Question 19M.2.SL.TZ1.e
| Date | May 2019 | Marks available | [Maximum mark: 2] | Reference code | 19M.2.SL.TZ1.e |
| Level | SL | Paper | 2 | Time zone | TZ1 |
| Command term | Suggest | Question number | e | 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]
Suggest two possible reasons for the drop in the daily numbers of newly infected cases after October 2014 in Liberia.
[2]
a. improved medical care/support/supplies/equipment/training of staff/hygiene/distribution of vaccine ✔
b. improved understanding of how to avoid infection «amongst public»/greater awareness in society/better education✔
c. rise in number of deaths means fewer infectious individuals ✔
d. impact of disease control measures/control policies/quarantine/isolation ✔
e. drop in the number of fruit bats ✔
f. maybe seasonal changes/weather changes ✔
g. people may have left the area ✔
h. international aid arrives ✔
OWTTE
This was a well answered response where almost all students got full marks. Students were able to identify more than three marking points here mp a, b, c and d were most common. Some students provided mp e and f. Few used mp g and h.
