A s the death toll rises from the Ebola epidemic in West Africa, confusion and rumor have made it harder for health care workers and government officials to combat the outbreak. But this is easier said than done. Infected people will go to extraordinary lengths to avoid detection, including, Casey adds, changing their names.
In Liberia, international non-governmental organizations are starting to realize their Ebola messaging may have added to the confusion, not cleared it up. But fear of the disease is widespread across West Africa. In Liberia, unconfirmed reports came in from The Liberian Observer that people were poisoning water wells around Monrovia, while state radio claimed 10 died in Dolostown after drinking water that was supposedly poisoned. Liberians told Gercama the mysterious poisoners could be trying to raise the death toll and so gain more international aid.
Others said it was a form of witchcraft to combat the epidemic. In the afflicted countries some are turning to traditional healers rather than science in a bid to combat the disease. In Duala, a market area in Liberia, an exorcism was performed on an Ebola patient. Two leading Nigerian newspapers, citing unnamed sources, reported that excessive salt consumption led to two deaths and 20 hospitalizations in Plateau state. In countries where health care workers are fleeing the disease, those who claim to understand and defeat Ebola through non-scientific means might be appear to be a welcome alternativeβor a last resort.
The corpses remained in the house for three days. After two of their U. Amidst the chaos, the disease continues to spread. In Nigeria however, the virus is unknown to some. Contact us at letters time. Join Us. Customer Care. Reach Out. Connect with Us. By Mirren Gidda. Fires Show Reality of 1. Home U. All Rights Reserved. TIME may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.
