Q. and A. With Sheri Fink on Covering Ebola in Liberia
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Version 0 of 1. Sheri Fink, a New York Times reporter and a physician, has been chronicling the Ebola crisis from an American-run clinic in rural Liberia. The Times invited readers on Twitter and Facebook to ask questions of Ms. Fink about what she has seen during her reporting trip. Readers asked about a variety of topics, including the characteristics of survivors and the risk of contracting the disease. Ms. Fink answered a selection of the questions. Signs of Hope Q. Do you see any signs of hope? — @doconrad via Twitter A. Certainly. Cases in Liberia appear to be declining, according to the World Health Organization, perhaps because of the interventions so far. Awareness is high, and the commitment of Liberians to beating back this disease, in partnership with assistance from outside the country, is inspiring. However, the Ebola unit that I have been chronicling has received a surge of new patients in the past week, including children from communities in two counties where Ebola is continuing to ravage families. Characteristics of Survivors Q. What traits do survivors of Ebola share? Is there anything the general population can do to improve survival chances? — @FrancyFish via Twitter A. On the general population level, prevention is what is important. That includes avoiding contact with the body fluids of people who are sick and with the bodies of the dead. The doctors I have been chronicling have been puzzling over the question of what traits survivors share. One doctor who has worked for years on Ebola outbreaks is convinced that early hydration with oral salt solutions — Gatorade-type drinks — is critical so that people do not develop dehydration and electrolyte imbalances as they lose fluids from gastrointestinal symptoms. But there is so much more to be known about what works and what does not. I have not seen as much emphasis on prioritizing data collection, sharing insights, and doing formal research along with other interventions so that protocols can be updated rapidly and best practices shared. Perhaps there should be teams of scientists here alongside the teams of health care professionals. Cultural Traditions Q. Is it really a cultural issue, the proliferation of Ebola in the region? Like the W.H.O./C.D.C. have said in press conferences? — @LPLW via Twitter A. You are probably referring to certain traditions that can contribute to the spread of Ebola. Some of these are easy to understand and are almost universal, including the desire to care for a family member who is ill and the desire to give a family member a respectful burial. Here, the family often prepares the body for burial, including transporting (carrying, if there is no car) and washing it. Unfortunately, bodies of people who have died of Ebola are known to be very infectious. For these reasons, experts have urged setting up Ebola treatment centers across the region so that people who are sick can get to them easily, be cared for safely and — if they die — be buried or cremated in a way that does not spread the disease. There is also a need for safe transport, burial systems for people who die at home, and community outreach. And as long as treatment centers are not readily accessible everywhere, there is a sense that families should at least be given supplies and information to help protect themselves at home. This would include cleaning supplies, gloves and light protective equipment, and oral rehydration salts, so that, for example, a single relative might help care for others who are sick. There has also been talk of whether survivors, who are thought to be immune from the disease, could be recruited to help. Some are already working at treatment units. 'No Hugs, No Shaking Hands' Q. How at risk is the average Liberian for contracting Ebola? Does the “no hands” method seem to be effective? — @BrianaRinaldo via Twitter A. The “no hugs, no shaking hands” idea seems to have gotten through, and this may be helping. But from what experts have told me, the most important thing is to avoid unprotected contact with symptomatic people and dead bodies. Again and again, the people coming to the Bong County treatment center with Ebola had experienced significant contact with family members who were ill. Fear in the United States Q. If U.S. media focused more on Liberia’s fight with Ebola rather than our own, would Americans be more or less afraid of the disease? — @FearNewsFeed via Twitter A. The antidote to fear is information. As Americans get a better understanding of how Ebola is spread, the actual risks and how to avoid those risks, they will probably feel more secure. Understanding what is going on in West Africa is part of that. Infections Among Workers Q. How many in hazmat suits are still contracting Ebola? — @lcolosimo6 via Twitter A. In rare cases, workers at well-designed Ebola treatment units have contracted Ebola. There are various possibilities: Some of them might have contracted the disease out in the community from ill family members, or when they were not wearing full protection, or perhaps if they did not remove protective equipment properly. It would be great if groups like Doctors Without Borders, which reportedly investigates every case of infection among its workers, would release whatever information had been collected on how the infections might have occurred. How to Help Q. Where can we send donations to help with pay for workers and care for orphans? — @WomanVote via Twitter A. The Times has put together a list of organizations involved in trying to halt the Ebola outbreak and help those affected. |