Ebola Travels Between Towns

GOMA, Congo — An outbreak of the Ebola virus has killed 15 people in northeastern Congo and the local communities are quickly learning how frighteningly deadly the disease is, and how to prevent its spread.

"Ebola entered my house and I did not know what it was," said Gabriel Libina Alandato, who survived the hemorrhagic fever. "My three daughters and their mother died in August, but it is only when I was taken to the quarantine center that I learned about the disease."

Health officials say the population lacks knowledge of Ebola and must learn that the tradition of washing of corpses before funerals spreads the epidemic.

Although it is the ninth Ebola epidemic in Congo, it is the first one in the Haut-Uélé territory, in northeastern Congo. Ebola has no cure and is deadly in 40 percent to 90 percent of cases. The disease causes severe internal bleeding.

They believe a woman who traveled for a funeral touched the body and brought it back to her town.  The longstanding traditions create a perfect chance to spread the disease. If any of you ever read The Hot Zone you are surely squirming right now.  Once Ebola crops up, it continues to do so.  Oh yeah, and once it landed in the U.S. in a couple of trash bags.

The difference between here and there is education and resources.  These people have no idea they are risking their lives, and how to prevent outbreaks.  This is something the world should pay attention to, as Ebola is only one of many risks that threaten the population.