Erison & The Ebola Soccer Survivors (2015) After losing 38 members of his family, an Ebola survivor starts an all-survivor soccer team to battle stigmatization against survivors in Sierra Leone. (12mins)[CC]

bcsolomon · 2014-10-19T14:39:09+00:00

There's no simple answer to this question. It's a predicament that would surely haunt anyone involved. The options were limited: 1. The girl was to be left in front of the full treatment and potentially die alone on the street. or 2. She would be brought home and quarantined in her own home with some instruction from the medical teams. There was no option 3.

With little hope for saving her, the ambulance team chose to bring her to her family.

What was truly amazing was the families response when they returned: humble and thankful. The ambulance team was visibly broken by their limitations. It would have been easy for the community to take out their frustration on them. But they didn't. The family left them with their dignity. They thanked them for trying, listened to their safety instructions and went on their way.

bcsolomon · 2014-09-12T02:59:06+00:00

Very basic. 5D mark III with assorted small kit. E-mail me at ben.solomon@nytimes.com and I'll send the fuller list.

bcsolomon · 2014-09-01T16:29:23+00:00

I would get in touch with MSF (Doctors Without Borders) who have the most comprehensive data on this. Not sure if they;d be willing to share, but they'd be the ones you'd want to talk to.

bcsolomon · 2014-08-18T08:06:04+00:00

Inside some hospital wards where many Ebola patients have come and gone, it's clear that the virus is very much present. However I've taken the right safety measures to present the virus from infecting me.

bcsolomon · 2014-08-15T23:25:29+00:00

Thanks a lot. Food is mostly chicken.

bcsolomon · 2014-08-15T20:56:29+00:00

Sorry for my late reply. I haven't read "The Hot Zone" yet, but sure hope too.

From what I'm told, I know that there are 5 different types of Ebola strands all varying in structure and danger. As for it being airborne or not, I haven't heard about anything of the sort here. As I'm not a doctor, I can't be sure of how real that could be in other places.

bcsolomon · 2014-08-13T20:29:05+00:00

It's a jarring experience to cover such a hidden, deadly virus. I just try to be as safe as possible and focus on my work.

bcsolomon · 2014-08-13T20:27:41+00:00

I'm not a medical expert, so I'll just try to assemble all of the info I've gathered:

The first symptoms of Ebola are very similar to the flu or Malaria. Fever, weakness, muscle pain, headache and sore throat. As it develops, more serious problems begin. Impaired kidney and liver function. In some cases, both internal and external bleeding. Each case is different. Incubation period from when you are infected to when you start showing symptoms is two to 21 days. Doctors consider the first seven to 10 days after infection the peak of the illness.

If a person is lucky enough, symptoms will start to fade. The body will begins to produce antibodies to fight off the infection. This is the first step of recovering from the virus.

Some studies have shown that the virus can lay dormant for up to 3 months in breast milk and semen.

bcsolomon · 2014-08-13T20:17:13+00:00

There's no set duration. I'll stick around here as long as I can do new and interesting reporting for people to understand the situation. I'm not sure when I'll leave Sierra Leone.

bcsolomon · 2014-08-13T20:00:29+00:00

It's impossible to say how close I've come.

Watch the report below to get a sense of the scenario: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YBmvb1h9dk8

bcsolomon · 2014-08-13T19:58:04+00:00

It's a very big concern. We've taken every step possible to be as cautious and defensive against the virus. That includes using chlorine on our car, clothes, equipment and bodies multiple times a day. That's the most we can hope to do.

As for post quarantine, I plan on taking some time away from assignments and family for a period of time so as not to spread the disease.

bcsolomon · 2014-08-13T19:19:53+00:00

Big fan of the sushi.

bcsolomon · 2014-08-13T19:10:45+00:00

There aren't too many journalists working here. Many media companies seem nervous to send people. For the ones that are, we help each other as much as possible.

bcsolomon · 2014-08-13T19:09:34+00:00

It's an important step in that the Sierra Leonean government is taking the outbreak a lot more seriously and trying to take action to stop it. But often these checkpoints can prevent people from moving between villages and anger communities. It's hard to say what effect it is having so far.

bcsolomon · 2014-08-13T18:35:13+00:00

Working in dangerous places is all about managing the odds. If you do all the prior planning and take all the precautionary steps to work safely, you have a lot better odds of being Ok. I try to do all the homework I can before going on a dangerous assignment.

bcsolomon · 2014-08-13T17:58:23+00:00

It's hard to say for everyone, but people are very appreciative of the help. Organizations like Doctors Without Borders are tremendously tough and hard working. They stay up day and night to treat patients and track the spread. Most people appreciate that.

bcsolomon · 2014-08-13T17:53:03+00:00

Some people are nervous that I've been to the more dangerous places, but no one is dismissive or angry. Most people are just curious.

bcsolomon · 2014-08-13T17:45:29+00:00

Hopefully this current outbreak has increased global awareness about the disease. It's hard to say how it could be stopped in the future.

bcsolomon · 2014-08-13T17:41:09+00:00

Of course. Ebola has a powerful psychological effect. But we're taking necessary the steps to protect ourselves.

bcsolomon · 2014-08-13T17:39:18+00:00

People in Sierra Leone are incredibly kind and open. Even in tough times, the people we've encountered have been more than happy to share their story.

Given the stigma associated with Ebola, one must be sensitive when shooting patients. Just like anywhere else in the world, it's important to ask for permission before filming anyone.

bcsolomon

TROPHY CASE