How the Death of a Flemish Nun Led to the Discovery of the Ebola Virus: Her Infected Blood Came to Belgium via Sabena... In a Thermos, as Hand Luggage.

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“This must be investigated. Now.” On September 29, 1976, a Sabena pilot hastily placed a blue thermos flask at the reception of the Institute of Tropical Medicine in Antwerp. Inside the bottle was the blood of a Flemish nun from Congo. What no one knew at the time: Sister Myriam’s sample would lead to the discovery of the virus that would later become infamous worldwide as... Ebola. Here is the full story behind it: it reads like a Netflix movie…