The New Quarantine Zone in Liberia
While looking at The New York Times w
ebsite, the first article I found was about the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, focusing on specifically the newly quarantined zone in Monrovia, Liberia. After reading the article and doing some research, the new quarantined zone shows not only a lack of control towards the epidemic but displays the glaring social issues within West Africa.
Ebola was first reported in February and gained steam when a traditional healer died from Ebola all the while infecting 14 people who attended the funeral. Since then, Ebola is escalating at an alarming rate specifically in Liberia’s capital, Monrovia. This is the first time Ebola is spreading uncontrollably in a major city. In order to combat the alarming rise of deaths, President of Liberia Ellen Johnson, made a quarantine zone in a neighborhood of Monrovia called West Point. Ebola experts advised President Johnson against imposing quarantine in West Point citing that it would antagonize the population. She went against their advice and sided with the army’s idea to impose the quarantine.
The quarantine started on August 20th. Since then, tensions have been rising between the people and the military. Many people are trying to escape the quarantine zone through bribing the police officers or those who live on the edge of the zone with money or food. They want to leave to go to work or to look for food. As the quarantine continues, food prices have doubled and violence has increased. On August 24th, a 15 year old boy was caught in between the cross fire of men throwing rocks at police and police shooting back. He was shot and later died at the hospital.
With the increasing violence and Ebola victims still on the rise, critics are stating that the politicians are out of touch with the general population. The conditions are continuing to get worse with no signs of slowing down. On the other hand, President Johnson says that placing quarantine on West Point was the best option to keep the general population safe. On the both sides, Ebola victims have not decreased while tensions have increased in the quarantine zone.
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/29/world/africa/in-liberias-capital-an-ebola-outbreak-like-no-other.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&version=LargeMediaHeadlineSum&module=photo-spot-region®ion=top-news&WT.nav=top-news&_r=1
http://www.cnn.com/2014/08/28/world/africa/ebola-outbreak/
http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/ebola-virus-outbreak/where-did-ebola-come-likely-one-person-gene-study-finds-n191161
Picture: http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/ebola-virus-outbreak/where-did-ebola-come-likely-one-person-gene-study-finds-n191161
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The World Health Organization estimates that the number of cases could hit 20,000 in West Africa. The spread of Ebola in Monrovia is similar to that in Freetown, Sierra Leone. Many fear what the effect an outbreak can have on a crowded city. The outbreak is the largest on record and the only one to reach major urban cities. The disease is difficult to detect as its symptoms are similar to those of malaria or typhoid. The epidemic is even more difficult when combined with poverty of West Africa and the citizen’s skepticism of the disease. The city of Freetown is in a state of emergency, however, the majority of the city resident’s continue as normal. Few have started to were protective gloves and instead put their trust in God
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa/2014/08/rumours-complicate-sierra-leone-ebola-battle-20148373428495608.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/africa/it-was-already-the-worst-ebola-outbreak-in-history-now-its-moving-into-africas-cities/2014/08/30/31816ff2-2ed6-11e4-bb9b-997ae96fad33_story.html