HEALTH

Ebola: Lots of interest, few donations

Have aid agencies underestimated the extent of the Ebola epidemic? After Germany experienced its first Ebola death, the epidemic is now at least gaining more attention.

Standing in a garden to the south of Cologne, Daniel Peter is decked out in a blue protective suit, with a yellow protective suit over the top of that. He pulls a hood over his black hair and puts his protective glasses, with wide eye shields and slips his feet into a pair of plastic overshoes.

Around him, the conifer trees shine bright in the autumn sun. Surrounding the young doctor are about 30 journalists. Dozens of flashes go off, television cameras click into place on tripods and microphones are adjusted to their correct height.

Peter is demonstrating to the journalists how one can protect oneself against the Ebola virus. The interest is enormous, at least since Tuesday, when Germany had its first Ebola fatality.

Training on Ebola and the ways to avoid infection should be extensive, aid groups say

The aid umbrella group "Deutschland Hilft" has invited a number of affiliated charities along to the demonstration - among them the Workers' Samaritan Federation (ASF). Peter has already provided emergency relief in Iraq as part of the federation's "rapid response team" and was also in action after Typhoon Haiyan struck the Philippines. Would he also be prepared to travel to West Africa's Ebola-affected regions to don the blue and yellow protective suits and treat Ebola patients?

"No, I wouldn't," says Peter. "Especially seeing as I have two small daughters. I believe in the safety of protective suits to the same extent that I believe in human error - and I am in no way the kind of person who is free from making mistakes." The residual risks are too great for Peter and - given the fact he has children - it's too great a risk to take.

Little in the way of donations

More than 400 doctors and volunteers have already been infected with Ebola. In Spain and the United States, where far better protective clothing is available than in West Africa, two nurses have been infected. They had been looking after patients with the virus. In Germany, again, says Peter, the standards are better. An infection is much less likely than in Liberia.

But, even if he did want to take the risk to help out on the ground, there are currently no doctors or nurses in the field for Deutschland Hilft to care for patients.

And the donations? They are coming in slowly. Many German aid agencies have so far only been able to record low six-figure sums. The German public often donate many times more when it comes to earthquakes, hurricanes and other disasters. The aid charities themselves have probably underestimated the extent of the epidemic for too long and have not done enough awareness-raising to attract donations. The Workers' Samaritans Federation (ADSB) also has no teams in the field at present, the agency's head of foreign aid said.

'Training is essential'

"At the moment, they have yet to be trained - for example, to set up isolation wards or treat Ebola patients," said Wallmeier. Practical know-how is, of course, seen as a must."Infectious diseases are extremely difficult to deal with and that requires a lot of training," Wallmeier added.

Wallmeier says fears the virus could spread seem legitimate - and aid workers are preparing

Despite this, the ASB and other member organizations of Deutschland Hilft are already active when it comes to fighting Ebola. In the affected countries, teams are already on the road to raise awareness about hygiene measures. In addition, groups are preparing for the eventuality that Ebola might spread to other countries. In one ASB clinic in Gambia, just outside the affected area, staff are currently being taught the correct procedures when it comes to wearing the blue and yellow suits.

Fear of a spread

"There is certainly a legitimate fear," said Wallmeier. In neighboring Senegal, there has already been one Ebola case. Meanwhile, a half of the Gambia clinic's patients come from other African countries. "As a result, there is a big chance that we will have Ebola patients in our clinic."

And what if people in Germany were to contract the virus? The ASB and other agencies are also prepared for that eventuality, said Wallmeier. The possibility, it seems, is not to be excluded. The fear is that, at some point when doctors in German cities are donning the blue and yellow suits it will not be a mere demonstration.   DW DE