I have blogged a number of times
about attacks on health workers vaccinating people against polio in Pakistan (24
February, 3 March, and 10 December, 2014), so how depressing to report that
local people are attacking aid workers helping the fight against Ebola in
Guinea.
The Red Cross says they are being
subjected to about 10 assaults a month. The latest happened on Sunday when two volunteers
were beaten while trying to conduct a safe burial. Traditional funeral rituals can help spread
the virus. Last year eight aid workers were hacked to death in Guinea.
Apparently, many Guineans believe that those who come
to bury the dead, disinfect areas and bring information about the disease are
in fact spreading it.
And alarm bells are ringing.
After several weeks of decline, the number of new cases is rising again. So
far, in its deadliest outbreak ever, Ebola has claimed nearly 9,270 victims;
more than 2,030 of them in Guinea. Liberia has been worst hit with nearly 3,860
while Sierra Leone has suffered more than 3,360.
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