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I am amazed at the bravery of the medical staff, health professionals and volunteers who are trying to contain Ebola in the DRC. Not only are they potentially

I am amazed at the bravery of the medical staff, health professionals and volunteers who are trying to contain Ebola in the DRC. Not only are they potentially exposed to the deadly disease, they have to content with violent attacks from the population they're trying to help. It sounds incredibly complex - a mix of political mistrust, lack of education and difficult terrain making containment difficult. While spreading to populous areas would be a major concern, I imagine that nations blessed with more resources may be in a better position to quarantine, contain and prevent the spread of Ebola.

gingabriska 7y ago
How likely is that most Nurses working there do are not able to comprehend risk in real terms?
- Zenst 7y ago
  Extremely unlikely, that it's not even an edge-case. I dare say that anybody who has seen directly or indirectly the effects of Ebola, would be more than aware of the risks and if anything, be more inclined to over-react (look at how leprosy was treated socially historically or even AIDS).
- chronogram 7y ago
  Unlikely with what I heard on this podcast: https://www.economist.com/podcasts/2019/03/19/how-to-fight-ebola-in-a-congolese-war-zone https://www.economist.com/podcasts/2019/03/19/how-to-fight-e...
- mlevental 7y ago
  that's gotta be one the most presumptuous questions on hn I've ever seen. DRC has been dealing with Ebola outbreaks since the 60s. How do you imagine that they would be unable to comprehend? the clear implication is that they're too dumb.
deleted 7y ago
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Balgair 7y ago
The weather in Goma, the capital of North-Kivu province, is going to be ~75F (24C) and ~80% humidity tomorrow. Imagine having to wear all that protective gear in 80% humidity, limiting your visibility and hearing, limiting your bathroom habits and ability to rehydrate and eat, for hours at a time, in potentially hostile social situations, while dealing with a person or a corpse that you have a very good suspicion could infect and kill you with literal Ebola, a disease that will liquify you from the inside, every day, for months at a time, with no end in sight, and the virus seemingly 'winning.' Absolute heroes.

gingabriska 7y ago

How likely is that most Nurses working there do are not able to comprehend risk in real terms?

Zenst 7y ago
Extremely unlikely, that it's not even an edge-case. I dare say that anybody who has seen directly or indirectly the effects of Ebola, would be more than aware of the risks and if anything, be more inclined to over-react (look at how leprosy was treated socially historically or even AIDS).
chronogram 7y ago
Unlikely with what I heard on this podcast: https://www.economist.com/podcasts/2019/03/19/how-to-fight-ebola-in-a-congolese-war-zone https://www.economist.com/podcasts/2019/03/19/how-to-fight-e...
mlevental 7y ago
that's gotta be one the most presumptuous questions on hn I've ever seen. DRC has been dealing with Ebola outbreaks since the 60s. How do you imagine that they would be unable to comprehend? the clear implication is that they're too dumb.

deleted 7y ago

[deleted]

Balgair 7y ago

The weather in Goma, the capital of North-Kivu province, is going to be ~75F (24C) and ~80% humidity tomorrow. Imagine having to wear all that protective gear in 80% humidity, limiting your visibility and hearing, limiting your bathroom habits and ability to rehydrate and eat, for hours at a time, in potentially hostile social situations, while dealing with a person or a corpse that you have a very good suspicion could infect and kill you with literal Ebola, a disease that will liquify you from the inside, every day, for months at a time, with no end in sight, and the virus seemingly 'winning.' Absolute heroes.