This is particularly true for Zika, where so much is still unknown about the virus, how it is spread and the possible link with microcephaly.

Jeremy Farrar

Categorized in : Healthcare

The more we learn about these two treatments, ...the closer we can get to turning Ebola from a terrifying disease to one that is preventable and treatable, we won't ever get rid of Ebola but we should be able to stop these outbreaks from turning into major national and regional epidemics.

Vaccines, for example, are one of our most powerful public health tools, and we need people to have confidence in them if they are to be most effective, no matter how great your idea, how exciting your new treatment or how robust your science, it must be accepted by the people who stand to benefit from it.

No public health can work without the support of the society it's in. The science is clear in all of these things, but unless it has not just tacit support, but engaged support, then public health really struggles.

I respect the advice of the emergency committee but do believe a Public Health Emergency of International Concern would have been justified.

Doing so would raise the levels of international political support, which has been seriously lacking so far, show strong support for DRC and neighboring countries and WHO, and release more resources, including finance, healthcare workers, enhanced logistics, security and infrastructure.

Although Congo Ebola outbreak does not at this time pose a global health threat, I want to emphasise that for the affected families and communities, Congo Ebola outbreak is very much Congo Ebola outbreak, we also need the international community to step up Congo Ebola outbreak financial commitment to ending Congo Ebola outbreak.

This epidemic is in a truly frightening phase and shows no sign of stopping anytime soon, there are now more deaths than any other Ebola outbreak in history, bar the West Africa Epidemic of 2013-16, and there can be no doubt that the situation could escalate towards those terrible levels.

A step up in the national response with full international support is critical if we're to contain the epidemic and ensure the very best protection for the communities at risk and for the health workers working to protect lives, this needs to be championed at the highest political levels, including at the UN and the upcoming G20.

This epidemic is in a truly frightening phase and shows no sign of stopping anytime soon, we can expect and should plan for more cases in DRC and neighboring countries.

The numbers are nothing short of terrifying, this epidemic will not be brought under control without a really significant shift in the response.

This epidemic will not be brought under control without a really significant shift in the response, community trust and safety, as well as community engagement and ownership of the response is critical.

The community in North Kivu must be at the center of the response, their trust and ownership is critical and is extremely challenging.

It is ultimately these measures that will bring this epidemic to... by Jeremy Farrar

It is ultimately these measures that will bring this epidemic to an end.

When you have political instability, public health always suffers... by Jeremy Farrar

When you have political instability, public health always suffers.

The worst case scenario is that political instability remains, mistrust grows ... and then there's nothing to stop the epidemic getting embedded into a big urban centre and taking off as it did in West Africa.

It is impossible to overstate the implications of this work in all Sir Gregory P. Winter daily lives -- biofuels, chemicals, environment, medicine and so much more e.g. treatment of cancer, arthritis, Crohn's, UC and infections -- there are patients with Ebola being treated today with antibody therapies, this has impacted so much of modern medicine.

It's critical that we encourage companies to keep working on this, firstly, it may be that two vaccines may have very different characteristics.

We can't predict how the outbreak will progress, and the WHO must keep the situation under frequent review and not hesitate to declare a PHEIC if the situation shows signs of deteriorating.

You can't overrespond in this scenario, but the vaccine must be seen in the context of an overarching public health response. Critically that means early diagnosis, early isolation, safe burials and understanding the social context. The vaccine can only be a part of the solution.

We know that Zika has been present in Southeast Asia and Africa for many years and yet has not taken off there as it has in South America. This is what the international research effort needs to work out, and quickly.