Cohn Samuel, Kutalek Ruth
School of Humanities, University of Glasgow, and Honorary Fellow, IASH, Edinburgh, Scotland.
PLoS Curr. 2016 Jan 26;8:ecurrents.outbreaks.aa1f2b60e8d43939b43fbd93e1a63a94. doi: 10.1371/currents.outbreaks.aa1f2b60e8d43939b43fbd93e1a63a94.
In the three West African countries most affected by the recent Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak, resistance to public health measures contributed to the startling speed and persistence of this epidemic in the region. But how do we explain this resistance, and how have people in these communities understood their actions? By comparing these recent events to historical precedents during Cholera outbreaks in Europe in the 19th century we show that these events have not been new to history or unique to Africa. Community resistance must be analysed in context and go beyond simple single-variable determinants. Knowledge and respect of the cultures and beliefs of the afflicted is essential for dealing with threatening disease outbreaks and their potential social violence.
在最近受埃博拉病毒病（EVD）疫情影响最严重的三个西非国家，对公共卫生措施的抵制导致了该疫情在该地区惊人的传播速度和持续时间。但我们如何解释这种抵制，这些社区的人们又是如何理解他们的行为的呢？通过将这些近期事件与19世纪欧洲霍乱疫情期间的历史先例进行比较，我们表明这些事件并非历史上的新现象，也不是非洲独有的。必须结合背景分析社区抵制行为，而不能局限于简单的单一变量决定因素。了解和尊重受灾人群的文化与信仰对于应对威胁性疾病爆发及其潜在的社会暴力至关重要。
