Image: A view of gloves and boots used by medical staff, drying in the sun, at a center for victims of the Ebola virus in Guekedou, on April 1, 2014. (AFP Photo / Seyllou)

You have probably heard about the deadly progress of the Ebola virus in West Africa. It is spreading at an alarming rate and does not appear to have any cure. To make matters worse, Ebola has a high fatality rate of 70% according to the most rigorous statistical studies. So far, it has claimed over 2000 lives and has now spread into Africa’s most populous nation of Nigeria. There may be unconfirmed reports that Ebola has found its way into Australia. According to the Oxford University professor, Adrian Hill, a vaccine is “doable” but ‘Big Pharma’ has not developed a vaccine because there was no business case. This situation sounds like a classic case of market failure. (more…)