Spillover - Zika, Ebola & Beyond

Documentary Investigates The Rise And Spread Of Viruses Worldwide And How To Stop The Next Pandemic

Around the globe, viruses are on the march: Zika, Ebola, Nipah, Chikungunya, Dengue and West Nile. All of these viruses reside in animals and have the potential to “spillover” and infect humans. What’s behind the rise in spillover viruses? Are the United States and the world prepared to anticipate, contain and prevent the next outbreak?

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Members of the Brazilian military and Recife City Health Department go door-to-door in a Recife favela to inspect for mosquitos in the fight against the Zika virus.

Courtesy of Tangled Bank Studios, LLC

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PREDICT partners feed macaque monkeys on the streets of Dhaka, Bangladesh to gather samples of feces.

Courtesy of Tangled Bank Studios, LLC

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Dr. Jonathan Epstein releases a bat after collecting samples for testing.

Courtesy of Tangled Bank Studios, LLC

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At Candido Vargas Institute in João Pessoa, Brazil, a geneticist examines an infant with microcephaly, a brain defect associated with Zika virus infection.

Courtesy of Tangled Bank Studios, LLC

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At Candido Vargas Institute in João Pessoa, Brazil, a geneticist examines an infant with microcephaly, a brain defect associated with Zika virus infection.

Courtesy of Tangled Bank Studios, LLC

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Samuel da Silva, an infant with microcephaly, has his head circumference measured at Oswaldo Cruz University Hospital in Recife, Brazil.

Courtesy of Tangled Bank Studios, LLC

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The graves of hundreds of Ebola virus victims are lined up at Waterloo Cemetery in Sierra Leone, West Africa.

Courtesy of Tangled Bank Studios, LLC

"Spillover – Zika, Ebola & Beyond," premiering Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2016 on PBS, is a new documentary that traces the spread of viruses and reveals strategies to prevent devastating outbreaks. The film features scientists across Africa, Asia, North America and South America who are searching for ways to combat these dangerous diseases.

Over the last half-century, the number of spillover diseases has multiplied — from the current Zika world health emergency and 2014 Ebola outbreak to the historic AIDS pandemic. More than 70 percent of the emerging infections surfacing over the last several decades are “zoonotic,” or diseases carried by animals, such as mosquitoes, bats, rodents and monkeys, which can then jump species to infect humans.

“This thought-provoking film offers PBS viewers an unflinching look at one of the biggest global health issues facing us today,” said Bill Gardner, vice president, programming and development for PBS. “With the world population being increasingly exposed to more pathogens, it is critical to shine a light on these growing threats to navigate the safest path forward.”

“The Ebola outbreak in West Africa kindled fears of a global pandemic, and now there are similar concerns for Zika,” said Dennis Liu, executive director of HHMI Tangled Bank Studios, the program producer.

“Zika, Ebola, Nipah and other disease-causing viruses can arise after spilling over from animals to humans and are now part of the interconnected world we live in. The engaging visual style of this film weaves the stories of healthcare workers, scientists and the communities on the front lines of these viral threats. A combination of modern day disease investigation and old-fashioned containment methods will help us be better prepared for the the next viral threat.”

Produced by Tangled Bank Studios. The DVD is available for purchase at ShopPBS.org.

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