Red Cross in Guinea not involved in handling of blood samples

CONAKRY, Guinea, November 24, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- Since 21 November 2014, a number of media outlets have reported that a vehicle transporting blood samples from suspected Ebola patients in Guinea was robbed, and that the samples stolen during the robbery were in the care of a Red Cross courier. This is not the case. The Red Cross Society of Guinea is not involved in taking blood samples from suspected Ebola patients, nor the transport of these blood samples.

It has also been erroneously reported that the targeted vehicle belongs to the Red Cross Society of Guinea. It does not. The vehicle involved in this incident was a taxi.

Taking blood samples from suspected Ebola patients and testing it for the presence of the Ebola virus disease falls under clinical case management, which the Red Cross Society of Guinea is not involved in.

Volunteers from the Red Cross Society of Guinea are leading the Ebola response in providing safe and dignified burials, and the disinfection of homes and places which may have been contaminated. They are also transporting sick patients to treatment centres. For more information on the Red Cross Ebola response in Guinea, visit http://162.13.179.192/ebola-response.org/.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world's largest volunteer-based humanitarian network, reaching 150 million people each year through its 189 member National Societies. Together, IFRC acts before, during and after disasters and health emergencies to meet the needs and improve the lives of vulnerable people. It does so with impartiality as to nationality, race, gender, religious beliefs, class and political opinions. For more information, please visit www.ifrc.org. You can also connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Flickr.