{"title":"Outbreak ethics: Reflections on the human metapneumovirus (hMPV) from an African lens","authors":"A.E. Obasa","doi":"10.1016/j.jemep.2025.101184","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The interconnected nature of global health means an outbreak anywhere can threaten communities everywhere. This perspective examines ethical considerations for outbreak response through an African lens, drawing lessons from Covid-19 and other epidemics. In this perspective, I focus on transparent, context-sensitive communication and non-stigmatizing information sharing as crucial for public trust. Also capacity development and health system strengthening to improve preparedness. Illustrative examples from across Africa – including South Africa’s early Covid-19 variant reporting, community engagement during West Africa’s Ebola outbreak, Uganda’s infodemic management, Liberia’s local response tactics, the Democratic Republic of Congo’s genomic surveillance, and Rwanda’s risk communication efforts – inform our analysis. Actionable strategies such as anti-stigma messaging, regional funding mechanisms, prevention of brain drain, workforce training programs, and incentives to retain health workers in rural areas. Effective outbreak management in Africa, as globally, requires ethical communication, robust local capacity, and sustained investment in health systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":37707,"journal":{"name":"Ethics, Medicine and Public Health","volume":"33 ","pages":"Article 101184"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0000,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Ethics, Medicine and Public Health","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352552525001434","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"Medicine","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
The interconnected nature of global health means an outbreak anywhere can threaten communities everywhere. This perspective examines ethical considerations for outbreak response through an African lens, drawing lessons from Covid-19 and other epidemics. In this perspective, I focus on transparent, context-sensitive communication and non-stigmatizing information sharing as crucial for public trust. Also capacity development and health system strengthening to improve preparedness. Illustrative examples from across Africa – including South Africa’s early Covid-19 variant reporting, community engagement during West Africa’s Ebola outbreak, Uganda’s infodemic management, Liberia’s local response tactics, the Democratic Republic of Congo’s genomic surveillance, and Rwanda’s risk communication efforts – inform our analysis. Actionable strategies such as anti-stigma messaging, regional funding mechanisms, prevention of brain drain, workforce training programs, and incentives to retain health workers in rural areas. Effective outbreak management in Africa, as globally, requires ethical communication, robust local capacity, and sustained investment in health systems.
期刊介绍:
This review aims to compare approaches to medical ethics and bioethics in two forms, Anglo-Saxon (Ethics, Medicine and Public Health) and French (Ethique, Médecine et Politiques Publiques). Thus, in their native languages, the authors will present research on the legitimacy of the practice and appreciation of the consequences of acts towards patients as compared to the limits acceptable by the community, as illustrated by the democratic debate.