They survived Ebola only to become social outcasts

USA TODAY  by Greg Zoroya                                                                                          Dec. 13, 2014

MONROVIA, Liberia — Landlords won't rent to them. Employers won't hire them. Taxi drivers won't give them a lift. Barber shops refuse to cut their hair without gloves.

Juliet Boima, 19, a survivor who works at the ebola clinic since she is immune now. Despite being unable to contract ebola, she still must wear protective gear to eliminate the chance that she could carry the virus to someone else.(Photo: Gregory H Stemn for USA TODAY)

They are Ebola survivors. In one place where they are desperately needed as workers, Ebola treatment clinics, many survivors have nightmarish memories of barely staying alive.

Thousands of West Africans have beaten the odds and survived Ebola. More than 6,500 people have died in the outbreak, and only 30% who have contracted Ebola have survived the aggressive disease that robs the body of fluids and causes major organs to fail.

Most who emerge from the clinics fully recovered discover a cruel society eager to distance itself from them and the plague.

A recent study by the World Health Organization where 62 survivors from in an around this city were interviewed about their post-recovery experiences, 80% said they now struggle with stigma and discrimination.

Read complete story
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2014/12/13/ebola-survivors-stigma-immunity-liberia-monrovia/20251081/A

Also see previous story: "Ebola Survivors Face Hardships but New Programs Help."
http://www.livescience.com/49110-ebola-survivor-support.html