This is the third and final report to Congress describing the U.S. Government’s response to the Ebola virus disease outbreak in West Africa. This report addresses a range of U.S. government activities, including those associated with Operation United Assistance, the Department of Defense (DoD) mission to help combat the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, and features related developments and activities. This report meets quarterly reporting requirements to Congress established under Section 8L of the Inspector General Act of 1978, as amended (5 U.S.C. App.), and covers the period July 1, 2015, to September 30, 2015.
As of October 4, 2015, the Ebola virus disease epidemic in West Africa was the largest outbreak of the disease recorded with 28,457 suspected, probable, and confirmed cases that had resulted in the deaths of 11,312 people worldwide. The U.S. Government agencies have reported approximately $2.5 billion in obligations toward these international Ebola response, recovery, and preparedness efforts. Response efforts, including those on the part of the U.S. Government, contributed to a reduction in the incidence of the disease to the point that no active cases were reported at the end the reporting period on September 30, 2015.
This report provides background on the Ebola virus and the progression of the West Africa outbreak during the reporting period ending September 30, 2015, as well as its secondary effects on the three countries primarily affected— Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. It also provides information on the U.S. Government’s strategy for addressing the outbreak, as well as related funding, staffing, and activities.
Under the auspices of a lead inspector general designated from among the three OIGs, the Offices of Inspector General (OIGs) for DoD, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and the Department of State formed a collaborative partnership to provide oversight of designated overseas contingency operations. The report reflects the oversight, coordination, and planning work undertaken by these OIGs as well as the OIG for the Department of Health and Human Services, which has been a primary participant in U.S. Government efforts to combat Ebola.
DoD’s IG was designated as the Lead IG on February 24, 2015, after the designation of a contingency operation (Operation United Assistance). The DoD IG, in turn, appointed USAID’s Acting Deputy IG as the Associate IG to lead related oversight planning, coordination, and reporting activities. Section 8L authorities and requirements under the IG Act relating to the Ebola virus disease outbreak in West Africa concluded at the end of fiscal year 2015