As the Ebola-related death toll rises above 500 in West Africa, UNICEF and its partners are expanding their activities across the region to halt the spread of the disease by combating rumors, fears and misconceptions.<\/p>\n
\u201cRumors and denial are fueling the spread of Ebola and putting even more lives at risk,\u201d said Manuel Fontaine, UNICEF Regional Director for West and Central Africa. \u201cSome people still deny that the disease is real. Others believe that it doesn\u2019t have to be treated.\u201d<\/p>\n
With more than 850 cases reported in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone by the World Health Organization (WHO), this first-ever Ebola outbreak in West Africa has become a major regional threat, unprecedented in duration and in scale. Widespread misconception, resistance, denial and occasional hostility in some communities are considerably complicating the humanitarian response to contain the outbreak.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe response goes beyond medical care,\u201d Fontaine said. \u201cIf we are to break the chain of Ebola transmission, it is crucial to combat the fear surrounding it and earn the trust of communities. We have to knock on every door, visit every market and spread the word in every church and every mosque. To do so, we urgently need more people, more funds, and more partners.\u201d…<\/p>\n