Ebola’s Threat To India Ebola’s Threat To India Elliot Willard Elliot Willard

Ebola’s Brief History o First emerged in 1976 in Sudan and Zaire o Virus named after Ebola River in Zaire o Ebola is one of the MOST deadly known viruses o Mortality rate is roughly 53%-88% (depending on the strain) o A lack of credible information has led to information gaps about the virus o Ebola primarily occupies Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea in West Africa

India-Africa Relations India has recently made efforts to renew relations with Africa India has recently made efforts to renew relations with Africa In 2011, former Indian Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, promised $5 billion in loans In 2011, former Indian Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, promised $5 billion in loans Indian business firms have expanded to Africa in recent years (Indian telecom firms, mobile-banking) Indian business firms have expanded to Africa in recent years (Indian telecom firms, mobile-banking) Many Indians are currently living in East African cities, such as Durban…but also in West Africa where the disease is becoming widespread Many Indians are currently living in East African cities, such as Durban…but also in West Africa where the disease is becoming widespread

India-Africa Summit o Was to be held in Gurgaon, India o Would have been largest India-Africa summit, “including the leaders of all 54 countries in the African Union” o Postponed by India’s government due to the Ebola threat and fear of transporting the virus across borders o The decision was coordinated with the World Health Organization and the African Union o “No complaints from African delegates have surfaced over cancellation”

Ebola Outbreak in West Africa o Over 4,000 people have died of the disease in 2014 o India makes aid contributions of $12.5 million o Many of the infected are health workers o Since India lacks a sufficient amount of doctors and nurses, a public health scare exists o “India only has two facilities capable of testing for the virus”

Cancellation Good Idea? o “The UN Security Council has also declared the outbreak of the Ebola virus in West Africa a ‘threat to international peace and security’” o No one person or group appears irritated/unhappy o BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY o Worst Case Scenario: The Ebola virus spreads into India’s dense population…the effects would be comparable to the Black Death that swept through Europe in the 14 th century

Sources /news/ _1_ebola-outbreak-deadly- ebola-virus-india-africa-summit /news/ _1_ebola-outbreak-deadly- ebola-virus-india-africa-summit current-affairs/ current-affairs/ 10/ebolas-threat-india 10/ebolas-threat-india

WHO CountryLiberiaSierra Leone Guinea Ebola cases Ebola deaths Total population