The Guinean government has confirmed reports of the murder of an Ebola educational team in a village in the southern part of the country.
The bodies of the 8 aid workers, which include a preacher, two medics, local administrators and three journalists, were found in the toilet of a local school.
Reports indicate that the team's mission was to disinfect the village and educate the people on ways of preventing the spread of the deadly disease. However, they were attacked by villagers wielding stones, sticks and machetes.
The government has vowed to bring the perpetrators to book. Local sources say six people have since been arrested in connection with the murders.
"Everyone involved in these murders will be hunted down and brought before the courts to be sanctioned under the law," says government spokesman Damantang Albert.
The gruesome murder of this team has attracted many condemnations from governments and international aid organizations.
Experts say the regrettable incident is an example of the confusion, fear and suspicion that many villagers have about the Ebola virus and its rapid spread. Most are skeptical of endeavors to halt the spread of Ebola, as they claim awareness programs usually foreshadows a spike in infections.
Last month, the BBC reported that there was rioting in this same village where these killings have occurred as local residents accused health workers, who where disinfecting a market, of spreading the disease. Reports indicate that this village is one of the places where Ebola infections were first reported earlier in the year.
The outbreak of Ebola in parts of West Africa has been described as the most fatal outbreak of this highly communicable virus. Reports indicate that over 5,357 people have lost their lives to this scourge thus far.
The UN Security Council has noted that the Ebola outbreak poses a serious danger to international security and peace.
The U.S Center for Disease Control and Prevention has announced that the number of infected people could soar to as much as 500,000 by the beginning of 2015 if the spread of the disease is not halted.
Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia have been the worst hit by the disease. However, a few cases have been recorded in Nigeria and Senegal.
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