We seriously underestimated Ebola. Right now, it seems that the epidemic will continue to worsen in the next six months with about 20,000 people infected in Western Africa. In the long run, only a comprehensive strengthening of health systems will stabilise the situation in a satisfactory way.

It is not only about the disease however. Ebola also has consequences for food insecurity as trade and food harvesting are severely limited. The Western African countries affected fear an economic drop of up to 4%. We have to look seriously at food supply if we want to avoid chaos and even more deaths.