Irish missionaries working in African communities ravaged by Ebola have warned that without more help from expert medics, the deadly virus will continue to spread.

Over 2,800 people have died from the virus to date, and that number keeps increasing. 

In August, a Spanish priest working in Liberia, Fr Miguel Pajares, died from Ebola after being brought back home to Spain.

Bro. Michael Koroma, secretary of the St John of God African Province, told the Irish Catholic he feared for the safety of his brothers following the confirmation that a second Spanish missionary priest, Fr Manuel Garcia Viejo, has contracted the virus. 

“It is true that the people need health services now but we are not experts. Send at least one epidemiologist to reside in each of the health centers to supervise infection prevention and control,” Bro. Michael said.

Sr Mary Sweeney, a member of the Sisters of St Joseph of Cluny in Sierra Leone, said that a recent three-day curfew to enable volunteers to give out information, quarantine the sick, and remove the dead “went very smoothly.”

“A number of bodies were found and people saw how important it is to tell others about infections and deaths,” she told the Irish Catholic.

Ireland has been providing emergency supplies to infected areas, and the Irish government has promised to provide an an additional €600,000 in emergency aid to help combat the virus.