Ebola hemorrhagic fever: Lessons from Kikwit, Democratic Republic of the Congo

The outbreak of Ebola hemorrhagic fever in Kikwit, Democratic Republic of t he Congo, clearly signaled an end to the days when physicians and researche rs could work in relative obscurity on problems of international importance , and it provided many lessons to the international public health and scien tific communities. In particular, the outbreak signaled a need for stronger infectious disease surveillance and control worldwide, for improved intern ational preparedness to provide support when similar outbreaks occur, and f or accommodating the needs of the press in providing valid information. A n eed for more broad-based international health regulations and electronic in formation systems within the World Health Organization also became evident, as did the realization that there are new and more diverse partners able t o rapidly respond to international outbreaks. Finally, a need for continued and coordinated Ebola research was identified, especially as concerns deve lopment of simple and valid diagnostic tests, better patient management pro cedures, and identification of the natural reservoir.