The Ebola outbreak

Scientists are trying to develop a vaccine against Ebola.

The Ebola virus has killed hundreds of people in West Africa. The World Health Organisation has allowed the use of drugs which have not been fully tested.

Rob and Feifei discuss the use of these new drugs on patients. Who gets the drug? Who is to blame if they feel worse? Listen to the programme.

This week's question:

The virus Ebola got its name after a river in the northern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo. But when was it discovered? Was it in:

a) 1966

b) 1976 or

c) 1986

Downloads

To take away:

• Audio (4.9 MB)
• Text

Vocabulary

SHOW ALL | HIDE ALL

experimental drug

medicine which has not been fully tested

mortality rate

proportion of people in a particular group who die

side effects

effects of a particular medicine that are not intended

consent

permission

waiver

formal document in which a person gives up rights to something

liable

legally responsible

dilemma

a situation in which a difficult choice has to be made

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/general/sixminute/2014/08/140828_witn_6min_ebola.shtml