The governments of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone have already stepped up their efforts to contain the disease. Education campaigns are underway to counter traditional beliefs and customs.
But sometimes health-care workers still get attacked when they try to go into a community.
“Communities are in denial that this virus can kill people,” Jean-Pierre Taschereau, a Canadian leading the Red Cross response to the West Africa Ebola outbreak, told CBC Radio’s The Current.
“As more cases appear, there’s an increasing fear and resistance to outside intervention, so it’s hampering our efforts,” he added.
Last week Reuters reported on a demonstration outside the hospital in Kemena, Sierra Leone, the country’s main Ebola hospital, which was under police guard.
“Thousands had gathered outside the clinic the day before, threatening to burn it down and remove the patients,” Reuters reported. “Residents said police fired tear gas to disperse the crowds.”
This is the type of behavior you get from places where the average IQ is 70.
