The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is warning that increased efforts are needed to improve awareness in West Africa about the risks of contracting the Ebola virus from eating certain wildlife species, including fruit bats.

Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone are struggling to contain the world’s deadliest recorded outbreak of the virus, which is transmitted by direct contact with the blood and body fluids of infected people as well as infected animals.

The West African epidemic is thought to have started when the virus crossed over from infected wildlife into the human population and subsequently began spreading between people.

Dr. Juan Lubroth is a Chief Veterinary Officer with FAO. In the following interview he elaborates on the current status of the situation and FAO is doing to support governments in controlling the outbreak.

Duration: 2’25’’