The limited evidence available on age-disaggregated fatality rates of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) consistently highlights the poor survival rates of older people compared with young adults. The particular roles that older people play in societies put them at differing patterns of risk of contracting EVD compared with younger adults. While many older people will be less likely to undertake at-risk care and burial practices, those with for example fostering or non- formal caring roles may be at increased risk of transmission. Older people, in particular those living alone, may rely on food and financial remittances from their children or extended family. Such remittances are likely to be sensitive to disruption by the economic downturn faced by the affected countries, as well as restrictions on movements of people and goods.
