West Africa's expat community dwindles amid Ebola

[Omaha Steve]

http://apnews.excite.com/article/20141111/af-ebola-expat-fears-77685325b1.html

Nov 11, 12:08 PM (ET)

By JASON STRAZIUSO

Though he lives in Sierra Leone, American Michael Ropiecki tries not to waste a lot of energy worrying about his health. But last month he came down with a fever, was throwing up and had diarrhea — all symptoms of Ebola.

"It turned out to be food poisoning, but I was very nervous that day because I had three of the major symptoms of Ebola, and yeah, it was scary. Very scary," said the 35-year-old Tennesseean.

Ropiecki is one of a dwindling handful of Americans and other Westerners who have stayed in the Ebola-stricken countries of Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea since the outbreak. The expatriates have seen friends flee and new aid workers arrive. Attendance at one international school has dropped. Another one closed altogether.

Those who have stayed know that the countries' medical infrastructures have been devastated. Airline options have dwindled. Embassy families have left, and many missionary groups and multinational corporations evacuated staffers.

FULL story at link.