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File on 4: Ebola

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Ebola

21/10/2014

BBC Radio 4 - File on 4, Ebola

Simon Cox investigates why it took so long for the world to wake up to the threat of ebola

Simon Cox investigates why it took so long for the world to wake up to the threat of ebola. He asks what mistakes were made and if enough is being done now.

Ebola is now regarded as an international threat to peace and security, according to the World Health Organisation. Yet, when the WHO was first warned of an unprecedented outbreak, the organisation said it was "still relatively small."
Now the UK has asked for volunteers to travel to West Africa to try to bring Ebola under control. Thousands of American troops are also flying out to the region. But could all this have been avoided? Simon Cox asks why it took so long for the world to wake up to the threat posed by Ebola? He also investigates the treatments that are now, belatedly, being developed - treatments that have existed for decades. Vaccines and other drugs are being rushed into production at an unprecedented pace, by-passing the usual safety controls. However, all predictions are that many more people will die before the disease is brought under control. Even then, will it become endemic?

Reporter: Simon Cox
Producer: John Murphy.

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