Lack of trust fuelled Ebola spread in West Africa

A lack of trust among community members, front line health workers and the broader health system sparked the widespread Ebola outbreak in West Africa, says a new research.

"Had the citizens and their health care community developed a trusting relationship prior to the outbreak, important messages about the disease and how to stop its spread would likely have gotten through to people much sooner and slowed the march of Ebola," said Timothy Roberton from the Johns Hopkins University in the US.

The study focused on Guinea, where the current Ebola outbreak began last winter.

The researchers interviewed 41 Red Cross staff and volunteers who had been mobilised to raise Ebola awareness and teach families how to protect themselves.

The researchers found that in some villages people refused to listen. They did not believe Ebola existed or thought the volunteers were scaremongering to secure humanitarian aid for their poor nation. A few even thought it was a foreign plot to steal body parts.

Often, the Red Cross advice went against the way the Guineans had lived for generations.

"Unless we appreciate how difficult it is for families to follow the guidance we give them, our Ebola control plans look wonderful on paper, but they're going to fail," Roberton added.

The findings are scheduled to be presented at the American Public Health Association's Annual Meeting in New Orleans Nov 17.