Skeptics In Sierra Leone Doubt Ebola Virus Exists

Sierra Leone is at the epicenter of the Ebola outbreak. But many people there don’t think the virus is real. Others are so frightened by Ebola that they’re afraid to take sick relatives to clinics.

This is fascinating, and a symptom of oppression and constant upheaval in certain places on the continent of Africa..

So many in the hot spot for Ebola don’t think it even exists..While workers, government officials, and military personnel all drive around in cars with loudspeakers—cars that feature images of people looking like zombies, vomiting—some listening are ignoring.. Ignorance is what may be causing the virus to spread faster and further than ever before in recorded history of Ebola.

NPR reports on some of the Ebola deniers: 

Opinions are mixed, but there’s a strong dose of Ebola deniers— those who don’t believe the virus exists at all. Zainab Koroma, a street hawker, is adamant it isn’t real.

"I do not believe Ebola exists because none of my family members has been affected by it," she says. "When you get sick of cholera, they say it is Ebola. When your body temperature rises, they say it is Ebola. So I honestly don’t believe Ebola exists. There could be a lot of other diseases killing people."

That’s one of the challenges facing Sierra Leone — trying to convince the nation that “Ebola is real, Ebola is here, and Ebola kills,” as one poster reads. Some people do survive, if they receive medical care early, as soon as they fall sick.

The case of 32-year-old Saudata Koroma transfixed the nation late last month. She was brought to a faded blue government hospital in Freetown, feeling unwell, and was admitted.

"Yes, and we were suspicious that she had Ebola, and she was put in isolation," says Amadu Sesay, the doctor in charge of the hospital. "The tests proved she had Ebola. Prior to the arrival of the test results, the relatives of the patient stormed the facility. They stormed this hospital and took the patient away."

When his staff learned Koroma had Ebola, Sesay says, they had to track her down. But it took some time. “She was put in an ambulance, but unfortunately on the way to [an Ebola clinic in] Kailahun, she died,” he says.

And with that epic account, more infections were spread due to the denial of the disease..

The world may spin their eyes at tales of denials of a deadly virus, but consider some facts: You may live in a nation absent these abuses:

1. Harsh conditions and treatment in jails


2. Female genital mutilation, forcibly done


3. Widespread government corruption


4. Rampant discrimination from the government based off of sexual preference


5. Child abuse and trafficking, with high officials involved


6. Forced child labor


7. And this: A civil war that actually killed 25 times as many people as the Kosovo war did.. During wartime, children were often forced into the military and women were raped in brutal attacks. 

All of that while the world ignored, and then Sierra Leone was put on the United Nations Human Rights Council in 2012.

So doubt that Ebola exists? Common sense would tell someone it’s real.. But live in a nation where the citizenry has been oppressed by a tyrannical government, and it’s easy to see why disbelief in reality is rampant. 

Skeptics In Sierra Leone Doubt Ebola Virus Exists

Ebola terror at Gatwick as Sierra Leone flight passenger dies

Staff tell of fears as jet from Africa is quarantined after the death of passenger who was ’sweating and vomiting’ before she collapsed

MORE:

The woman, said to be 72, became ill on the gangway after she left a Gambia Bird jet with 128 passengers on board. She died in hospital.

Ebola has killed 256 people in Sierra Leone. A total of 826 have died in West Africa since the outbreak began in February. Tests are now being carried out to see if the woman had disease.

The plane was quarantined as ­officials desperately tried to trace everyone who had been in contact with the woman.

But before emotions get wild and assumptions get made: This is not yet ruled Ebola related. As a matter of fact, the MIRROR goes on to report—deep in the article—

The passenger was taken to hospital and sadly died.

“In line with standard ­procedures, tests are being undertaken to determine the cause of death.

“The patient’s symptoms suggest that Ebola is very unlikely but as a precaution this is one of the tests being undertaken.

It is a matter of time, of course, before cases pop up outside of Africa.. The world is too connected and close for that not to occur. It’s just the hope that health officials will calmly take matters into their responsible hands.. and that panic will not ensue.

Like today…when the vomiting 72-year-old led to a world crisis.

Ebola terror at Gatwick as Sierra Leone flight passenger dies

While we are watching the friendly skies for Ebola to land.. maybe it's already here?

A doctor named Alan Jamison put himself in self-quarantine in his Tennessee home. While there are no reports that he has Ebola, he treated Ebola patients in Liberia…

He did this Monday—meaning that this entire week, while the United States debated whether bringing Ebola patients to a hospital adjacent to the CDC was a good idea or not, it  may have already here all along..

CNN is reporting on the doctor.. and also the fact that he has exhibited no signs of the disease yet..

Worth reading: Jamison has no symptoms at this point.

CNN says, 

He plans to be in isolation for 21 days, which is the incubation period for the disease or the time between infection and onset of symptoms.

"My last encounter with a patient who had Ebola was on July 19," he said. "I contacted the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on my arrival … and informed them I had been in West Africa and my history."

The father of three said his daughter picked him up from the airport and dropped him at home, where he’s quarantined himself and has had no contact with anyone since.

Good thing the CDC knows about this.. 

But I have a few questions…

How many other doctors, or people, are doing the same thing as Dr. Jamison? Should the CDC be more keenly aware, and are they even aware of everyone that may be doing this self-isolation treatment?  Should Dr. Jamison being transferred to the CDC location where these other two patients—who definitely have Ebola—are going to be housed ..? 

But potentially even more troubling in my mind.. it’s a nice gesture to self-quarantine, but what about the plane he rode with others to get back to the United States? 

There is one factor also worth considering—I did not know this until now. Ebola is only contagious after the 21-day incubation period.. That would make for a great sequel to 28 DAYS LATER, but it also creates a far greater chance for developed nations to prevent this disease ..

And let’s face it: The death toll is rough. 90% of those who contact Ebola die.. But a few hundred (conservative estimate, sure) of a few million people isn’t a lot.. Even in third world nations, where disease is abundant, Ebola is still hard to catch under the right circumstances.

The problem is the amount of distrust of governments in the African nations where the disease is hitting, and the refusals to be isolated and also, quite often, the fears of modern medicine.. 

Fear, suspicion undermine West Africa's battle against Ebola

…and of course: 57+ EBOLA patients have GONE MISSING..

Fear, suspicion undermine West Africa's battle against Ebola

The image you are looking at was taken by the AP of a person in Brazil suffering from xeroderma pigmentosum, or “XP.” It’s a condition in which, for better or worse as a description, people ‘melt away’ ..

The rare disease stops the skin from being able to heal itself from the sun’s rays. 

The AP has more on relatively high amount of people in one village that are suffering from this..

Guinean Ebola survivor tells of being 'reborn'

She’s 27, and she is known as “Fanta.” 

She thanks God for her survival.

I’d imagine the doctors are going to try to figure out why Fanta was so different than many others after contracting this awful disease..

Guinean Ebola survivor tells of being 'reborn'

Ebola breaks out on a scale never seen before

I think we all need to be paying attention to this story.. Not only is humanity having a terrible time in Africa where Ebola has resumed killing, but it’s now a burdensome mission for all nations to stop the spread.

We are more connected than ever.. we travel more than any time in history. And Ebola is as deadly as it has ever been—it appears that it’s newfound mission is to spread beyond the borders of the nations where it dwells..

Maybe go back and watch that deplorably bad 1995 movie OUTBREAK. Graphics are bad and shoulder pads were big.. but it’s a lesson on what we do not want to have happen on this planet.

Ebola breaks out on a scale never seen before

Even cancer is getting political! The federal government wants to redefinethe term “cancer” so that fewer conditions qualify as a true cancer.

From FORBES:

With respect to the definition of “cancer,” downgrading some conditions as no longer being “cancer” can and will used to justify reducing “unnecessary” screening tests (e.g., mammograms for women between ages 40-49). Mammograms can now detect the condition known as “ductal carcinoma in situ” (DCIS), which would no longer be called a cancer under the new proposal

Even cancer? Disease? ….is anything in this land of our land NOT political!?

Even cancer is getting political! The federal government wants to redefinethe term “cancer” so that fewer conditions qualify as a true cancer.

Report on U.S. Meat Sounds Alarm on superbugs in US meat..

Data show a sizable increase in the amount of meat contaminated with antibiotic-resistant forms of bacteria, like salmonella, E. coli and campylobacter.

That’s right. Bacteria.. resistant to anything.

Eat up.

Time to go vegan?

Report on U.S. Meat Sounds Alarm on superbugs in US meat..

Rumors in China say that the United States created their bird flu. Fears in the rest of the world now that the bird flu may turn into the 1918 of 2013.. 

Nothing to fear? US races to create bird flu vaccine.. just in case.

H7N9 has Tamiflu resistance..

This is when science annoys me.. seriously guys, you are still going to create highly infectious bird flu?

Obama! Come on! have some more sense.

Captain Trips SHOULD NOT exist..

This is when science annoys me.. seriously guys, you are still going to create highly infectious bird flu?

Ebola back in Uganda, according to a report

"Laboratory investigations done at the Uganda Virus Research Institute…have confirmed that the strange disease reported in Kibaale is indeed Ebola hemorrhagic fever," the Ugandan government and WHO said in joint statement.

Ebola back in Uganda, according to a report

Mad Cow could go airborne. But don't panic.

Mad Cow could go airborne. But don't panic.