The Congolese Doctor Who Discovered Ebola

Short Wave

NPR

Daily News, Nature, Life Sciences, Astronomy, Science, News

4.7 • 6K Ratings

🗓️ 9 July 2020

⏱️ 14 minutes

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Summary

Encore episode. Jean-Jacques Muyembe is a Congolese doctor who headed up the response to the recent Ebola outbreak in Congo. Back in 1976, he was the first doctor to collect a sample of the virus. But his crucial role in discovering Ebola is often overlooked. NPR's East Africa correspondent Eyder Peralta helps us correct the record.

Follow Eyder on Twitter — he's @eyderp and Maddie's @maddie_sofia.

You can always reach the show by emailing [email protected].

Transcript

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0:00.0	At the beginning of an epidemic, it's essential to discover the source of the disease.
0:06.5	For scientists who do that work, it's extremely challenging and not without risk to their own health.
0:14.0	But the scientists who played an essential role in discovering Ebola, way back in 1976,
0:20.8	doesn't always get the credit he deserves.
0:24.0	In today's episode, we explore the history of Ebola,
0:27.4	and the consequences of scientific exploitation.
0:31.2	It's part of our week of episodes here on the show,
0:34.0	celebrating and recognizing the contributions of black scientists. Enjoy.
0:40.6	You're listening to Shortwave from NPR.
0:45.5	Maddie Sifai here with none other than NPR East Africa correspondent,
0:49.3	Ador Peralta. Hey there Ador.
0:51.2	Hey Maddie.
0:51.9	Thank you so much for talking to us all the way from Kenya. I know there's like an eight-hour time
0:56.1	difference. I am thrilled. But I want to open with a quick question.
1:03.4	Who discovered Ebola and do not Google it?
1:07.7	Okay, first of all, how dare you? Ask me a question. I should definitely know the answer to
1:12.4	and don't. And yeah, I already googled it. And what came up was Peter Pia, a Belgian microbiologist.
1:20.1	But I think you're about to tell me there's more to this story there.
1:23.2	Absolutely, there always is, right? So I mean, you cheated.
1:27.3	Yeah.
1:27.6	And what you probably saw is a bunch of white westerners like Pia.
1:32.3	Dr. Jan Jacques Mouyembe does not.
	...

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