Ebola is definitely not yet over. Worse, it's making a re-introduction in one of the unlikeliest places: the sea.
Three of the hardest-hit nations--Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Guinea--have made huge improvements in reducing the number of cases and deaths. In fact, the health officers and their respective governments believed the epidemic was almost over they relaxed their restrictions, including opening the many schools.
The figures did plunge, but eventually they tapered off. Now, there's a new threat coming from the fishermen who arrived in a slum area located in one of the busiest sections of Sierra Leone, the Tamba Kula.
As reported by New York Times, one of the members of the crew, 23-year-old Mohamed Bangura, narrated how they arrived at the wharf carrying more than 2 passengers, including the captain, sick with the virus. He was already vomiting, the young crew member said. They just came from a two-week voyage.
It seemed that the infection had already spread as two fish vendors tested positive of the virus. So were some boat cleaners and more fishermen, as of the early days of February.
What caused the spread? There are many explanations. One, health experts theorized that these fishermen were already sick even before they boarded their boats. They initially sought help from natural treatments in another place before returning to the capital when the symptoms worsened.
Those who didn't sail might have obtained the virus because of a poor hygiene facility in the slum. The people have to share toilets provided by a non-profit organization.
Until now, locals still display strong resistance against being treated for the disease. Since January, health workers and volunteers have reported being threatened or worse experiencing violence from these locals while trying to bury the dead.
The latest news cites how health workers ran after several people who wanted to avoid being quarantined.