  A modified, deterministic SEIR model is developed for the 2014 Ebola epidemic
occurring in the West African nations of Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. The
model describes the dynamical interaction of susceptible and infected
populations, while accounting for the effects of hospitalization and the spread
of disease through interactions with deceased, but infectious, individuals.
Using data from the World Health Organization (WHO), parameters within the
model are fit to recent estimates of infected and deceased cases from each
nation. The model is then analyzed using these parameter values. Finally,
several metrics are proposed to determine which of these nations is in greatest
need of additional resources to combat the spread of infection. These include
local and global sensitivity metrics of both the infected population and the
basic reproduction number with respect to rates of hospitalization and proper
burial.
