Ebola is still in town.

I feel like I am being bombarded everyday with such a magnitude of overwhelming Ebola news that it is difficult to process it all and then compile it here. Some reports are saying that this has been the worst week of the Ebola outbreak so far. Nearly 2000 people have now died from Ebola, and that does not count people who are dying from other treatable diseases who can not get access to medical care. All the people "in the know" are continuing to say that this Ebola outbreak is out of control. This is a crisis with world-wide implications. Here is a link to an article that explores why.

It was also reported this week, that a long time American Missionary doctor in Liberia has contracted the Ebola virus. I know Dr Rick Sacra from my time in Liberia. For a long time he was the only doctor around that I could take the kids from the orphanages to. He played a big role in caring for several of them, including diagnosing a little girl who had been failing to thrive for years, with an easily treatable infection. I believe Dr Rick's expertise and treatment of this dying girl aided directly in her recovery. Today she is alive and well, and he is fighting for his life. 

Here is an article that talks a little more about Dr Rick. Attached to this article is a video with President Obama's response to this West African crisis and an interview with Dr Besser, who works for NBC and just returned from a tour of Ebola-effected Liberia.

Dr Rick's wife, Debbie, who I also know, made a powerful statement in a press conference yesterday. You can watch that statement here.

Dr Rick with patients he was caring for at ELWA hospital in Liberia.

The Sacra's have a blog. The last entry was August 31st,  just a few days before Dr Rick got sick. In it he describes the work he's been doing in Liberia.

Croftsblog - h1n1, still continues to have all the latest ebola-related updates.

This picture was taken towards the beginning of the outbreak. In the foreground is my friend Eric Buller. Eric and his family have been serving in Liberia for several years and have become good friends of mine. The man in the doorway who is wearing the PPE, is Dr Brantly, who has survived own fight with Ebola infection. 

I will leave you today with another catchy Ebola awareness song called Ebola in Town. There are a few graphic images on the video, but this is the real situation in Liberia right now.

And PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, keep praying for Liberia and the rest of West Africa.
A miracle is needed now!