Man who co-discovered Ebola says India should be cautious

We must be aware that there is the risk of Ebola cases in any country, as we have already seen some cases in Europe and the US. India has a huge population and urban centres are very densely packed, which could pose a challenge if any cases did arrive, as it makes it harder to isolate patients and trace their contacts for observation. Lack of adequate sanitation is also a problem in parts of the country. These elements could make containing Ebola cases more challenging than in some other countries. There are also many people from India who work in trade or industry in West Africa.

This is an opportunity for the Indian health service to strengthen its infection control measures in all hospitals in preparation for any cases of Ebola arriving in the country. It is very important that proper hygiene practices are observed in all health facilities, and that healthcare workers are properly trained to protect against the spread of the disease if any cases did arrive in India.

The early symptoms of Ebola are similar to other diseases which are prevalent in India such as malaria and dengue. So it's particularly important to be vigilant and monitor people closely, and make sure the public are aware of the risks.

It does not mean that flights should be stopped from the affected countries in West Africa to other countries around the world. The current outbreak is already disrupting entire societies, and cutting off these countries from the rest of the world will only make the social and economic impacts worse. The virus is only contracted through very close contact - through bodily fluids - it is not airborne like other viruses such as the flu. We must continue to concentrate our efforts in tackling the outbreak in West Africa - this is the best way to ensure that the virus does not spread to other countries.

The international community was much too slow to respond to the outbreak. It's good that the UK and United States and some other countries are finally beginning to help. But other countries, especially in Europe, must do a lot more. And it should be clear to all of us: this isn't just an epidemic any more - this is a humanitarian catastrophe. We don't just need health care personnel on the ground in West Africa, but also logistics experts, trucks, jeeps and foodstuffs.

(For the podcast interview with Professor Peter Piot on how he co-discovered Ebola and his views on the current epidemic hear this.)