S2E20 Containing Ebola: Fear, Caregiving, and Outbreak Response
May 20, 2026•44 min•Season 2Ep. 20
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Episode description
A new Ebola outbreak is unfolding in Central Africa — this time caused by Bundibugyo ebolavirus. As cases rise in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, fear and misinformation are spreading too.
In this episode, we break down:
- What Ebola actually is
- How Ebola spreads — and how it doesn’t
- Why healthcare workers and caregivers are at highest risk
- What happens inside the body during Ebola infection
- Why Ebola outbreaks amplify through strained systems
- The latest updates on the 2026 Bundibugyo outbreak
- Newly released genomic data suggesting a possible new spillover event
- Hot Zone Hotline for listener questions
This episode also explores the human side of Ebola outbreaks: caregiving, fear, stigma, survival, and the difficult realities faced by affected communities.
Companion blog post with transcript, references, outbreak updates, and photographs from the 1995 Kikwit outbreak: Infectious Dose
Subscribe to the free weekly newsletter, Field Notes, for outbreak updates and behind-the-scenes context.
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