Comment: America has the best record of treating Ebola patients without letting the virus spread
Release Date 01 October 2014
With the confirmation of the first case of the deadly Ebola virus diagnosed on US soil, Dr Ben Neuman, a virologist from the University of Reading, provides expert comment.
"The one positive thing to remember in this case is that America has the best record of treating Ebola patients without letting the virus spread. Doctors taking the most sophisticated biosafety precautions will be working to make sure that the new patient has the best possible chance of recovering.
"Ebola is spreading in West Africa among a mostly rural population due to a lack of trust and education about medical intervention - that does not exist in the US. There is a massive infrastructure in place to prevent diseases like Ebola spreading in the US - highly trained people, equipment and technology that are mobilised if a case like this arrives.
"Groups such as Doctors Without Borders have a long and successful track record of treating Ebola patients safely in Africa under far less hospitable conditions. I am very hopeful that the same can be done in the high-tech hospitals of America."