Abstract / Summary
Ebola virus disease (EVD) is a severe, often fatal zoonotic disease that continues to pose a serious public health challenge, especially in Central and West Africa. Despite major progress in diagnostics, infection prevention, vaccination, and therapeutics, Ebola outbreaks repeatedly reveal gaps in surveillance, preparedness, ecological risk monitoring, and community trust. The disease is not driven by the virus alone; its emergence and spread are shaped by interactions between wildlife reservoirs, environmental change, sociocultural practices, population movement, and fragile health systems. Viewing EVD through a One Health lens helps in understanding these connections more clearly. Human health, animal health and ecosystem health are closely linked, and Ebola prevention cannot depend only on clinical care after cases appear. Effective control requires early detection of human illness, monitoring of wildlife and ecological risks, strong laboratory systems, infection prevention in health facilities, timely treatment, safe and dignified burial practices, vaccination where applicable and meaningful community engagement. Risk communication must be based on trust, respect and local participation, particularly in communities where caregiving and funeral practices are deeply rooted in social and cultural life. Although recent advances have improved the outlook for Ebola control, important challenges remain. Weak intersectoral coordination, inadequate financing, limited veterinary public health capacity, insecurity, fragmented data systems and low community confidence continue to affect preparedness and response. Strengthening One Health platforms at local, national and global levels is therefore essential, not only for EVD, but also for future emerging and re-emerging zoonotic diseases in a rapidly changing global landscape.