Infected Ebola patients flee after attack on Liberia clinic

[NickB79]

http://news.yahoo.com/ebola-patients-flee-attack-liberia-isolation-ward-002954011.html

Monrovia (AFP) - Seventeen Ebola patients in Liberia who fled from a guarantine centre after it was attacked by club-wielding youths were missing on Sunday, striking a fresh blow to efforts to contain the deadly virus.

The attack on the Monrovia centre late Saturday highlighted the challenge faced by health authorities battling the epidemic that has killed 1,145 people since it erupted in west Africa early this year, spreading panic among local populations.

Doctors and nurses are not only fighting the disease, but a deep mistrust in communities often in the thrall of wild rumours that the virus was invented by the West or is a hoax.

"They broke down the door and looted the place. The patients have all gone," said Rebecca Wesseh, who witnessed the raid in the Liberian capital's densely populated West Point slum.

[Warpy]

1. There's one here in NM

in isolation after traveling in Sierra Leone and falling sick once s/he got home.

They say the risk the patient has ebola is remote, but this is the new reality, kiddies. Everybody with a history of a recent visit to West Africa will be on extreme isolation precautions if they catch a stomach flu, at least until ebola can be ruled out.

Since the disease is incurable and supportive measures only allow about 20% to survive it, of course they're mistrustful of medicine. Shamans and religious hucksters will be doing great business until they start to get it, in which case they'll flee the area like everybody else wants to.