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The largest Ebola outbreak is not a global threat, despite the virus’s terrifying ability to liquefy judgement and make one’s sense of proportion dribble out of every orifice. Here’s a great explainer by Declan Butler. Meanwhile, Sara Reardon reports about the problems that health workers are facing on the frontlines in West Africa, where there’s actually a serious problem. Peter Piot reflects on nearly 40 years of investigating this virus. And Helen Branswell talks about the lack of drugs or vaccines for the disease.

Explorer talks about descending into a hellpit that’s been on fire