Question 19M.2.SL.TZ1.d
| Date | May 2019 | Marks available | [Maximum mark: 3] | Reference code | 19M.2.SL.TZ1.d |
| Level | SL | Paper | 2 | Time zone | TZ1 |
| Command term | Compare and contrast | Question number | d | Adapted from | N/A |
Ebola virus disease (EVD) is the disease in humans and other primates that is caused by the Ebola virus. Fruit bats are the reservoir for the virus and are able to spread the disease without being affected. Humans can become infected by contact with fruit bats or with people infected by the virus, their body fluids or equipment used to treat them.
The table shows data for four African countries that were affected by the 2014–2015 Ebola outbreak.
[Source: adapted with permission, from Ebola Situation Report, figure 1, http://apps.who.int/ebola/current-situation/ebolasituation-
report-2-march-2016, March 2016, and from Successful treatment of advanced Ebola virus infection with T-705
(favipiravir) in a small animal model, Oestereich, L. et al, 2014, under CC BY 3.0]
The graphs show the progress of the EVD epidemic in Guinea and Liberia for the period April 2014 to May 2015.
[Source: Ebola Situation Report 2 March 2016 and data from International Journal of Infectious Diseases, 38,
Ligui Wang et al, Epidemiological features and trends of Ebola virus disease in West Africa, 52-53.,
Copyright 2015, with permission from Elsevier]
Based on the data, compare and contrast the progress of the epidemic in Liberia and Guinea.
[3]
a. overall pattern similar in both/both show a rise and a fall in the infections ✔
b. both countries show an increase during 2014
OR
neither country shows an increase in 2015 ✔
c. both show a sudden drop at one point
OR
sudden drop earlier «Oct–Nov 14» in Liberia than in Guinea «Dec 14, Jan 15» ✔
d. Guinea fluctuates whereas Liberia rises to a peak and then decreases/no fluctuations ✔
e. epidemic starts earlier «in April 14» in Guinea than in Liberia «in June 14» ✔
f. epidemic peaks earlier «Sept 14» in Liberia than in Guinea «Dec 14» ✔
g. epidemic lasts longer in Guinea than it does in Liberia
OR
last case recorded in Liberia Feb 15 while cases continue «at least» until May 15 in Guinea ✔
h. numbers of cases in Guinea generally lower than in Liberia
OR
number of cases higher in Liberia than in Guinea ✔
Data is described rather than interpreted e.g. epidemic starts in April for Guinea and in June for Liberia instead of epidemic starts earlier in Guinea than in Liberia
