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Abstract

Epidemics such as HIV/AIDS, malaria and Ebola virus disease (EVD) may adversely impact the livelihoods of the society affected by the epidemics. Nonetheless, the mechanism behind the effects of the epidemics may differ depending on different factors, such as the transmission mechanisms, latency, and mortality rates associated with the diseases, which requires specific research to investigate theeffect of each epidemic. In light of this, we analyzed the impact of the recent EVD epidemic on the agricultural production of farm households and its impact on the livelihoods of Liberian society. We collected data from 623 households throughout Liberia during the EDV crisis 2014-2016, and found that there was no significant difference the annual income of sample households from communities where EDV occured and did not occur. Nonetheless, the majority of the sample households reported a decrease their income compared to the year before our survey. We also found that the communitiy level incidence of EDV had a significant negative effect on crop production of farm households which might have exacerbated food insecurity the country. Moreover, the EDV epidemic negatively affected the Liberian society's trust Liberian institutions. Our results underline that epidemics, like EDV, might have long-lasting negative effects on the liveliholds of a society, and they may have adverse effect beyond the communities directly affected by the epidemics. Nonetheless, the mecha- nism behind the effects of the epidemics may differ depending on different factors, such as the transmission mechanisms, latency, and mortality rates associated with the diseases, which requires specific research to investigate the effect of each epidemic. In light of this, we analyzed the impact of the recent EVD epidemic on the agricultural production of farm households and its impact on the livelihoods of Liberian society. We collected data from 623 households throughout Liberia during the EVD crisis in 2014–2016, and found that there was no significant difference in the annual income of sample households from communities where EVD occurred and did not occur. Nonetheless, the majority of the sample households reported a decrease in their income compared to the year before our survey. We also found that the community level incidence of EVD had a significant nega- tive effect on crop production of farm households, which might have exacerbated food insecurity in the country. Moreover, the EVD epidemic negatively affected the Liberian society’s trust in Liberian institutions. Our results underline that epidemics, like EVD, might have long-lasting negative effects on the livelihoods of a society, and they may have adverse effect beyond the communities directly affected by the epidemics.