David Heymann, professor of infectious disease epidemiology, and head and senior fellow, at the Chatham House Centre on Global Health Security was sent to investigate the first outbreaks of Ebola in 1976. In this podcast he gives a longer term perspective on the disease, and talks about the importance and challenges of introducing novel treatments.

For more information on ebola virus disease, including working in a front line clinic, visit bmj.com/ebola

David Heymann's analysis article, Prevention is better than cure for emerging infectious diseases: http://www.bmj.com/content/348/bmj.g1499