One place you don't want to rob

[jzmtl]

I would say an Ebola clinic is pretty much up there on #1.

But...


Ebola clinic looted by Liberian slum residents

Liberian officials fear Ebola could soon spread through the capital's largest slum after residents raided a quarantine centre for suspected patients and took items including bloody sheets and mattresses.

Up to 30 patients were staying at the centre and many of them fled at the time of the raid,

Ebola is spread through bodily fluids including blood, vomit, feces and sweat.​

Some of the looted items were visibly stained with blood, vomit and excrement,

http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/ebola-clinic-looted-by-liberian-slum-residents-1.2738868

This deserves at least a quad facepalm. 

[nate j]

I would say an Ebola clinic is pretty much up there on #1.

I was thinking "gun shop" when I saw the thread title, but ebola clinic would definitely be up there.

[ironraven]

oh dear gods...

This is what happens society collapses- from about 1980 through to about ten years ago, there was basically no education system in Liberia, there is a generation that is functionally or completely illiterate. Of course, along the way, enough of the old ways were lost in a lot of the country, so they aren't building sick houses with the plan of burning them when everything is said and done. Liberia and surrounding countries are no stranger to what was called when my grandparents were there as just "hemorrhagic fever". And is scared the crap out of everyone then, to.

[comis]

I am slightly confused--I don't know whether they really know about Ebola(it is possible that some government may or may not broadcast it on news to prevent panics and looting) and how serious are the consequences.  Are they just enraged someone setup a medical center close to them, so they are looting to retaliate without knowing what's really going on?

I remembered watching on news that dead body was left on ground with no one wanting to get close to clean the corpse, sometimes what may harm a community more is not just the disease, but the fear or ignorance of it.

[jekostas]

I am slightly confused--I don't know whether they really know about Ebola(it is possible that some government may or may not broadcast it on news to prevent panics and looting) and how serious are the consequences.  Are they just enraged someone setup a medical center close to them, so they are looting to retaliate without knowing what's really going on?

I remembered watching on news that dead body was left on ground with no one wanting to get close to clean the corpse, sometimes what may harm a community more is not just the disease, but the fear or ignorance of it.

Your second paragraph answers your own question.  It's ignorance, plain and simple.  They see blankets, mattresses, food, fresh water, bandages, etc and it's more important because they don't understand the consequences or don't believe them when they're told.

The scary thing is that ebola is spread exclusively through bodily liquids and not air transmission so this is going to be a catastrophe that should have never happened.  Even if aid workers are able to maintain the (historically low) 40% death rate from ebola.