What are the key emerging and reemerging infectious diseases in west and central Africa?

The United States has had a growing interest in Africa for nearly 30 years, as evidenced by an increase in military and humanitarian activities there, not overlooking the 2007 creation of the U.S. Africa Command. Apart from insurgencies, terrorism, and political upheaval, infectious disease is a major challenge to operations in Africa, especially in the western and central regions. Several significant disease outbreaks have occurred therein the past decade, warranting global response, including that from the U.S. Department of Defense. One of the more challenging aspects of these events is the impact posed by emerging and reemerging infections, defined by completely new or uncontrolled disease agents, as well as changes in the ability to control diseases that were once well managed. Some leading candidates for these disease outbreaks are primarily viruses like Ebola, Lassa, Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever, and various hantaviruses. Africa has been home to several new types of infectious-disease agents, and there is concern regarding the impact that new diseases would have on military operations there and in the vicinity of U.S. and allied forces and interests. This inquiry provides an initial investigation into operational considerations of emerging and reemerging infections in West and Central Africa.