Boulder Man Evacuates From Liberia As Ebola Continues To Spread
BOULDER, Colo. (CBS4) - A Boulder man has just arrived back in the United States after leaving Liberia and he's worried about his wife who remains in the Western African country where ebola is a major concern.
Rudy Andrade and his wife moved to Monrovia, the nation's capital, more than a year ago. When they arrived he says the ebola virus was of little concern.
He says that changed "three, maybe four months ago."
"It really started to intensify then," he said.
More than 1,500 people have now been killed in West Africa by ebola.
For his work Andrade traveled outside of Monrovia and says everyone became a little more cautious when the virus began spreading.
A trip to neighboring villages came with the following warning:
"Don't shake anybody's hands. If you want to touch and greet, do elbows. So we did a little elbow or shoulder (type of greeting) just to be safe," he said.
In late July the threat of the virus had become so serious that American aid groups, the Peace Corps and other non-essential personnel were asked to leave.
Andrade says because of her work for the U.S. government in Liberia his wife was asked to stay.
"Let me tell you, I'm still suffering from it because of the fact that my wife is still there," he said.
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Andrade says every 30 days there is re-evaluation of the conditions in Liberia. He's optimistic he will be returning to his home there and plans to do so as soon as he can. For now, he's staying with family in Boulder.
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