Prayer urged to stop Ebola virus
___KAMPALA, Uganda--Rapid contagion from the Ebola virus must be battled through prayer as well as medicine, urged Southern Baptist missionary physician Larry Pepper.
___Pepper recently sent an e-mail to U.S. friends, pleading for prayer as he and other medical personnel in Uganda battle the virus, which spreads rapidly and kills quickly.
___The latest outbreak of the virus flared up after an Ebola patient escaped from a hospital, Pepper reported.
___"That person subsequently infected a family and another family--eight died," he said. "Four hospital workers in Masindi (located about four hours northwest of the capital city of Kampala) have been infected, with two dead. The doctor and nurse are currently two of seven hospitalized with Ebola."
___Pepper, a Michigan native appointed by the Southern Baptist International Mission Board, is part of an Ebola case management team assigned by the Ugandan health services director to try to stem the tide of the disease.
___He asked fellow Baptists to pray for several items related to the latest outbreak:
___ Safety for physicians, who must travel on dangerous roads.
___ Safety for medical personnel "as we enter the 'hot zone' of treating these Ugandans who are suffering."
___ His ability to "be a comforter to those who are suffering."
___ Training of Ugandan doctors and nurses in dealing with the disease.
___ Recruitment of Ugandan church leaders who will convince Christians to fast and pray for the epidemic.
___ "Peace (from God) that surpasses all human understanding."
___ Courage for Ugandan medical personnel, so they "will not panic and refuse to treat their fellow countrymen."
The Baptist Standard
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