Contagion! How can we combat the Ebola virus epidemic and prevent it from spreading in South Africa?

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The current Ebola epidemic in West Africa is the largest and most complex outbreak of the disease to date. First discovered in 1976 following an outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Sudan, the virus is thought to be transmitted to humans from bushmeat. It is spread through direct contact of broken skin or mucous membranes with bodily fluids such as blood, sweat, semen and other secretions, or with surfaces like bedding and clothing that have been infected with these substances. The current outbreak is caused by the deadliest species of the Ebolavirus (the Zaire strain) and has a 50% fatality rate. Unlike previous instances, the disease has not remained contained within remote rural villages, but has spread to urban areas since the first case was reported in Guinea in March 2014. This has only sped up its transmission to other countries, and it now seriously affects Liberia and Sierra Leone. There are fears that it could develop into a major pandemic, but certain measures can be taken to combat the virus and prevent it from spreading in South Africa.