As the bodies coming down from the dreaded Ebola virus continues to mount, two of the most hit countries are set to respond in very strong terms to its spread.
Ebola has led to the killing of 932 people across West African countries including Liberian, Sierra Leone, Guinea and Nigeria.
On Thursday, police officers and soldiers in Sierra Leone began enforcing a blockaded of rural areas hit by the deadly Ebola virus as instructed by the country’s government.
A senior health official said the move has become imperative following the continued spread of the virus. Shortly before the announcement by the Sieera Leonian government, Liberia had announced a declaration of a state of emergency to tackle what is clearly the worst-ever outbreak of the disease anywhere.
Liberia’s president, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, declared the 90-day state of emergency late Wednesday, noting that the state of emergency was necessary for “the very survival of our state and for the protection of the lives of our people.”
Johnson-Sirleaf disclosed that Liberian troops were being deployed to quarantine badly hit communities and added that the military deployment tagged “Operation White Shield,” is expected to be fully in place by Friday.
She said the epidemic, which has killed at least 282 people in the country alone, was spread through contact with bodily fluids of those infected.
“Ignorance and poverty, as well as entrenched religious and cultural practices, continue to exacerbate the spread of the disease,” she said as she declared that 32 health workers had already died of the disease and many sick people were going untreated after doctors deserted their posts. She said schools across the country were shut last week and non-essential government workers temporarily laid off.
In Monrovia, residents greeted the announcement with alarm but remain positive if the measures will help combat the spread of the virus.
