Editorials

The large number of cases and wide geographical spread distinguish the current 2014 outbreak of Ebola virus disease in west Africa from all known earlier outbreaks.1 In the past, outbreaks of this disease have been stopped by identifying all cases, tracing all contacts and making sure that those caring for patients use correct protective gear at all times. However, the success of such methods depends on the presence of: (i) functional health systems; (ii) health workers who are trained, paid, willing to be deployed and adequately protected in a dangerous work environment