Inside STAT: Why science and drugs are not enough to defeat Ebola

RUBBER GLOVES AND BOOTS USED BY HEALTH WORKERS TREATING EBOLA PATIENTS ARE HUNG TO DRY AFTER BEING DISINFECTED AT A TREATMENT CENTER IN BENI, CONGO. (JEROME DELAY/AP)

The news earlier this week about the success of two Ebola drugs in a clinical trial is certainly worth celebrating, but many experts say that the fight against the deadly disease is far from over. And that’s because really overcoming the disease — which has killed nearly 1,900 people and infected nearly 2,850 in the latest outbreak in the Congo — is going to take many approaches. What does that involve? In addition to effective treatment, “good surveillance, good infection prevention and control, good community engagement, [and] excellent vaccination,” Dr. Mike Ryan, who runs the WHO’s health emergencies program, told reporters earlier this week. STAT’s Helen Branswell has more.