Ebola: Villagers kill 8 volunteers, dump bodies in latrine

Villagers in rural Guinea had killed eight members of a team that had gone to educate locals of the risk of the Ebola virus. A government spokesman said Thursday that their bodies were found in a latrine in the village.

The team included local administrators, medical officers, a preacher and three local radio journalists. They were reportedly by residents armed with rocks and knives in the village of Wome in the southeast of the country

Speaking to Reuters, Damantang Albert Camara said: “Three of them had their throats slit,”

Prime Minister Mohamed Said Fofana said on State Television Wednesday that authorities had arrested six people following the incident, which took place on Tuesday.

Fofana said that it was regrettable that the incident occurred as the international community was mobilising to help countries struggling to contain the disease.

There is widespread fear, misinformation and stigma among residents of affected countries, with reports of residents in rural villages reacting in panic when outsiders have attempted to conduct awareness campaigns.

Health clinics have also been attacked, further complicating efforts to contain the epidemic.

The highly contagious disease first emerged in Guinea in March this year.