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Sunday 12 October 2014

The heartbreaking reality of Ebola: Photos show brutal effects of virus on Liberia victims and their loved ones as death toll rises to 4,033

Grief-stricken: These photos, taken by photographers John Moore and Mohammed Elshamy, show the grim reality of the Ebola outbreak in Liberia, West Africa. Above, a woman crawls toward the body of her sister as an Ebola burial team takes it away for cremation
It has claimed the lives of more than 4,000 people across the world so far. 
Now, a series of photos has captured the grim reality of the Ebola outbreak in Liberia, West Africa.
The shocking images, taken by photographers John Moore and Mohammed Elshamy, show the brutal effects of the virus on victims and their loved ones.
One features a woman crawling desperately toward the body of her sister as a burial team carries it away for cremation on Saturday, while another shows the victim's mother and young daughters weeping as they come to terms with their loss.
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Grief-stricken: These photos, taken by photographers John Moore and Mohammed Elshamy, show the grim reality of the Ebola outbreak in Liberia, West Africa. Above, a woman crawls toward the body of her sister as an Ebola burial team takes it away for cremation
Grief-stricken: These photos, taken by photographers John Moore and Mohammed Elshamy, show the grim reality of the Ebola outbreak in Liberia, West Africa. Above, a woman crawls toward the body of her sister as an Ebola burial team takes it away for cremation
Distraught: The woman's sister, a market vendor, collapsed and died outside her home in Monrovia, Liberia,  while leaving to walk to a treatment center, according to her relatives. Above, the woman is seen grieving on the ground following the burial team's departure
Distraught: The woman's sister, a market vendor, collapsed and died outside her home in Monrovia, Liberia,  while leaving to walk to a treatment center, according to her relatives. Above, the woman is seen grieving on the ground following the burial team's departure
Tragic: Sophia Doe (right), and her young grand daughters weep as her daughter's remains are removed for cremation on Saturday
Beyond pain: In this image, Varney Jonson, 46, is seen crying out in pain as crews - donning white overalls, gloves and goggles - transport the body of his wife, Nama Fambule, to a crematorium following a year-long illness that he insists was not Ebola-related
Beyond pain: In this image, Varney Jonson, 46, is seen crying out in pain as crews - donning white overalls, gloves and goggles - transport the body of his wife, Nama Fambule, to a crematorium following a year-long illness that he insists was not Ebola-related
Wrapped in a blanket: The pictures show the brutal effects of the virus on victims and their loved ones. Above, a victim's body
Wrapped in a blanket: The pictures show the brutal effects of the virus on victims and their loved ones. Above, a victim's body
In one image, Varney Jonson, 46, is seen crying out in pain as crews - donning white overalls, gloves and goggles - transport the body of his wife, Nama Fambule, to a crematorium following a year-long illness that he insists was not Ebola-related.
As the proper burial of loved ones is so important in Liberian culture, the removal of infected bodies for incineration is all the more traumatic for surviving family members. Many relatives attempt to convince burial teams to leave the bodies behind by claiming they were struck down with another illness.
Meanwhile, in another photo, a woman is pictured clinging on to a grieving relative as she wails loudly while lying on the ground next to a body truck.
Other photos in the series show the body of Ebola victim Mekie Nagbe, 28, lying outside a house wrapped in a blanket, a masked Liberian policeman keeping an eye on grief-stricken crowds and crews removing the body of a four-year-old girl from a one-room apartment in Monrovia.
Wailing: In this photo, a woman clings on to a grieving relative as she wails loudly while lying on the ground next to a body truck
Wailing: In this photo, a woman clings on to a grieving relative as she wails loudly while lying on the ground next to a body truck
Horrific: Mr Moore and Mr Elshamy spent weeks working on the front lines of the fight against Ebola in a bid to capture the images
Mourning: Ms Doe holds her arms out as she grieves with her grandchildren while a burial team takes away the body of her daughter
Horrific: Mr Moore and Mr Elshamy spent weeks working on the front lines of the fight against Ebola in a bid to capture the images
Horrific: Mr Moore and Mr Elshamy spent weeks working on the front lines of the fight against Ebola in a bid to capture the images
Upset: As the proper burial of loved ones is so important in Liberian culture, the removal of infected bodies for incineration is all the more traumatic for surviving family members. Many relatives attempt to convince burial teams to leave the bodies behind
Upset: As the proper burial of loved ones is so important in Liberian culture, the removal of infected bodies for incineration is all the more traumatic for surviving family members. Many relatives attempt to convince burial teams to leave the bodies behind
Body truck: An Ebola burial team removes the body of Nama Fambule for cremation on Saturday in Monrovia, Liberia. Relatives and neighbors said that she had been sick for more than a year with an undiagnosed illness and protested her body being taken away
Body truck: An Ebola burial team removes the body of Nama Fambule for cremation on Saturday in Monrovia, Liberia. Relatives and neighbors said that she had been sick for more than a year with an undiagnosed illness and protested her body being taken away
Mr Moore and Mr Elshamy spent weeks working on the front lines of the fight against Ebola in a bid to document the gut-wrenching effects of the virus.
On Friday, the World Health Organization announced the Ebola death toll is now 4,033. This brings the total number of confirmed and suspected cases of Ebola to 8,399. Most cases were recorded in Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that people exposed to the virus develop symptoms - including a high fever, vomiting, a headache, joint and muscle aches, a sore throat and general weakness - two to 21 days after their exposure. 
The U.N. special envoy for Ebola, David Nabarro, explained the number of cases is probably doubling every three-to-four weeks and warned that it will be impossible to quickly combat the disease without mass mobilization of international support. 
Supporting each other: Mr Jonson grieves with family members as the body of his wife Nama Fambule is removed by Ebola crews
Supporting each other: Mr Jonson grieves with family members as the body of his wife Nama Fambule is removed by Ebola crews
Restrained: The husband was visibly weeping and crying out as his spouse's body was taken away to be cremated on Saturday
Restrained: The husband was visibly weeping and crying out as his spouse's body was taken away to be cremated on Saturday
Action: Family members and neighbors try to convince an Ebola burial team not to take away the body of Nama Fambule for cremation
Crying: On Friday, the World Health Organization announced the Ebola death toll is now 4,033. This brings the total number of confirmed and suspected cases of Ebola to 8,399. Above, the grieving relatives of an Ebola victim are seen crying in Monrovia, Liberia
Action: Family members and neighbors try to convince an Ebola burial team not to take away the body of Nama Fambule for cremation
Action: Family members and neighbors try to convince an Ebola burial team not to take away the body of Nama Fambule for cremation
Striking all ages: Another photo shows crews removing the body of a four-year-old girl, wrapped in a blanket, from an apartment
Striking all ages: Another photo shows crews removing the body of a four-year-old girl, wrapped in a blanket, from an apartment
Liberian army soldiers and American troops are currently building an Ebola treatment center in Tubmanburg, Liberia, the first of 17 to be built nationwide, as part of the U.S. response to the epidemic.
Meanwhile, Unicef and partner agencies are distributing Ebola protection kits to help Liberian families avoid contracting the virus from sick loved ones in their homes, before they can get an open bed at an Ebola treatment center.
It comes as an NBC news crew that was exposed to a cameraman with the deadly virus has been forced to undergo a mandatory quarantine.
The group, which includes chief medical correspondent Nancy Snyderman, had been asked to isolate itself for 21 days after their colleague Ashoka Mukpo was diagnosed with Ebola this month.
Devastating effects: A woman grieves as Ebola burial team members arrive to take away the body of Mekie Nagbe, 28, for cremation
Devastating effects: A woman grieves as Ebola burial team members arrive to take away the body of Mekie Nagbe, 28, for cremation
In mourning: A woman falls to the ground before wailing and holding out her arms after hearing of the fate of her loved one
In mourning: A woman falls to the ground before wailing and holding out her arms after hearing of the fate of her loved one
Securing the body: A member of an Ebola burial team straps down the body of Ms Nagbe, before taking it for incineration on Saturday
Securing the body: A member of an Ebola burial team straps down the body of Ms Nagbe, before taking it for incineration on Saturday
Taken away: Most cases of Ebola - which can cause a temperature and vomiting - were recorded in Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone
Taken away: Most cases of Ebola - which can cause a temperature and vomiting - were recorded in Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone
Keeping watch: A Liberian policeman is pictured watching as an Ebola burial team prepares to take away the body of Ms Nagbe
Keeping watch: A Liberian policeman is pictured watching as an Ebola burial team prepares to take away the body of Ms Nagbe
Turning to religion: A Muslim man holds his prayer beads as an Ebola burial team arrives to collect the body of a neighbor on Saturday
Turning to religion: A Muslim man holds his prayer beads as an Ebola burial team arrives to collect the body of a neighbor on Saturday
But someone in the NBC crew violated the voluntary agreement forcing New Jersey officials to step in and issue a mandatory quarantine order on Friday night. Officials confirmed that the order went into effect yesterday.
Yet, the state Health Department said that the crew remains symptom-free and there is no reason for concern of exposure to the deadly virus to the community.
The group was reporting on the Ebola outbreak for NBC News in Liberia when Mukpo was diagnosed with the deadly virus just a day after he was hired to work on the team. The cameraman was infected in West Africa, but is being treated in Nebrask.
Earlier this week, Thomas Eric Duncan - the first person to be diagnosed with Ebola in the U.S. - died in hospital in Dallas, Texas. The 42-year-old had contracted the virus in Liberia.
Well-protected: An Ebola burial team dresses in protective clothing before collecting the body of a woman, 54, from her home in the New Kru Town suburb of Monrovia, Liberia. People exposed to the virus typically develop symptoms two to 21 days after their exposure
Well-protected: An Ebola burial team dresses in protective clothing before collecting the body of a woman, 54, from her home in the New Kru Town suburb of Monrovia, Liberia. People exposed to the virus typically develop symptoms two to 21 days after their exposure
Transportation: Symptoms of Ebola include a high fever, vomiting, a headache, joint and muscle aches, a sore throat and  weakness
Transportation: Symptoms of Ebola include a high fever, vomiting, a headache, joint and muscle aches, a sore throat and weakness
Spreading through West Africa: Children pass an Ebola burial team as it collects the body of a female victim in New Kru Town, Liberia
Spreading through West Africa: Children pass an Ebola burial team as it collects the body of a female victim in New Kru Town, Liberia
Response: Liberian army soldiers and American troops are currently building an Ebola treatment center in Tubmanburg, Liberia, the first of 17 to be built nationwide, Above, soldiers are pictured taking cover from the downdraft of a Marine MS-22 Osprey tiltrotor
Response: Liberian army soldiers and American troops are currently building an Ebola treatment center in Tubmanburg, Liberia, the first of 17 to be built nationwide, Above, soldiers are pictured taking cover from the downdraft of a Marine MS-22 Osprey tiltrotor
At work: Soldiers from the Liberian Army's 1st Engineer Company are seen welding a fencepost at the site of an Ebola treatment center
At work: Soldiers from the Liberian Army's 1st Engineer Company are seen welding a fencepost at the site of an Ebola treatment center
Charity: Unicef and partner agencies are distributing Ebola protection kits to help Liberian families avoid contracting the virus from sick loved ones in their homes, before they can get an open bed at an Ebola treatment center. Above, a Unicef warehouse in Liberia
Charity: Unicef and partner agencies are distributing Ebola protection kits to help Liberian families avoid contracting the virus from sick loved ones in their homes, before they can get an open bed at an Ebola treatment center. Above, a Unicef warehouse in Liberia
Victims: NBC cameraman Ashoka Mukpo (left) is battling Ebola, while Thomas Eric Duncan (right) died from the virus earlier this week
Victims: NBC cameraman Ashoka Mukpo (left) is battling Ebola, while Thomas Eric Duncan (right) died from the virus earlier this week
Victims: NBC cameraman Ashoka Mukpo (left) is battling Ebola, while Thomas Eric Duncan (right) died from the virus earlier this week


Via - Dailymail

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