Question 76 from UPSC CSE 2015 - Current Affairs

Question

Among the following, which were frequently mentioned in the news for the outbreak of the Ebola virus recently?

IASCODEX · Accepted Answer

Correct Option: B. Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia

Strategy: Pay close attention to which regions have historically seen Ebola outbreaks. Only West African countries — particularly Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia — have been the epicenter of major Ebola outbreaks, not countries in the Middle East, Southeast Asia, or the Caribbean. By associating Ebola with West Africa, the correct answer is option B.

Key Info: **About Ebola Virus Disease**

Ebola virus disease (EVD) is a severe, often fatal disease in humans caused by the Ebola virus, a member of the Filoviridae family. The virus spreads through direct contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person or contaminated surfaces.

The largest Ebola epidemic occurred in West Africa between 2014 and 2016, with Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia at the outbreak's core. Other notable outbreaks have mainly been confined to Central and West Africa, particularly in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda.

**Regions not associated with outbreaks:**
- Middle East: Syria, Jordan
- Southeast Asia/Oceania: Philippines, Papua New Guinea
- Caribbean: Jamaica, Haiti, Suriname

The World Health Organization (WHO) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) coordinate international responses to Ebola outbreaks.

IASCODEX · Answer

Option A: Syria and Jordan

IASCODEX · Answer

Option C: Philippines and Papua New Guinea

IASCODEX · Answer

Option D: Jamaica, Haiti, and Suriname