Leading the charge: Médecins Sans Frontières receives the 2015 Lasker~Bloomberg Public Service Award.

Abstract

The 2014 Ebola outbreak in West Africa has been unprecedented in many respects, including its geographical spread, the number of individuals infected, and duration. Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF, also known as Doctors Without Borders) was among the first organizations to respond to early reports of a hemorrhagic fever of unknown origin in Guinea. MSF called upon the international community to act early during the outbreak, but these early warnings were largely dismissed or thought to be overstated. MSF responders have worked tirelessly and continue to do so to provide care to those infected with Ebola, to educate affected communities, and to support local healthcare providers. For their bold leadership and unwavering support during the current Ebola outbreak in West Africa and their continued efforts to provide health care to people in crisis throughout the world, MSF is being recognized with the 2015 Lasker~Bloomberg Public Service Award (Figure 1).