A health worker in a HAZMAT suit carrying disinfectant. Yahoo/Reuters
The first patient diagnosed with Ebola in Freetown, Sierra Leone, was abducted by her family from the hospital. Yahoo/Reuters Officials are using radio and every other available means to try and convince her family to return her to the hospital. Dozens of other patients are missing in Sierra Leone as well.
My Comment:
The article doesn't really say why the family abducted the woman, but it's clear why to me. The people there fear doctors and are incredibly suspicious of their governments. I've been hearing that there are conspiracy theories going around in Africa that Ebola doesn't exist and the whole thing is just a plot so white people can harvest organs. That's obviously not true but the disease has a 60% mortality rate so it's easy to see why the rumors spread. People see that when you go into the hospital there is a very good chance of you not coming out, so at best the perception is that the doctors can do nothing. At worst they are the enemy. People aren't getting treatment, aid workers are getting attacked and every day the disease spreads more.
Of course not getting treatment is the absolute worst thing anyone could do in this situation. The people that abducted this woman have most likely signed her and their own death warrants. Ignorance and stupidity are Ebola's best friends and unfortunately both are in no short supply. The whole thing reminds me of the movie Contagion, right on down to Jude Law's character spreading lies and disinformation. Let's hope things don't get that bad but as of right now, it is not looking good.
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