Abstract

During the 2014 Ebola virus outbreak, international medical response teams were sent to help contain the virus. The purpose of this study was to explore the effectiveness of the medical response teams from African immigrants’ perspectives. Qualitative data was gathered through the use of a semi-structured interview guide. Participants included thirteen African immigrants, ages 18 and above living in California. The data was analyzed using content and thematic analysis, organized into reoccurring themes, and categorized prior to analysis. The transcribed interviews were coded manually.  Majority of the participants were females (69%), between 18 and 34 years old (77%) with post-graduate degree (62%). The participants stated that response to the Ebola outbreak did not match the need and that the response teams were slow to mobilize and were ineffective.  About half of the participants (54%) stated that response teams were effective in their approach to curbing the outbreak but could have done a better job educating the general public about the disease. Collaborative efforts are needed to combat the global threat of an Ebola pandemic. Further research focusing on best approaches to educating the general public during an outbreak and an articulated mobilization of international aids may assist this collaborative effort in the U.S. and beyond.

Key word: Ebola virus, international aids, outbreak, pandemic, global threat.