Technologies to fight Ebola [Engineering Healthcare]

Since the first reported case of Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever more commonly known as Ebola Virus Disease - in Guinea in the latter part of December 2013, the death toll has exceeded 8,000. More than 20,000 people have been diagnosed with the highly contagious disease, confirmed cases of Ebola reaching the US, UK, Spain, France, Germany and Norway. Volunteer personnel face many obstacles to their attempts to provide aid, including suspicion and superstition among local people who are unaware of the danger Ebola poses to them. Diagnostic techniques have been costly and treatment facilities have been non-existent or ill-equipped to cope with an epidemic of this magnitude. International efforts to control the spread of Ebola in Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia - the countries hardest hit by the epidemic - have been showing some promise. In particular, a number of technologies created for medical or military purposes can be repurposed for use in the fight against Ebola.