S2E20 Containing Ebola: Fear, Caregiving, and Outbreak Response

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

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