outbreaks + outbursts

I just wanted to bring everyone up to speed on Ebola.  For your own sanity, DO NOT Google what’s happening with the outbreak and if you do, DO NOT believe everything you read.  The only sites that you should go to are WHO and CDC.  The information posted on those two sites is usually a few days behind because they do not post information until cases, deaths, updates are confirmed.  There is never speculation on their sites like there is on news feeds.  Anyway, there has been a small outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) which borders Angola to the North.  Our camp is actually located in Cabinda that is separated from Angola by the DRC (see map below). 

The important thing to note about the confirmed cases in the DRC is that it is a completely different strand than the current outbreak in West Africa.  One lady was infected in Northern DRC after slaughtering bush game that her husband had brought home after hunting.  She fell ill, went to the clinic and passed away.  As a result, all the medical personnel in the clinic were infected, as well as family members involved in the burial process (24 suspected cases, and 13 deaths).  All that said, our medical staff here in camp is taking the outbreak as a whole very seriously and they are taking every precaution necessary in the event that the virus is brought into camp  – moral of the story DON’T WORRY, we are all just fine!   

It’s been a pretty tough week, and we've had to deal with some unfortunate personnel issues.  I am naturally an easy going, non-confrontational type person (although I am pretty sure I’m getting an age-onset case of ODC, but that’s another story…).  Anyways, I've received “constructive criticism” in the past that I can be too nice, borderline push over in some situations.  So when dealing with individuals who have acted inappropriately – I do one of two things:  1. Talk to them in a calmly and try to help explain why we are unhappy with the situation; which is ineffective because I just end up saying something along the lines of ‘it’s fine’ and ‘we will work together to move on’ and lose the accountability factor somewhere in there. OR 2. Freak out and say things that probably aren’t too appropriate (I try to conserve #2 to strictly family/friends and stay cool in my workplace).  Needless to say, I removed myself as much as possible from the situation this week and let my superiors take the lead. 

I'm shifting into cruise control this week, tying up loose ends, getting turnover notes done, and chasing my seat on the bus out of camp that's just on the horizon :)  Oh, and also starting the countdown to the Browning Wedding...T-minus 34 days!

33 days down, 9 to go!  Xoxo…