Arriving in Tapeta

     One of the ETU physicians told me yesterday that they hadn't had a positive Ebola test in Monrovia for over one week.  This is a great sign and a testament to the hard work and sacrifice going on in Monrovia, but people are getting a little complacent.  There have been large crowds at the beach and people were dancing and partying for New Years eve.  While a certain amount of release is expected after getting through such a period, it is a problem when that release also increases the risk of Ebola transmission.  There are no reported cases yet from New Years eve, but we aren't yet near the end of the up to 21 day incubation period.  

     It is a different case outside of Monrovia and in the neighboring country of Guinea.  The main road from eastern Guinea into Liberia traverses the city of Ganta which is 3.5 hours north of Tapeta.  10 days ago, a man sick with Ebola crossed into Liberia in Ganta and died en route to Tapeta.  He had 40 known contacts including 7 health care workers (without protective gear) with 4 confirmed positive tests for Ebola (so far).   On my ride to Tapeta today, I passed the body of a young man, lying on the side of the road 30 minutes south of Ganta.  There was no sign of trauma and there was no one else there with the body.  I did not leave the car to investigate further.  In an Ebola outbreak, an unexplained death meets the case definition of 'suspect case' for Ebola.  While there is no current case of Ebola in Tapeta, we will need to keep a high level of suspicion.  

     Another thing to remember about this country is that it is not far removed from a horrendous civil war.  My driver today survived the civil war by laying low.  The rebels took his wife and left him with two children to raise.  He has never learned the fate of his wife. The forces were tribal based and there is still a lot of animosity between the groups.  After the peace treaty, some of the rebels returned to their villages and were killed for what the did during the war.  You can still see signs on the roadside advocating 'ballots not bullets'.  But even with all of that, people here are making significant progress.

     Tomorrow, I will start working in the ETU in Tapeta.  Please keep all of us in your prayers.