In a bid to effectively control Ebola virus before it gets out of hand further, Sierra Leone's health ministry is declaring a lockdown on September 19 that will last for at least 3 days.
During the said shutdown, all people are not allowed to leave their area. According to Theo Nichol, its deputy information minister, they hope that with this decision, they can quickly find potential and existing Ebola cases. Depending on the outcome after 3 days, the shutdown may be extended.
The Doctors without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontières team, however, has strongly expressed their objection to its future implementation. Rather than aid in finding and eventually treating new cases, it will only worsen the problem as suspected and susceptible individuals may be forced to conceal their symptoms. It will also deepen the distrust and strained relationships between health care providers and Sierra Leone citizens.
Last May 2014, when the virus first hit the country, the government spread educational messages in Kailahun District, citing the symptoms of the disease and to seek immediate help. Only a few people heeded the advice. Instead, false rumors spread across the area, with citizens believing the disease was purposely spread by the health care providers and their government. There are also reported cases of relatives pulling the diseased patients out of these health care facilities.
Moreover, MSF doctors believed that even if they conduct a door-to-door screening among those in lockdown, they wouldn't have immediate and close facilities to bring the patients to. The process also required extensive knowledge in diagnosis and treatment.
For the doctors who have been continuously helping patients and governments of the affected countries, the most effective option is still to allow the other bio responses teams in many nations to participate in controlling the virus by sending experts and medical equipment.
According to World Health Organization, this Ebola virus epidemic is the biggest, deadliest, and the most complex in history. It has already affected around 3,500 people and have killed more than 2,000 in Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea, and Nigeria. While WHO thinks this breakout has been "underestimated," they also vow to control it.
