Territoriality of Ebola epidemics in Africa (1976 - april 2025): storymaps visualizing tool
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.3989/estgeogr.2025.1179Keywords:
Health geography, geographic factors, physical environment, environmental determinants, territory, fatality rate, Ebola, sub-Saharan AfricaAbstract
This work is situated within the field of health geography. It investigates epidemics caused by the Ebola virus from the identification of the disease in 1976 through April 2025. It is focused on those originating in situ from a primary zoonotic case and classified by the causative Orthoebolavirus. The aim is to examine their relationships with climate and average altitude as physical and environmental factors influencing their emergence. The study includes a temporal ordering of epidemics and an analysis of the historical evolution of fatality rates, using a mixed quantitative and qualitative methodology. The results reveal gaps and inconsistencies in the understanding of the disease, which could serve as a starting point for future research. The ESRI® StoryMaps tool has been utilized to visualize the employed cartography, facilitate the dissemination of results in affected countries, and fulfil an educational purpose.
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