# The fools who attacked & looted a Liberian Ebola quarantine center. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 17, 2014, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-fools-who-attacked-looted-a-liberian-ebola-quarantine-center/695764 "2014-08-17T17:42:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2014, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-fools-who-attacked-looted-a-liberian-ebola-quarantine-center/695764/1 "2014-08-17T17:42:15Z")
> **[Ebola crisis: Confusion as patients vanish in Liberia](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-28827091)** > > There are conflicting reports over the fate of 17 suspected Ebola patients who disappeared after a quarantine centre in the Liberian capital Monrovia was looted. > [@](#): > > A quarantine centre for suspected Ebola patients in the Liberian capital Monrovia has been attacked and looted by protesters, police say. > … > At least 20 patients who were being monitored for signs of the illness have left the centre. > … > A senior police officer said blood-stained mattresses, beddings and medical equipment were taken from the centre. > > “This is one of the stupidest things I have ever seen in my life”, he said. It’s reported that some of the people who did this were upset that infected patients were being brought there from other areas. So apparently their remedy for that was to release those patients into the city and carry infected bedding and equipment through the city. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2014, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-fools-who-attacked-looted-a-liberian-ebola-quarantine-center/695764/2 "2014-08-17T17:44:37Z")
Well, at least it’s a self-correcting problem. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2014, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-fools-who-attacked-looted-a-liberian-ebola-quarantine-center/695764/3 "2014-08-17T18:01:37Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Well, at least it’s a self-correcting problem. The looters will have brought it on themselves, but what about others they infect? What about if this accelerates the spread throughout the area? ---
**Author:** ![Grumman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Grumman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumman)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2014, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-fools-who-attacked-looted-a-liberian-ebola-quarantine-center/695764/4 "2014-08-17T18:35:15Z")
If nothing else, I think we can agree that shooting _these_ looters would have been a good thing. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2014, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-fools-who-attacked-looted-a-liberian-ebola-quarantine-center/695764/5 "2014-08-17T18:45:14Z")
This line from the BBC report, if true, shows the incident in a light that makes it explicable, rather than unforgivably stupid: > [@](#): > > Other reports suggested the protesters believed Ebola was a hoax and wanted to force the quarantine centre to close. This last line in the report supports that one: > [@](#): > > Health experts say that the key to ending the Ebola outbreak is to stop it spreading in Liberia, where ignorance about the virus is high and many people are reluctant to cooperate with medical staff. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2014, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-fools-who-attacked-looted-a-liberian-ebola-quarantine-center/695764/6 "2014-08-17T18:49:05Z")
Behoid the Evil, and its name is Ignorance! ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2014, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-fools-who-attacked-looted-a-liberian-ebola-quarantine-center/695764/7 "2014-08-17T18:52:56Z")
Doctors Without Borders think that it will take [at least 6 months to contain the disease](http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-28807281), and even that is optimistic. To make matters worse, > [@](#): > > Tarnue Karbbar, of the aid group Plan International in northern Liberia, said medical teams were not able to document all the cases erupting. > > **He said many of the sick were being hidden at home by relatives, and many victims were buried before teams could get to the area.** (emphasis mine) ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2014, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-fools-who-attacked-looted-a-liberian-ebola-quarantine-center/695764/8 "2014-08-17T18:56:40Z")
We don’t give a rat’s about Africa. We are starting to, however, we have found out that a bunch of our stuff is buried there. ---
**Author:** ![Grumman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Grumman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumman)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2014, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-fools-who-attacked-looted-a-liberian-ebola-quarantine-center/695764/9 "2014-08-17T19:27:10Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > This line from the BBC report, if true, shows the incident in a light that makes it explicable, rather than unforgivably stupid: The explanation _is_ unforgivable stupidity. ---
**Author:** ![Bozuit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/edb3f5/32.png) [@Bozuit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bozuit)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2014, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-fools-who-attacked-looted-a-liberian-ebola-quarantine-center/695764/10 "2014-08-17T19:40:19Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > We don’t give a rat’s about Africa. We are starting to, however, we have found out that a bunch of our stuff is buried there. Like mummies? ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2014, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-fools-who-attacked-looted-a-liberian-ebola-quarantine-center/695764/11 "2014-08-17T19:47:26Z")
> [@Grumman](#): > > The explanation _is_ unforgivable stupidity. Yeah, i’ve got to say that this explanation does not make the incident any more explicable, or any less stupid. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2014, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-fools-who-attacked-looted-a-liberian-ebola-quarantine-center/695764/12 "2014-08-17T19:49:23Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Well, at least it’s a self-correcting problem. Innocent men, women and children that had nothing to do with the attack are now in danger, you asshole. ---
**Author:** ![JackieLikesVariety](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackielikesvariety/32/296_2.png) [@JackieLikesVariety](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JackieLikesVariety)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2014, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-fools-who-attacked-looted-a-liberian-ebola-quarantine-center/695764/13 "2014-08-17T19:52:20Z")
> [@Grumman](#): > > If nothing else, I think we can agree that shooting _these_ looters would have been a good thing. I’m pretty sure you are over-estimating _somebody_ 😛 as for the OP - HOLY SHIT ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2014, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-fools-who-attacked-looted-a-liberian-ebola-quarantine-center/695764/14 "2014-08-17T19:54:17Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Innocent men, women and children that had nothing to do with the attack are now in danger, you asshole. Lighten up, Francis. I’m pretty sure that was a joke. ---
**Author:** ![Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/budget_player_cadet/32/205_2.png) [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Budget_Player_Cadet)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2014, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-fools-who-attacked-looted-a-liberian-ebola-quarantine-center/695764/15 "2014-08-17T20:20:49Z")
This is amazing. Just… amazing. The stupid burns with the heat of… I dunno, is the sun as lethal as ebola? ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2014, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-fools-who-attacked-looted-a-liberian-ebola-quarantine-center/695764/16 "2014-08-17T20:24:41Z")
I have to say, my list of “things likely to be looted” previously had Ebola mattresses at the bottom. ---
**Author:** ![watchwolf49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9c0ed/32.png) [@watchwolf49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/watchwolf49)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2014, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-fools-who-attacked-looted-a-liberian-ebola-quarantine-center/695764/17 "2014-08-17T20:29:49Z")
I thinking “pity” rather that “Pitty”. Of all the injustices in the world today, you’d pit a fearful people. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2014, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-fools-who-attacked-looted-a-liberian-ebola-quarantine-center/695764/18 "2014-08-17T20:32:11Z")
> [@Grumman](#): > > The explanation _is_ unforgivable stupidity. No, it’s an example of ignorance. There’s a difference. Ignorance is curable. Stupidity is harder to deal with. ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2014, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-fools-who-attacked-looted-a-liberian-ebola-quarantine-center/695764/19 "2014-08-17T20:34:59Z")
> [@Zsofia](#): > > I have to say, my list of “things likely to be looted” previously had Ebola mattresses at the bottom. Well, second to bottom. Ebola box springs go underneath. ---
**Author:** ![Ramira](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ramira/32/344_2.png) [@Ramira](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ramira)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2014, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-fools-who-attacked-looted-a-liberian-ebola-quarantine-center/695764/20 "2014-08-17T20:42:12Z")
It is necessary to know that this is a slum in the capital, and it has many people who came from groups favoured under the opposition. they are the poor and ignorant people who have mostly never had any access to any school. After the long civil war and its horrors, and the administration of Taylor, it is a terrible situaiton of ignorance and lack of a social cohesion and any trust. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-fools-who-attacked-looted-a-liberian-ebola-quarantine-center/695764.md?page=2)