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CAFOD responds to Ebola outbreak in west Africa


Hospital in Gulu, Uganda, during October 2000  Ebola outbreak

Hospital in Gulu, Uganda, during October 2000 Ebola outbreak

Hundreds of people have died from the deadly Ebola virus in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia. CAFOD’s partners are on the ground, helping communities to protect themselves.

An outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease has hit communities in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia. To date, the World Health Organisation estimates that 786 people have been infected, and 442 people have died, making it the largest outbreak ever known.

Ebola is a severe acute viral illness often characterized by the sudden onset of fever, intense weakness, muscle pain, headache and sore throat. This is followed by vomiting, diarrhoea, rash, impaired kidney and liver function, and in some cases, both internal and external bleeding.

People who are infected with Ebola have a 40% chance of survival - in many cases less, given the low levels of health services available in the rural areas which have been most heavily affected.

There is no vaccine and no known cure, but by following a few key practises, the spread of Ebola can be relatively easily stopped.

CAFOD’s Catherine Mahony says: “One reason that the virus has spread so extensively is a widespread fear and lack of trust in the advice given on Ebola prevention. Many people don’t have access to reliable information, and high death rates and stigmatisation make people afraid to take their loved ones to hospitals, if medical facilities are even available.

“While rumours abound, the disease rages on. Cases are now being reported in towns and cities in all three countries.”

CAFOD is working with its partners to ensure that the right messages get to the most vulnerable people through community leaders they trust. In Sierra Leone the agency is launching a programme of training and sensitisation for religious leaders, which will empower them with information that they can share widely in remote rural areas. A similar programme is already underway in Guinea, where the outbreak is now stabilising.

Catherine Mahony says: “The network of churches and mosques are able to reach deep into communities, providing reassurance and guidance. Religious leaders are in a unique position to bust myths and ensure that communities take the right action to stop the spread of this appalling disease.”

CAFOD is taking careful measures to ensure that its staff and partners are protected as they undertake their lifesaving work.

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