Ebola Victims In Sierra Leone Search For Food

Ebola victims in West Africa are being forced to leave quarantine to search for food exposing others to the deadly disease, charities have warned.

Aid agencies working with the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) are desperately trying to get food to those being monitored to stop them from leaving clinics and spreading the virus.

In Sierra Leone, a government system in place to feed those in quarantine is not working properly and volunteers are "working against the clock" to provide food to 2,100 people in Kailahun and western areas of Freetown, Christian Aid said.
Jeanne Kamara, the charity's director in Sierra Leone, said: "This is a huge concern. People infected with Ebola are desperately searching for food and are in turn exposing others to the disease.

"They are jostling with people in the market and infecting others through bodily contact. We urgently have to provide food to those who need it to prevent the risk of further spread."

Travel has been restricted in parts of the country preventing trucks from freely delivering food, which has increased in price because of its short supply.