I joined many residents from Calne in the audience of the BBC Radio 4’s Any Questions programme last Friday evening. I wanted to know the panel’s opinions on how best to tackle the ebola outbreak which many experts predict will soon reach these shores.

This dreadful disease has a strong personal interest for me. As an aid worker who has worked in Africa I am very aware of the major health challenges the people of that continent face. This is a very serious one. It’s a threat that goes beyond Africa to our own doorsteps.

My brother, Squadron Leader Dr Malcolm Mathew is a medical doctor serving with the RAF reserve. Last week Britain mobilised 750 military personnel to go to West Africa to tackle this dreadful virus in its heartland. He may well be called to join them should more resources be needed.

I put forward his and my view on how best to deal with this outbreak when I spoke on BBC Radio Four’s Any Answers programme on Saturday afternoon. This lies in the very rapid deployment to West Africa of the new vaccine that is being developed in the UK.

This vaccine has been shown so far to have no negative impacts on the brave volunteers who have tried it, and to have been effective in treating primates in the lab.

With 1.4 million cases expected by the New Year if the disease continues to spread at its current rate, the vaccine should be rolled out now without delay.

We need governments and people to work together rather than being ‘little Englanders’ retreating behind the Channel, as some might suggest.

Dr Brian Mathew, Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate for North Wiltshire.