Ebola continues to ravage Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia, causing a humanitarian crisis in West Africa. Not only has the disease claimed 1,350 lives, but it has disrupted almost every aspect of life. More and more countries are restricting travel to slow the spread, with Liberia taking the drastic measure of instructing its soldiers to “shoot on sight” anyone illegally crossing the border from neighboring Sierra Leone. The confusion has also disrupted supplies lines within the countries, making food and medicine more difficult to find.

An Ebola outbreak starts from contact between a human and an animal, where the human is exposed to infected fluids or tissue, possibly through eating the meat or being bitten. The disease then spreads from human to human through contact. Scientists think fruit bats are the disease’s natural host, but many different animals, such as monkeys, can be carriers. The disease is thought to have started in a jungle area of Guinea, near the border with Sierra Leon and Liberia. As it stands now, scientists believe that the first person infected was a toddler, who spread the disease to its mother, sister, and grandmother. All three died. The disease then spread outside the village when several people attended the grandmother’s funeral, were infected, then spread the disease to family members and healthcare workers, who then spread it to their patients.

Health records state that there have been more than 1,350 confirmed deaths; however, unconfirmed deaths would surely push that number much higher.

We have been in contact with our VGR representative, Brother Caleb Jukon in Monrovia, Liberia, about the Ebola outbreak. There are 15 Message churches, and between 900 - 1000 believers in Liberia. Sierra Leone has 18 churches with 1000 believers, and Guinea has 20 established churches with around 800 believers.

Although international teams are on site and some experimental drugs are becoming available, Brother Caleb confirmed the seriousness and the gravity of the conditions in Liberia. He said, “Brother, Death is on the street," as indicated in the different news organizations. Liberia’s president already has declared a state of emergency.

Brother Caleb said the Lord has been good to them, and no believer has been contaminated with the disease. He is asking Brother Joseph Branham and the Saints around the world to pray for them. He also mentioned that the believers in Monrovia will be fasting Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. They would appreciate your continued prayers.