Here is an interview with Professor Peter Piot, the scientist who discovered the Ebola virus. It's a bit lengthy, but fascinating:
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/oct/04/ebola-zaire-peter-piot-outbreak
Q: What can really be done in a situation when anyone can become infected on the streets and, like in Monrovia, even the taxis are contaminated?
A: We urgently need to come up with new strategies. Currently, helpers are no longer able to care for all the patients in treatment centres. So caregivers need to teach family members who are providing care to patients how to protect themselves from infection to the extent possible. This on-site educational work is currently the greatest challenge. Sierra Leone experimented with a three-day curfew in an attempt to at least flatten out the infection curve a bit. At first I thought: "That is totally crazy." But now I wonder, "why not?" At least, as long as these measures aren't imposed with military power.
Q: A three-day curfew sounds a bit desperate.
A: Yes, it is rather medieval. But what can you do? Even in 2014, we hardly have any way to combat this virus.
Does it really matter whether or not a quarantine is imposed with military power, as long as it's effective?
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