Engineers have important role in helping to combat Ebola

Ebola viral disease (EVD) is a severe and often fatal illness that in Liberia alone has infected approximately 3,600 people and killed over 2,000 during the current outbreak. According to the World Health Organisation, it is transmitted to people from wild animals and spreads among people through human-to-human transmission.

Carmen Paradiso, global advisor on water and sanitation for the International Medical Corps told The Engineer that the crisis requires engineers that can assist with the design, construction, maintenance and operation of health facilities, plus proposed isolation units in areas where there is a lack of treatment centres.

Outside of such health facilities, engineering skills are seen as essential in the communities where outbreaks occur, providing expertise and support following procedures such as contact tracing.

Paradiso said that her organisation - one of only two international NGOs treating Ebola patients - takes a close interest in civil engineers who may have a background in water and sanitation solutions and can apply them in new healthcare facilities.