Ebola: Myths and Misconceptions Abound
Discussions about Ebola are everywhere in Sierra Leone: in taxis, at the market, on the street, and at home. Understanding of the disease is growing but myths are still alive: "I woke up last night and washed my body with salt, Ebola can't touch me now, this is what a pastor told me." "Ebola will be over when the rainy season ends." "I drink a pint of beer every night, so Ebola can't touch me." "My body is porous, if I go to the provinces I will catch the disease immediately." "People don't realize it, but Ebola is just cholera in disguise." (Unicef Sierra Leone) Professor Jimmy Kandeh put it succinctly when he posted on his Facebook wall that “Parallels between the war in Sierra Leone and the current Ebola outbreak are unmistakable and instructive.” Both threatened national security and the survival of our people; both emanated from across the border but found fertile ground in our country; the governm...