What is motivating these people to do this at a time and place where it is almost impossible to come out of this unscathed? Not that it's not commendable - just asking.
A 'scrub' team.
Their job is to destroy all the evidence that US companies were testing engineered strains of ebola against new serums. This involved human testing and would look bad. They thought no one would notice, with cover from the 'common' ebola that the locals were dealing with.
Anyway, things got out of control, the virus infected some of the doctors, regardless to the amount of protection they had. They were brought back and given the serum which was being made by the company that stands to profit from the virus spreading.
They just weren't ready yet. The virus was, and made the first move. You are watching the results unfold.
*What is motivating these people to do this at a time and place where it is almost impossible to come out of this unscathed?*
It’s a calling. Some people run away from a fire and some people run into the fire to see who needs help.
I think Dr. Nahid Bhadelia, of Boston, sums it up:
“I’m reminded of the Hillel quotation, ‘If not me, then who, and if not now, then when?‘ The need is great. The health care workers are overwhelmed, and more help can make it safer for everyone involved...”
http://commonhealth.wbur.org/2014/08/ebola-outbreak-boston-doctor
The WHO reports over 60 medical personnel, mostly nurses, have fallen fighting this disease.
the latest fatalities are Dr. Sawyer, Liberia’s top expert, and a nurse who treated him, Dr. Sheik Umar Khan, Sierra Leone’s top expert, and three nurses working with him at Kenema, and Dr. Patrick Nshamdze and six nurses at the isolation center in Monrovia, Liberia. Heros, all.