Hospitals staff abandon work in fear of contracting Ebola

[grahamhgreen]

http://www.pangeatoday.com/hospital-staff-abandons-work-in-fear-of-contracting-ebola/

Many panic-stricken health workers in Liberia have reportedly deserted their workstations after several of their colleagues were killed by the deadly Ebola virus currently spreading across West Africa.

The disease, which has no known cure, has caused more than 500 deaths in the region since the latest epidemic broke out in January, with the number of confirmed fatalities in Liberia alone nearing 100.

Guinea – where the epidemic originated – and Sierra Leone have been similarly affected.

At least five major hospitals and health centers in the Liberian capital of Monrovia have reported a critical decline in manpower as doctors, nurses and laboratory technicians refuse to come to work for fear of being infected.

http://allafrica.com/stories/201407251765.html

Monrovia — Nurses at Liberia's premiere hospital, the John F. Kennedy Medical Center are refusing to continue work as death toll continues to climb from the deadly Ebola virus in Liberia Friday.

FrontPageAfrica has learned that the Emergency section at JFK is being shutdown and a small team of health care workers and patients are being moved to another floor in the hospital.

Sources inform FrontPageAfrica that the ER will remain closed until it is sprayed thoroughly and quarantined for 21 incubation period.

...........

Leading doctors at both JFK and Phebe Hospital are currently quarantined at the ELWA Hospital in Paynesville where health practitioners from the Samaritan Purse have been working around the clock to treat serious cases.

Dr. Nelson Korkor, the lead doctor at Phebe was brought down to Monrovia three days ago and is being quarantined along with Dr. Dr, Samuel Brisbane, a former Chief Medical Doctor at the Firestone Rubber Plantation Hospital and a Physician assistant. "All three are still alive but the doctor from Phebe is the strongest of the three, they are all alive. Dr. Brisbane is vomiting occasionally but is holding up, the PA however is deteriorating, a senior hospital administrator told FrontPageAfrica on condition of anonymity.

This could get really bad quickly if the infected are left alone to spread the contagion.

[Scootaloo]

1. They can't really be blamed

The role of doctor or nurse carries a lot of self-sacrificing expectations. It's not a "casual" job by any means.

but there are limits for everyone, and I can't extend any blame here and would be set against anyone who did.

No way can I criticize people from hauling ass away from an ebola outbreak. All I can do is salute them for what they contributed while they felt they could.

[Chemisse]

16. I agree. People should not be expected to sacrifice their lives for their job.

[defacto7]

2. This is serious is an understatement.

[msongs]

3. meanwhile in the USA and Europe....crickets... nt

[emsimon33]

14. Yes, until it arrives here

We call ourselves Christians but sure do not show the empathy that the religion requires until we feel threatened.

[grahamhgreen]

31. One case here, and they'll blame Obama:(

[msanthrope]

15. You are incorrect....the BBC has done an excellent job reporting on this. nt

[No Vested Interest]

4. Assuming they have families they are responsible for,

medical personnel may have to make a choice to put the well-being of their family above their work/calling to assist the ill.

[Logical]

29. Like fireman and police? nt

[Uncle Joe]

5. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, grahamhgreen.

[C Moon]

6. Scary. That's a tough decision to make. Hats off to all of them. Wow.

[Hekate]

7. Is the international community quarantining travelers from the region ?

It's a horrible thing to say, but it may have to burn itself out. The rapidity of death is like nothing so much as the Black Plague of the Dark Ages, which spread over vast distances as people fled the cities, including by ship.

We've come so far in this scientific age, and yet...

[Spitfire of ATJ]

9. It's worse than you think....

The Bubonic Plague has an incubation period of 2 to 6 days.

Ebola has an incubation period from 2 to 21 days. It could EASILY go global.

And this strain is AIRBORNE.

[Enthusiast]

11. One way to get rid of the "useless eaters".

Pete Peterson said.

[eShirl]

12. oh shit

well folks, it's been nice knowin' ya

[LisaL]

18. No, it's not airborne.

Ebola is transmitted through contact with body fluids.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

23. You're right.....

Fuckin' fear mongering CNN again. I gotta stop tuning in to them.

[Marrah_G]

27. It is not airborne

Not very contagious until you see symptoms. You contract it through touching bodily fluids. This is why health workers and families caring for loved ones are at risk. Also the cultural practices of touching the dead body.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

8. Now THERE is a place to cancel all flights.

[DeSwiss]

10. K&R

[Kurska]

13. Not only is it incredibly contagious, especially in the low tech of environments 3rd world hospitals

But in several countries healthcare workers are coming under physical attack, accused of taking part in cannibalistic rituals.

Who could reasonably blame them for not staying?

[stevenleser]

17. Exactly. Screw that. Trying to brave the dangers of the disease is one thing. Coming under attack by

superstitious people at the same time? I would be on my way to the airport so fast...

[Kurska]

24. The very same people you'd expected to give you life to save if they get ill.

Nah, I'd be gone.

[dembotoz]

19. i have a pretty good idea that i will not die at work today. These workers not so sure

can not say i blame them

[herding cats]

21. Last I heard it was nearly 100 health workers infected since this outbreak began.

I'm not judging anyone who chooses not to expose themselves to this level of risk.

[BrotherIvan]

22. I could never be that brave

[Zorra]

25. This is very serious stuff. An average of 20 new reported cases a day between 6/24 and 7/23. nt

[Nobel_Twaddle_III]

26. Past time, to quarantine these countries.

[Barack_America]

28. Brisbane died. Read about it yesterday.

I imagine the PA likely did too.

[Jenoch]

30. A man died from ebola in Lagos after flying

there from Monrovia. He leaves behind his wife and three daughters who live just about ten miles from my house in Minnesota.