The deadly Ebola virus has broken out in the West African country of Guinea for the first time, alarming the public and catching health care workers off guard.

The disease, which first appeared in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 1976, is marked by fever and severe internal bleeding. Transmission is human to human. There is no known cure. Patients normally receive supportive care consisting of balancing their fluids, maintaining oxygen and blood pressure levels, and treating other infections. The Ebola virus is fatal in up to 90 percent of patients.

We spoke to two experts about efforts to contain the outbreak. Tarik Jasarevic, a spokesperson for the World Health Organization, spoke to us from Conakry. And Roland