Now Reading: Kevin J.A. Thomas on “Life After Epidemics”
Sociologist Thomas examines the crisis that begins after patients are declared Ebola-free.
Ebola Survivors and the Social Dimensions of Recovery
Kevin J.A. Thomas
Johns Hopkins Press, 2026
By Deverly Pérez
In “Life After Epidemics: Ebola Survivors and the Social Dimensions of Recovery,” Rice sociologist Kevin J.A. Thomas examines the overlooked crisis that begins after patients are declared Ebola-free. Based on 250 interviews with survivors in Liberia and Sierra Leone, the book reveals how, despite being medically cleared, many people grapple with chronic post-Ebola syndrome, severe social stigma and economic distress. Thomas contends that humanitarian efforts fail by prioritizing immediate care over the long-term support needed for true recovery.
Yet, amidst these hardships, the book uncovers profound resilience, showing how many survivors forge new roles in their communities, becoming agents of support and awareness in the wake of tragedy.
Kevin J.A. Thomas is a distinguished professor of sociology in the School of Social Sciences and director of the Kinder Institute’s Houston Population Research Center, Demography at Rice.
From the Spring 2026 issue of Rice Magazine