Ebola (4) : The thread is there... the fear seems to be fading ...

I think I have to do an update on Ebola in Burkina. 

Well, do not worry, we still do not have any case, and I do hope it stays like this for long time!  It is true that when I arrived I was a little paranoiac. I imagine it was a mix of several feelings. First, the news did not stop talking about it, cases here and there... Spain, Germany, US, ... And the mathematical models are not that hopeful, either. Expecting an exponential growth of the Ebola cases unless large scale programs stat acting NOW!  Also, sanitation is usually not the same in Africa than in most European settings, and well ... the unknown also played an important role in my mind . Not knowing the place, the people, even my housemates, just made me be more self conscious about every single thing.

After almost three weeks in the country I must say that I am much, much more relaxed now. Even though I think it is quite easy we might get some cases in the country in the next months. But, lets cross our fingers for that not to happen.

In fact, I am happy that Ivory Coast (and also Mali, but mostly Ivory Coast) is in between us and Guine and Liberia. Ivory Coast is one of the most developed countries in the area. They are just so business oriented!!! Any country you go in West Africa, you will always find fruits from Ivory Coast. They market anything that is possible to be sold. In any case, I am happy is a country like Ivory Coast that is next to Guinea and Liberia, otherwise, I would be more afraid... much more afraid. However, it still feels strange that they have not had any case in the country... even though they border two of the three countries with Ebola.

There are tons of stories talking about how strict they are in Ivory Coast and the surveys they do in the border. The son of an Ivorian friend of mine went to the doctor and when the doctor extended the hand to shake it, the kid said, NO. I do not shake hands with people now! Also, a person near by the Liberian border was caught when he was going to cook a big rodent that he had hunted in the wild. He is going to be in jail for the next 5 years... as now it is forbidden to eat any animal from the wild.

In Burkina, is another story. The country does not have a strong medical system... not even to report possible cases (that is the most scary thing). Another story from an Italian Doctor... We had a suspected case of Ebola that arrived to the hospital. The person was quite sick and already vomiting blood. It seems that all the nurses had to treat the patient they abandon the hospital as soon as they saw the men symptoms.  Quite normal, thinking that the equipment in the hospital is very limited. I assumed it was not Ebola, as noone has said so! But in order to confirm an Ebola case, the blood sample has to travel to Lyon (France) and back here! So far, there is no place in the country where you can confirm a case. In fact, you do not have any facility yet, where you could be properly treated. Well, I guess it is not that surprising when even in Europe... in Spain, you do not have so! 

Ebola (3) : A friend from Guinea

One of my colleagues is from Guinea, from Guekedou, the site where the Ebola first started. He has not been home for over a year now, and with the current crisis he cannot go. If he goes there, he is not going to be able to get a visa for any other country to continue with his work.

He was explaining me how all the schools have been closed down in the country. How most of the markets have also been banned. His wife used to sell some traditional produces in the market, now, she is obliged to grown her own food, as there are no markets to go.

His family, besides the Ebola, is a lucky one. They survive thanks to the money my friend sends them every month. But, what happen to the rest of the families where the income comes from their sales in the market? Markets move a huge amount of the African wealth. Without them, people economy just collapses. And signs of this collapse are already showing. It seems under nutrition is already rising in the Ebola areas... 

Ebola (2) : 1st day in the office

It was my first day in the office and I was nervous not only because of this, but also because I had to shake hands with everybody in the building. And if someone has sweat and hot hands again?

Refusing to shake hands in Africa is something unthinkable, at least among the majority of people (except for the fundamentalist Muslims, who does not allow themself to touch any women). I could not introduce myself to people without shaking hands!!

I had to shake hands. So, I entered the office with the resolution of washing my hands as often as I could.

Luckily, when I open my email I had a message from a friend with a link to a short (15 min) Ebola prevention and awareness campaign (french/english). Watching the short presentation did bring me some peacefulness. Washing my hands over and over was, indeed, some of the best way to prevent any sort of contamination.

Entering my office I also had another beautiful sight. On top of each table there was a bottle of hand sanitizer. Now, it is just a matter of people using it!!

Ebola (1)

Early this morning I arrived to Ouaga, the capital of Burkina, in Western Africa.

Before leaving home (Spain) people asked me if there was Ebola in the country, and I was saying, no, there is not. Happy and confident, adding that ...there is not Ebola neither in Burkina, nor in the neighboring countries (Mali, Niger, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo and Benin)... but yes, there is in the region of Western Africa.

Right at the entrance of the airport we all had to wash our hands with hand-sanitizer, we were measured the body-temperature and we had to show our 'Yellow Fever' vaccination card. None of the passengers had fever that was reassuring!

Heading out from the airport, already with my luggage, I saw a person holding a paper with my name. I did smile to him, and he offered me his hand to introduce himself. I was not able to refuse. It is too impolite in the African culture to do so. But first thing that I noticed was his sweat and hot hands. I am pretty sure he had some fever; his eyes were also showing signs of fever. Most likely malaria, but somehow, touching him did give me an uncomfortable feeling. Rapidly I did look into my bag for the hand-sanitizer and put some, in order to feel a little better. I did say goodbye to him without touching him, and just putting my hand in my heart.

My little panic against Ebola was just starting.

I slept at least 8 hours. I was lucky to have a contact in town, a friend that works for the OMS. I was happy to have an interesting guide to Ouaga, that would also put me into context. A more real context than the European news and my fears ...

'It is a matter of time for the Ebola to come to the country'. She first said. 'There will most likely be cases and we are already preparing an isolation center outside of town. During the next three months the cases will continue increasing, but with the current investments being done in the region, it is likely that in three months time the outbreak will be under control. Now, only 25% of the cases are being covered. We need to have at least 70% of the infected people under treatment in order to contain the disease...' 

Her words did not reassure me much. I was concern, quite concern. I was sad thinking that in my way back to Europe people, my friends and family, would feel fear to be close to me, to touch me, to just talk to me.

I was also afraid thinking how I could start minimizing my personal contact with people. How I would set now a procedure to minimize people's contact.