Ebola crisis and flows of information

United States government confirmed on September 30, 2014, through laboratory tests, the first case of Ebola to be diagnosed in the United States in a person who had traveled to Dallas, Texas from West Africa. On 2 October, World Health Organization announced that more than 3000 person have died because of the virus which has a high rate of mortality. Liberia, Guinea Conakry and Sierra Leone are the most affected countries.

On October, 3 NBC News reports that Ashoka Mukpo, an American freelance cameraman/writer in Liberia has tested positive for the deadly Ebola virus and will be flown back to the United States for treatment. He has been working in Liberia on various projects for the past three years. In the press note NBC confirm “We are also taking all possible measures to protect our employees and the general public… We know you share our concern for our colleagues and we will continue to keep you up to date and informed.”

But how can treat the media that situation? On 4 September The Press Union of Libera wrote a letter justice minister Christiana Tah voicing alarm about the recent violations of freedom of information.

They recognized the importance of the measures taken by the government but they reported “We however believe that nothing under the circumstances created by this emergency shall be used as an alibi to undermine the rights and freedoms of Liberians, especially and including journalists, lest to mention the obligation of the government to ensure that all Liberians have full guarantees of these rights”.

In the same letter they explained how the government is closing media and silencing or intimidating some journalist. Reporters without Borders had reported this situation and Liberia is ranked 89th out of 180 countries in the 2014 Reporters Without Borders press freedom index. Reporters Without Borders announced that the dangers to media personnel are growing amid mounting panic about the epidemic.

                                        Picture by European Commission under Common License 

On 19 September 2014, three journalists where killed in cold blood in Guinea while they were covering visit by ebola education team.

According with BBC, days later, the bodies were found in the septic tank of a primary school in the village, according to Camara. They had been "killed in cold blood by the villagers. According with the local press the community attacked the journalist accusing them of spread the virus in the region.

The slain journalists were identified as Facély Camara, who worked for Liberté FM N’Zérékoré, Molou Chérif, a technician with N’Zérékoré’s rural radio service, and Sidiki Sidibé, a trainee technician working with Chérif.

Nigeria is ranked 112^th out of the 180 countries in the 2014 Reporters Without Borders press freedom index.