The worst Ebola outbreak in history has hit West Africa, with more than half of all confirmed cases resulting in death.
The situation
An outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus is currently spreading across West Africa. So far, more than 5,300 probable, confirmed and suspected cases have been reported in Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal and Sierra Leone.
This Ebola outbreak is, by far, the largest and deadliest ever, with more than 2,600 deaths. The World Health Organization is warning that this disease could spread to more than 20,000 cases.
CARE is responding
The Ebola outbreak is already impacting the lives of poor, vulnerable people and communities who may never contract the disease. It is disrupting work, travel, access to markets, basic goods, and essential services like health care.
Food
CARE's staff on the ground tell us harvested potatoes aren't making it to market because they're stuck inside quarantine zones.
Restrictions on movement and gatherings, enacted to halt the spread of the disease in Sierra Leone, mean that people who normally work in rice fields can't go from village to village for work. With fewer people tending rice fields, Sierra Leoneans expect the crucial upcoming rice harvest to suffer.
Health
The Ebola outbreak is overwhelming health services. Hospitals and clinics are forced to turn back patients with other serious conditions.
The UN estimates that more people have died from malaria, tuberculosis, in childbirth or from chronic illnesses than have died from Ebola.
While CARE is not currently participating in the detection or treatment of Ebola, our teams have used our relationships in communities across Sierra Leone and Liberia to help inform people about the risks of transmission and the importance of proper hygiene. We have distributed more than 1,650 informational posters about Ebola across Sierra Leone in July and will be working with the UN Refugee Agency to promote good hygiene practices in two refugee camps in Liberia.
In addition, CARE will work with the World Food Programme to provide food assistance to quarantined and affected populations in Liberia and Sierra Leone.
CARE is actively monitoring this situation and preparing to expand our programming as needed.