Benin…Postponed

(August 29)

Officially, we have postponed our visit to Benin due to the Ebola virus that is currently present in several western African countries.  We do plan to go to Benin, but the date depends on the course of the Ebola virus.  Many factors went into the decision.  

Please note that most of the following information was taken directly from www.tanyasierra.wordpress.com and was written by one of our writers in the Communications Department who is also a friend:

Thursday evening, August 28, Mercy Ships founder Don Stephens made the announcement to the crew of the Africa Mercy and national offices around the world that Mercy Ships would be postponing its scheduled field service to Benin due to the current Ebola outbreak in West Africa.  It is an absolutely heartbreaking scenario for everyone associated with the organization and for the people of Benin, whom were waiting expectantly for our arrival.  

This blog is dedicated to providing you with some background information on why the decision was made.

The Ebola virus was first discovered in Zaire (known today as the Democratic Republic of Congo) in 1976 in an outbreak that killed 284 people.  At the time, it was confused with another similar deadly virus called Marburg, which also claimed its hosts through a hemorrhagic fever.  However, tests later proved that it was an altogether new virus and various outbreaks over the years have yielded quite a bit of information on the deadly virus.

The virus has a two to 21-day incubation period during which time individuals who show no symptoms are not contagious.  Once symptoms appear - the most common being fever, diarrhea and vomiting - a person can transmit the disease by way of bodily fluids including sweat and tears.  When a person dies, the virus continues to live on the secreted sweat and blood that remains behind on clothes, mattresses, etc.  The virus historically has between a 50-90 percent mortality rate and most individuals who will die will do so by day 8. 

Dr. Gary Parker, Mercy Ships’ chief medical officer, has been tracking the current Ebola outbreak since the first reports surfaced in February of this year.  As he has helped us understand how the virus works and why the decisions that are being made are being made, three questions have repeatedly come up.

First, as the world’s largest non-governmental hospital ship, why is Mercy Ships not sending the Africa Mercy to help with this most unprecedented crisis?  Simply put, we are not equipped to handle such an outbreak.  The Ebola virus is classified as a Category “A” bioterrorism agent by the Centers for Disease Control, which can only be handled in a level 4 lab.  It is one of the nastiest virus’ on the planet and requires special isolation units along with the properly trained staff to handle it.

Second, the Ebola virus is not present in Benin, why is Mercy Ships not going to Benin?  Cotonou, the port city in Benin, is less than 100 kilometers (60 miles) from Lagos, Nigeria where there have been 21 reported cases, including seven deaths.  Until the past two weeks, those infected had direct contact with the infected individual who travelled into Nigeria.  Now, there are secondary infections - meaning people got infected who had direct contact with another infected person who had direct contact with the first patient; they are two degrees from the original patient in Nigeria.  The borders between Benin and Nigeria are completely open and businesses commute regularly and freely between the two cities.  As a hospital ship, with a top-notch reputation, the Africa Mercy attracts individuals from far and wide who are sick, in the hope that they can receive healing.  We could have the best of intentions, however, our good intentions would likely lead to attracting those infected with Ebola from across the border and spreading the epidemic into Benin.  

Patrick Sawyer is the Liberian-American, who brought Ebola into Nigeria.  Out of desperation and seeking more advanced health care he boarded a plane, which made 3 stops before finally arriving in Nigeria.  He collapsed at the airport and infected the people that came to his aid and those that treated him.  This was a desperate man hoping for a miracle, much like the patients who visit our ship.  In addition, the Africa Mercy not only attracts patients from far and wide, it attracts volunteers from all over the world.  Considering the virus’ incubation period, the safest course is to do everything possible not to bring Ebola onto the ship.

Our third most frequently asked question is what would happen if the ship were exposed to Ebola?  In that scenario the ship would be quarantined until the virus is determined to be contained.  The ship would literally have to go to sea and drop anchor until the virus ran its course; there would be no medical intervention beside the little we could provide onboard.  A key reason why Mercy Ships leadership is taking crew safety so seriously and is determined to prevent Ebola from setting foot on the ship in the first place.

Here are some staggering numbers Dr. Parker shared with us this week:

• As of August 31, there were more than 3,700 number of reported cases that have resulted in more than 1,800 deaths.
• The average fatality rate is currently 53%.
• The previous worst outbreak of Ebola was in Uganda in 2000. That outbreak resulted in 425 cases and 224 deaths.
• More than 40 percent of all cases have surfaced in the last three weeks, pointing to the outbreak spreading.
• It is believed that the number of cases are severely underestimated due to a fear of clinics, hospitals and health care workers leading to the hiding of infected individuals. The true numbers of cases could be two to three times higher.
• The World Health Organization (WHO) is estimating that as many as 20,000 people will be affected before this outbreak is contained.
• Estimates in early August said at least six months until the virus was under control.
• An Ebola epidemic is considered over once 42 days (twice the incubation period) have passed without a new case developing from the last death or the recovery (hospital discharge) of the last infected person.

“This outbreak is unprecedented. We cannot predict the final outcome based on previous outbreaks.” – Dr. Gary Parker, Chief Medical Officer, Africa Mercy

So my friends, we are in uncharted waters.  However, I echo the words of Don Stephens who ended the evening by marveling the leadership team that God has assembled for this season.  He has brought unique people with special giftings, who are leading the organization through a difficult season.  So often it is we who are bringing hope to people, but in this season, it is we who are finding hope in our leadership, which is sustaining us through these uncertain waters.

Since this blog was originally written, there has been some additional news.  First, there is a single confirmed case of Ebola in Senegal.  Second, the DRC has quarantined a remote section of land due to the virus.  However, this strain of Ebola is not the same as in West Africa which is good news since the virus has not travelled from west Africa to central Africa.  This is the seventh time the virus has appeared in the DRC since 1976.  This country is trained to move quickly and quarantine the infected area(s) so that it does not spread.  So far, their method is keeping the virus from spreading further.

Mercy Ships will return to West Africa.  This is fact.  Don Stephens and all our management team have echoed this.  However, no one knows just yet when that will be.