The Ebola Outbreak of 2013–2014: An Assessment of U.S. Actions

THE HERITAGE FOUNDATION Study  by James Jay Carafano, Ph.D., Charlotte Florance and Daniel J Kaniewski 

 April 24, 2015

Executive Summary

 This report presents the observations, findings, and recommendations of a task force formed to examine the global response and the response of the U.S. government (USG) to the 2013–2014 Ebola outbreak and global transmission. Specifically, the task force sought to derive lessons learned and insights from the USG response to the Ebola outbreak both internationally and domestically with the goal of crafting recommendations to improve the government’s ability to respond to natural disasters, acts of bioterrorism, and various public health crises related to significant outbreaks, epidemics, and pandemics....

The report’s major recommendations include:

• Prioritize emergency preparedness and planning....
• Empower officials to coordinate domestic response efforts and communicate with the American public...
• Improve medical training and increase access to effective and sustainable health care for West African countries...
• Strengthen lines of authority and narrow the priorities of the World Health Organization (WHO) to focus on a limited number of core responsibilities....

Read complete report:

http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2015/04/the-ebola-outbreak-of-20132014-an-assessment-of-us-actions