMEER):
http://ebolaresponse.un.org/un-mission-ebola-emergency-response
UNMEER, the first-ever UN emergency health mission, was established on 19 September 2014 and closed on 31 July 2015, having achieved its core objective of scaling up the response on the ground.
- Global Health Crises Task Force:
http://www.un.org/en/global-health-crises-task-force/index.html
The Global Health Crises Task Force was established by the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for a period of one year, beginning on 1 July 2016.
Selected documents:
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- Security Council resolution 2439 (2018) / adopted by the Security Council at its 8385th meeting, on 30 October 2018: http://undocs.org/S/RES/2439(2018)
on condemning attacks by armed groups in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and their role in exacerbating the Ebola virus outbreak
- A/71/810 (24 February 2017): Lessons learned exercise on the coordination activities of the United Nations Mission for Ebola Emergency Response: report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions: http://undocs.org/A/71/810
"Annex: United Nations Mission for Ebola Emergency Response: budget proposals, final appropriation and actual expenditure": p. 11-13.
- A/70/737 (4 Mar. 2016): Lessons learned exercise on the coordination activities of the United Nations Mission for Ebola Emergency Response: report of the Secretary-General: http://undocs.org/A/70/737 and http://undocs.org/A/70/737/Corr.1
Prepared in response to General Assembly resolution 69/274 B. "Annex: Asset disposal breakdown": p. 23
- A/69/1014 (1 September 2015): Letter dated 1 September 2015 from the Secretary-General addressed to the President of the General Assembly: http://undocs.org/A/69/1014
Reports on the work of the UN in the response to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa and covers developments from 1 to 31 July 2015, the 300-day mark since the establishment of the UN Mission for Ebola Emergency Response (UNMEER); records activities carried out by the Special Envoy on Ebola and UNMEER, and provides an update on progress made in the Ebola response pursuant to General Assembly resolution 69/1 since the update of 24 July 2015 (A/69/992).
- A/69/992 (24 July 2015): Letter dated 24 July 2015 from the Secretary-General addressed to the President of the General Assembly: http://undocs.org/A/69/992
Reports the work of the UN in the response to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa and covers developments from 1 June through 1 July 2015 since the establishment of the UN Mission for Ebola Emergency Response (UNMEER); provides an update on progress made in the Ebola response pursuant to General Assembly resolution 69/1 since the update of 16 June 2015 (A/69/939).
- A/69/908 (26 May 2015): Letter dated 22 May 2015 from the Secretary-General addressed to the President of the General Assembly:
http://undocs.org/A/69/908
Reports the work of the UN in the response to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa and covers developments from 1 Apr. to 1 May 2015; provides an update on progress made in the Ebola response pursuant to General Assembly resolution 69/1 since the update of 16 Apr. 2015 (A/69/871).
- S/2015/282 (27 April 2015): Letter dated 23 April 2015 from the Chair of the Peacebuilding Commission addressed to the President of the Security Council: http://undocs.org/S/2015/282
Reports, in the capacity as Chair of the Peacebuilding Commission, the visits to Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea and Senegal/UN Office for West Africa, from 5 to 10 Apr. 2015, to assess the impact of the Ebola crisis on peacebuilding.
- A/69/871 (16 April 2015): Letter dated 16 April 2015 from the Secretary-General addressed to the President of the General Assembly:
http://undocs.org/A/69/871
Reports the work of the UN in the response to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa and covers developments from 1 Mar. to 1 Apr. 2015; provides an update on progress made in the Ebola response pursuant to General Assembly resolution 69/1 since the update of 13 Mar. 2015 (A/69/812).
- A/69/812 (13 March 2015): Letter dated 12 March 2015 from the Secretary-General addressed to the President of the General Assembly:
http://undocs.org/A/69/812
The report covers developments from 1 February to 1 March 2015, the 150-day mark since the of UNMEER.
- A/69/759 (10 February 2015): Letter dated 10 February 2015 from the Secretary-General addressed to the President of the General Assembly: http://undocs.org/A/69/759
Reports the work of the UN in the response to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa and covers developments from 1 Jan.-1 Feb. 2015; provides an update on progress made in the Ebola response pursuant to General Assembly resolution 69/1 since the update of 12 Jan. 2015 (A/69/720).
- A/69/720 (13 January 2015): Letter dated 12 January 2015 from the Secretary-General addressed to the President of the General Assembly: http://undocs.org/A/69/720
Reports the work of the UN in the response to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa and covers developments from 1 Nov. 2014-1 Jan. 2015.
- A/RES/69/132 (Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 11 December 2014): Global health and foreign policy: http://undocs.org/A/RES/69/132
- A/69/573 (12 November 2014): Letter dated 12 November 2014 from the Secretary-General addressed to the President of the General Assembly: http://undocs.org/A/69/573
Reports the work of the UN in the response to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa and covers developments from 19 Sept. through 31 Oct. 2014.
- A/RES/69/3 (Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 9 October 2014): United Nations Mission for Ebola Emergency Response:
http://undocs.org/A/RES/69/3
- A/69/408 (30 Sept. 2014): United Nations Mission for Ebola Emergency Response and the Office of the Special Envoy on Ebola : report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions: http://undocs.org/A/69/408
- A/69/404 (24 September 2014): United Nations Mission for Ebola Emergency Response and the Office of the Special Envoy on Ebola; Report of the Secretary-General: http://undocs.org/A/69/404
- A/RES/69/1 (Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 19 September 2014): Measures to contain and combat the recent Ebola outbreak in West Africa: http://undocs.org/A/RES/69/1
Annexes (p. 6-10): 1. Summary of estimated preliminary resource requirements - 2. Staffing summary -- 3. UNMEER/Office of the Special Envoy structure.
- A/69/389-S/2014/679 (18 September 2014): Identical letters dated 17 September 2014 from the Secretary-General addressed to the President of the General Assembly and the President of the Security Council: http://undocs.org/A/69/389
In this document the Secretary-General sets forth the Mission’s six guiding principles and 12 actions deemed critical by the Senior United Nations System Coordinator to carry out the Mission’s aims.
- Further documents – click here
Selected press releases & news stories:
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- UN Committee says Ebola in DR Congo still an international public health emergency (18 October 2019): https://news.un.org/en/story/2019/10/1049611
- Ebola on the run in DR Congo, ‘now we have to kill the virus’: UN health agency (10 October 2019): https://news.un.org/en/story/2019/10/1048951
- UN highlights milestone of 1,000 Ebola survivors in DR Congo amid complex environment of conflict and mistrust (4 October 2019): https://news.un.org/en/story/2019/10/1048562
- Tanzania urged to provide more information on suspected Ebola case (24 September 2019): https://news.un.org/en/story/2019/09/1047162
- Alarming number of Ebola deaths in DRC a ‘rallying cry’ to scale up treatment (30 August 2019): https://news.un.org/en/story/2019/08/1045302
- Security Council gravely concerned by Ebola outbreak in DR Congo, demands immediate end to violence hampering response (2 August 2019): https://news.un.org/en/story/2019/08/1043651
- UN working ‘intensively’ to stop Ebola in eastern DR Congo, following second case in major border town (31 July 2019): https://news.un.org/en/story/2019/07/1043501
- ‘Deadly environment’ plus ‘political and social’ obstacles hinder Ebola fight in DR Congo, Security Council hears (24 July 2019): https://news.un.org/en/story/2019/07/1043161
- Ebola ‘not top of people’s agenda’ in DRC communities, says UN health agency (19 July 2019): https://news.un.org/en/audio/2019/07/1042861
- Don’t panic, support DR Congo in fight against deadly Ebola virus, UN health agency urges (19 July 2019): https://news.un.org/en/audio/2019/07/1042861
- Ebola emergency meeting to go ahead as UNICEF warns of higher risk to very youngest children (16 July 2019): https://news.un.org/en/story/2019/07/1042531
- Daily security assessment needed in Ebola areas: WHO (28 June 2019): https://news.un.org/en/audio/2019/06/1041551
- Second Ebola death confirmed in Uganda as UN health agency mulls global emergency call (13 June 201): https://news.un.org/en/story/2019/06/1040441
- UN optimistic Uganda’s Ebola preparations will shut down outbreak fast (13 June 2019): https://news.un.org/en/audio/2019/06/1040421
- UN health agency identifies 5-year-old Congolese boy as first confirmed case of Ebola in Uganda (11 June 2019): https://news.un.org/en/story/2019/06/1040311
- New emergency Ebola response chief in DR Congo promises more listening, to end ‘frequent interruptions’ in fightback (28 May 2019): https://news.un.org/en/audio/2019/05/1039331
- DR Congo: Strengthened effort against Ebola is paying off, but insecurity still major constraint – UN health agency (28 May 2019): https://news.un.org/en/story/2019/05/1039291
- DR Congo: ‘No time to lose’ says newly appointed UN Ebola response coordinator (23 May 2019): https://news.un.org/en/story/2019/05/1039051
- More resources needed to control Ebola outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo, Secretary-General says, urging all Congolese leaders to work together (SG/SM/19571, 8 May 2019): https://www.un.org/press/en/2019/sgsm19571.doc.htm
- Six months into DR Congo’s deadliest Ebola outbreak, top UN official praises ‘brave’ response effort (1 February 2019): https://news.un.org/en/story/2019/02/1031802
- DR Congo: Ebola response returns to full speed despite ‘risky environment’ (8 January 2019): https://news.un.org/en/story/2019/01/1030052
- Uganda’s Ebola preparedness ‘will go a long way’ says WHO chief (3 January 2019): https://news.un.org/en/story/2019/01/1029702
- Ebola outbreak in DR Congo conflict zone ‘remains dangerous and unpredictable’ – UN chiefs (8 November 2018): https://news.un.org/en/story/2018/11/1025251
- Frontline workers vaccinated in Uganda over Ebola fears, as top UN officials visit outbreak epicentre in DR Congo (7 November 2018): https://news.un.org/en/story/2018/11/1025101
- Security Council urges responder-safety focus, as DR Congo Ebola outbreak worsens (30 October 2018): https://news.un.org/en/story/2018/10/1024442
- Ebola in DR Congo: UN chief ‘outraged’ by recent killings of civilians and health workers (22 October 2018): https://news.un.org/en/story/2018/10/1023792
- World Health Organization calls crisis meeting over deadly Ebola outbreak in DR Congo (15 October 2018): https://news.un.org/en/story/2018/10/1023242
- Ebola-hit DRC faces ‘perfect storm’ as uptick in violence halts WHO operation (UN News, 25 September 2018): https://news.un.org/en/story/2018/09/1020392
- DR Congo: Amid renewed risk of spread, Ebola virus leaves over 150 children orphaned or unaccompanied (UN News, 21 September 2018): https://news.un.org/en/story/2018/09/1020112
- DR Congo: new cases of deadly Ebola virus, as UN steps up response (UN News, 14 September 2018): https://news.un.org/en/story/2018/09/1019332
- Conflict in new Ebola zone of DR Congo exacerbates complexity of response: WHO emergency response chief (UN News, 3 August 2018): https://news.un.org/en/story/2018/08/1016262
- New cluster of Ebola cases in the Democratic Republic of the Congo - World Health Organization (UN News, 1 August 2018): https://news.un.org/en/story/2018/08/1016152
- Ebola outbreak in DR Congo declared over, now let’s tackle other health challenges: WHO chief (UN News, 24 July 2018): https://news.un.org/en/story/2018/07/1015462
- Ebola Outbreak in Democratic Republic Congo is ‘largely contained’: WHO (UN News, 26 June 2018): https://news.un.org/en/story/2018/06/1013122
- WHO reports ‘very strong progress’ in battling DR Congo Ebola outbreak (UN News, 8 June 2018): https://news.un.org/en/story/2018/06/1011781
- Ebola outbreak puts DR Congo on an ‘epidemiological knife-edge’ (UN News, 23 May 2018): https://news.un.org/en/story/2018/05/1010452
- DR Congo Ebola outbreak not yet a global ‘health emergency’, but strong response to disease vital – UN health experts (UN News, 18 May 2018): https://news.un.org/en/story/2018/05/1010152
- Emergency meeting called as Ebola spreads to Congolese city – UN health agency (UN News, 17 May 2018): https://news.un.org/en/story/2018/05/1009972
- DR Congo: UN prepared for ‘all scenarios’ despite low risk of Ebola spreading (UN News, 11 May 2018): https://news.un.org/en/story/2018/05/1009452
- New Ebola outbreak confirmed in DR Congo: UN health agency scales up response (UN News, 8 May 2018): https://news.un.org/en/story/2018/05/1009142
- UN chief appoints 12 experts to his task force to prevent and manage future health crises (UN News Centre, 29 June 2016): http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=54359
- Drawing on Ebola Response, Secretary-General, in Video Message to Munich Conference, says global security demands swift, concerted action on public health challenges (SG/SM/17539, 15 February 2016): http://www.un.org/press/en/2016/sgsm17539.doc.htm
- Welcoming end of Ebola flare-up in Liberia, Secretary-General calls upon global community to continue supporting affected countries (SG/SM/17456-AFR/3302, 14 January 2016): http://www.un.org/press/en/2016/sgsm17456.doc.htm
- Ending recent Ebola outbreak demonstrates what proper multilateralism can achieve, Secretary-General tells General Assembly (SG/SM/17454-GA/11752, 13 January 2016): http://www.un.org/press/en/2016/sgsm17454.doc.htm
- Secretary-General, in High-Level Healthy Future Event, urges continued work with Ebola-affected countries, predictable support for health systems (SG/SM/17118, 26 September 2015): http://www.un.org/press/en/2015/sgsm17118.doc.htm
- Secretary-General announces closure of Ebola Emergency Response Mission as core objective achieved, oversight to be led by world health organization (SG/SM/16982, 31 July 2015): http://www.un.org/press/en/2015/sgsm16982.doc.htm
- Ban to convene international Ebola recovery conference in New York (UN News Centre, 2 June 2015): http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=51030
- Secretary-General appoints Peter Jan Graaff of Netherlands as Acting Special Representative for United Nations Mission for Ebola Emergency Response (SG/A/1564-BIO/4718, 25 April 2015): http://www.un.org/press/en/2015/sga1564.doc.htm
- Secretary-General appoints Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed of Mauritania Special Representative for United Nations Mission for Ebola Emergency Response (SG/A/1531*-BIO/4672, 11 December 2014): http://www.un.org/press/en/2014/sga1531.doc.htm
- Ebola: UN crisis response mission opens new office in Mali (UN News Centre, 26 November 2014): http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=49459
- Secretary-General appoints Abdou Dieng of Senegal Ebola Crisis Manager for Guinea (SG/A/1526-BIO/4667, 26 November 2014): http://www.un.org/press/en/2014/sga1526.doc.htm
- Secretary-General appoints Marcel Rudasingwa, Peter Jan Graaff, Amadu Kamara Ebola Crisis Managers for Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone (SG/A/1518, October 2014): http://www.un.org/press/en/2014/sga1518.doc.htm
- Secretary-General Appoints David Nabarro Special Envoy for Ebola, Anthony Banbury Special Representative, Head of UN Mission for Ebola Emergency Response (SG/A/1511, 23 September 2014): http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2014/sga1511.doc.htm
- UN announces mission to combat Ebola, declares outbreak ‘threat to peace and security’ (UN News Centre, 18 September 2014): http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=48746
- Ban launches UN Ebola response mission; advance teams to arrive in West Africa on Monday (UN News Centre, 20 September 2014): http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=48760
- World Health Organization (WHO)
- Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
- International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
- International Labour Organization (ILO)
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- International Maritime Organization (IMO)
- International Monetary Fund (IMF)
- Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA)
- United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)
- United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
- United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA)
- United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
- United Nations Volunteers (UNV)
- World Bank
- World Food Programme (WFP)
Secretary-General
The Secretary-General held a High-level Meeting on Response to the Ebola Virus Disease Outbreak on 25 September 2014:
http://papersmart.unmeetings.org/secretariat/eosg/hlm-response-to-the-ebola-virus-disease-outbreak/programme/
General Assembly
Briefing to the General Assembly: Progress of Ebola outbreak response and the road towards recovery, 13 January 2016
General Assembly meeting on 19 September 2014 on “Measures to contain and combat the recent Ebola outbreak in West Africa”:
Ebola virus outbreak - General Assembly, Informal meeting, 69th session (10 October 2014):
General Assembly Briefing on the Ebola virus outbreak, 20 January 2015:
http://www.un.org/pga/200115_birfing-ebola/
General Assembly Information Meeting on Ebola, 18 February 2015:
Informal Meeting of the General Assembly – Progress of the Ebola outbreak response and recovery efforts, 13 January 2016:
Security Council
8590th meeting of the Security Council on Peace and Security in Africa regarding Ebola, 2 August 2019:
Emergency Session on Peace and Security in Africa (Ebola), 18 September 2014:
7279th meeting of the Security Council on Peace and Security in Africa regarding Ebola, 14 October 2014:
7318th meeting of the Security Council on Peace and Security in Africa, 21 November 2014:
7502nd meeting of the Security Council on Peace and Security in Africa - The global response to the 2013 Ebola virus disease outbreak, 13 August 2015:
Economic and Social Council
Special Meeting on “Ebola: A threat to sustainable development”, 5 December 2014
http://www.un.org/en/ecosoc/ebola1/
Further Information
- UN News Centre - Ebola Virus Disease:
http://www.un.org/apps/news/rss/rss_ebola.asp
- We’ve learnt many lessons from this outbreak and from the response – Dr. David Nabarro, Special Envoy on Ebola (UN News Centre, 10 December 2015):
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=52790
- INTERVIEW: as Liberia moves past Ebola ‘nightmare,’ security and political challenges still ahead, UN envoy cautions (UN News Centre, 6 May 2015):
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=50786
- Interview with Dr. David Nabarro, United Nations Special Envoy for Ebola (UN News Centre, 16 January 2015):
http://www.un.org/apps/news/newsmakers.asp?NewsID=115
- 'The world is on the side of those who are involved in this fight' against Ebola – UN envoy (UN News Centre, 28 November 2014):
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=49465
- Interview with David Nabarro, UN System Coordinator on Ebola (UN News Centre, 21 August 2014):
http://www.un.org/apps/news/newsmakers.asp?NewsID=109
- Recovering from the Ebola Crisis: Submitted by United Nations, The World Bank, European Union and African Development Bank as a contribution to the formulation of national Ebola recovery strategies in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea (April 2015):
http://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/librarypage/crisis-prevention-and-recovery/recovering-from-the-ebola-crisis---full-report.html
- UN Dag Hammarskjöld Library Research Guides: Ebola Virus Outbreak - Quick Guide:
http://research.un.org/en/ebola
- ECA Library - Resources on Ebola:
http://libguides.uneca.org/eca_ebola
- UN Blog: Update on Ebola Outbreak in West Africa (26 August 2014):
http://blogs.un.org/blog/2014/08/26/update-on-ebola-outbreak-in-west-africa
- UN Blog: UN Updates on Ebola Outbreak – Online Resources (16 August 2014):
http://blogs.un.org/blog/2014/08/16/un-updates-on-ebola-outbreak
- Special Coverage on Ebola: How people’s lives are changing (Africa Renewal, December 2014):
http://www.un.org/africarenewal/magazine/december-2014
- Ebola: A bumpy road to zero transmission: Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone remain vigilant as infections decline in the three countries (Africa Renewal, April 2015):
http://www.un.org/africarenewal/magazine/april-2015/ebola-bumpy-road-zero-transmission
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