By Chris Carr

Man who grew up in Sask. fighting Ebola in West Africa

Sep 24, 2014 | 9:48 AM

A man who grew up in Saskatoon is helping in the fight against Ebola in West Africa.

On the ground in Liberia, Jason Kindrachuk spoke to the Brent Loucks Show Wednesday. Kindrachuk is there as a research scientist leading a diagnostic team.

He feels there isn't any progress being made.

“You know there really isn't right now and it's so emotionally draining,” Kindrachuk said.

People are literally laying on the ground in front of hospitals, waiting for care.

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“You know maximum right now they might be able to admit 25 patients at a time but there are hundreds that are likely infected that aren't getting in hospital, or are just waiting,” Kindrachuk said.

He was asked about the risk of being in a place where a deadly outbreak is making thousands of people sick.

“It's in the back of my mind at all times, but at the same time, you gotta believe in the skills that I have, and the interpretation of the situation, that I'll be safe,” Kindrachuk added.

Asked if he thinks such an outbreak could ever take hold in Saskatoon, or anywhere else in Canada, Kindrachuk said he doesn't think so. That's because we have the ability to quickly quarantine someone. Not so much in Liberia.

“They've been ravaged by civil wars for decades, and they just don't have the basic health care,” Kindrachuk said.

The World Health Organization says the official death toll from Ebola in West Africa has climbed to more than 2,800 in six months and 5,800 cases have been confirmed. 

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