Discovery Fit & Health preps Ebola doc

US cable channel Discovery Fit & Health is partnering with ABC News to create a quick turnaround doc looking at the deadly Ebola virus.

Ebola: Inside the Deadly Outbreak will run as part of a special night of programming on the Discovery Communications-owned channel titled Ebola: Are We Next? between 8-11pm.

Billed as a “comprehensive look into the history, containment, and medical implications of this highly infectious disease”, it will see ABC News’ chef medical editor and former acting director of the Center for Disease Control Dr. Richard Besser travelling to the Ebola ‘hot zone’ of Monrovia, Liberia, to investigate the outbreak.

Besser will also answer viewers’ questions via Twitter as the show plays.

“These are unimaginable terrors that we’ve seen played out in science fiction movies like ‘Contagion’ and ‘Outbreak,’ but Ebola is knocking on America’s door and we are looking for answers,” said Jane Latman, general manger of Discovery Fit & Health.

“With a partner like ABC News, who truly has exclusive and first-hand insight to understanding this unspeakable plague, we can educate the DFH audience on what this disease is, how to attempt to contain it, and how to protect ourselves.”

ABC News-owned Lincoln Square Productions is producing the doc, with Rudy Bednar and Jeanmarie Condon executive producing alongside Discovery Fit & Health’s Julie Meisner Eagle.

Discovery Life Channel will replace Discovery Fit & Health on January 15, 2015.