Peter Piot first encountered the Ebola virus in a laboratory in Antwerp in 1976. At the time, the pathogen was largely unknown. Now, almost 50 years later, a new outbreak is spreading through parts of Central Africa, triggering travel restrictions and quarantines across the globe. 

In this conversation with Mishal Husain, Piot, one of the world's leading authorities on the disease, discusses why Ebola, while deadly, is not easily spread. The Belgian scientist also explains the challenge of controlling outbreaks in conflict zones and lessons the world still hasn’t learned from Covid-19.

06:44 - "No future in infectious diseases"
10:50 - How contagious is Ebola? 
12:05 - “I'm not concerned that this will become a pandemic”
13:23 - Are travel restrictions necessary? 
18:00 - “Ebola is not their only problem”
19:07 - How far are we from a vaccine for this Ebola strain? 
22:14 - Tackling Ebola in 1976
23:48 - Tracking the virus
32:25 - Vaccine disinformation
33:18 - “Long Covid really exists”
34:18 - “I was scared to die”

Contact The Mishal Husain Show mishalshow@bloomberg.net

Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Peter Piot first encountered the Ebola virus in a laboratory in Antwerp in 1976. At the time, the pathogen was largely unknown. Now, almost 50 years later, a new outbreak is spreading through parts of Central Africa, triggering travel restrictions and quarantines across the globe. In this conversation with Mishal Husain, Piot, one of the world's leading authorities on the disease, discusses why Ebola, while deadly, is not easily spread. The Belgian scientist also explains the challenge of controlling outbreaks in conflict zones and lessons the world still hasn&rsquo;t learned from Covid-19.
06:44 - "No future in infectious diseases" 10:50 - How contagious is Ebola? 12:05 - &ldquo;I'm not concerned that this will become a pandemic&rdquo; 13:23 - Are travel restrictions necessary? 18:00 - &ldquo;Ebola is not their only problem&rdquo; 19:07 - How far are we from a vaccine for this Ebola strain? 22:14 - Tackling Ebola in 1976 23:48 - Tracking the virus 32:25 - Vaccine disinformation 33:18 - &ldquo;Long Covid really exists&rdquo; 34:18 - &ldquo;I was scared to die&rdquo;
Contact The Mishal Husain Show mishalshow@bloomberg.net
Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Make sense of the world with one essential conversation, every week. Mishal Husain, one of Britain's best interviewers, brings her signature blend of curiosity and tenacity to weekly conversations with world leaders, business titans, and cultural icons, revealing who they really are and how they see the world changing around them.

Subscribe today at Bloomberg.com/audio or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. For annotated transcripts of Mishal's conversations head to Bloomberg.com/latest/weekend-interview

Make sense of the world with one essential conversation, every week. Mishal Husain, one of Britain's best interviewers, brings her signature blend of curiosity and tenacity to weekly conversations with world leaders, business titans, and cultural icons, revealing who they really are and how they see the world changing around them.
Subscribe today at Bloomberg.com/audio or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. For annotated transcripts of Mishal's conversations head to Bloomberg.com/latest/weekend-interview

The Mishal Husain Show

Ebola Is Back: Virus Pioneer Peter Piot Explains the Threat

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/4027a207-d283-477c-ac3f-b45f012ef9f8/transcript