Q&A with Ebola Expert

By Robert Graham

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention says the 2014 Ebola outbreak ranks as the largest Ebola outbreak historically and the first to occur in West Africa. Doctors at Texas Health Presbyterian hospital in Dallas, TX reported the first Ebola diagnosis outside of Africa in late September. ENMU alumnus and immunologist Steven Bradfute, Ph.D. (BA 98) works at the University of New Mexico’s Center for Global Health and weighs in on the Ebola Outbreak.

Steven Bradfute

Photo by John Arnold

R: Steven, thanks for taking time to catch us up to speed on the Ebola Outbreak. Could you talk a little about how you fit into the Ebola equation?

S: I’m an immunologist, and I study how the body’s immune system reacts to infection or vaccination. Specifically, I am an expert on vaccine development for hemorrhagic fever viruses and how such viruses bypass the immune system to cause disease. Ebola qualifies as a hemorrhagic fever virus. Marburg and Machupo are other ones.

R: What was your reaction when you heard of the Ebola outbreak?

S: “Oh no, this is not good.” What makes Ebola worrisome is the disease’s mortality rate. What exacerbates this is that the infections are occurring in population centers whereas past outbreaks have been confined to remote areas. It is easier to contain Ebola in remoter areas and harder in densely populated areas.

Electron micrograph of the Ebola virus

R: What is your long-term perspective on the Ebola outbreak?

S: It’s going to take a long time and a lot of work to contain this outbreak. There has to be a global, concerted effort to contain the spread of the virus.

R: How did you decide upon ENMU for your undergraduate work?

S: I grew up in Portales and went to Faith Triumphant Christian School, which I loved. I always liked living in Portales. I didn’t feel ready to leave. I really enjoyed my time at ENMU, and I only ended up leaving after graduating because I wanted to obtain a Ph.D. in immunology.