Ebola Outbreak in West Africa: Lessons Learned from Quarantine – Sierra Leone and Liberia

The use of quarantine in West Africa is debated by various stakeholders. Some INGOs have argued that quarantine can fuel panic and counterproductive behaviour. Others have defended quarantine as a vital complementary tool to prevent the spread of infection and facilitate contact tracing. As of the date of publication, there is no available quantitative evidence which proves that quarantine is effective or harmful in West Africa. With no intention of promoting either side of the debate, this document summarises lessons learned from quarantine measures that were taken in response to the Ebola crisis in Sierra Leone and Liberia since mid-2014.