UK is 'vulnerable' to next Ebola outbreak

I found this story on the main page of the BBC News. The article was written by James Gallagher, a health editor and explains how ‘The UK is vulnerable to epidemics such as Ebola because of a gaping hole in the country's ability to manufacture vaccines, a group of MPs has warned.’

The Science and Technology Committee said the UK "lacks the capacity" to produce enough to protect people.

And they said the government's response to the Ebola outbreak was "undermined by systematic delay".

MPs praised the "heroic" efforts of the volunteers who often put their own lives on the line to tackle the epidemic.

But their report warned: "We are also concerned that, in the unlikely but possible event of a domestic outbreak, the UK lacks the capability to go further and manufacture enough vaccines to vaccinate UK citizens in an emergency.

"Existing facilities are degraded and new plants will take years to build, leaving the UK in a vulnerable position."

The concern is that should a disease such as Ebola spread around the world then countries would look after their own interests first, making it hard for the UK to get hold of vaccines.

Those concerns were echoed by the chief medical officer, Prof Dame Sally Davies, who told the committee that "we are looking at how we can try and attract companies back".

This story caught my eye as it talks about England, which is the region that I live in, meaning that the content may have an influence/impact on my self, my family and friends. This story helps to rise awareness of the situation that is not yet taking place however, may do in the near future. By doing this it allows us, the readers to get into further research about the topic as well as, think of possible solutions to it before the actual situation gets worse. The BBC explained the story more as facts rather than being bias and taking a particular side of it. This is really good as it allows the readers to be able to find out what may be necessary and come up with their own opinion and idea about it.