How one company limited spread of Ebola in its part of Liberia
CDC says strategies used by Firestone might work elsewhere
Innovative measures have limited the spread of Ebola in a part of Liberia where Firestone Liberia Inc. had established an effective health care infrastructure, according to a report in this week’s CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR). Similar measures may be helpful in slowing the Ebola epidemic in other parts of West Africa.
Firestone Liberia, Inc. is an affiliate of Firestone Natural Rubber Company, LLC, a division of Bridgestone Americas, Inc. Since 1926, it has operated a rubber tree plantation in an area of approximately 185 square miles within Margibi County, Liberia. Employees and their dependents live in 121 communities inside the Firestone District. Firestone provides health services to about 80,000 people including employees, retirees, dependents, and the residents of the densely populated surrounding communities. Firestone health facilities average nearly 5,500 patient visits per month.