Children orphaned by Ebola outbreak shunned by caregivers and community

The children of parents who have succumbed to Ebola are in need of help that aid workers say is unprecedented. On a day when we are witnessing the first case of the disease in North America, when the full force of a western public health system is kicking-in, these children have no such safety net.

A story of hope in a country in despair.

Little Issatta, the youngest Ebola patient to be cured of Ebola, She lost both her parents to Ebola and honestly, she just had this wisdom about her, probably from the loss of her parents, and what she was going through, the ordeals. Honestly, I think about her all the time and this girl was meant for something in this world, for that I am sure. If she can beat Ebola she can take on anything.Tim Jagatic from Médecins Sans Frontières speaking

Issatta's story is hardly unique. She is among more than 3,700 children orphaned by the outbreak. And the UN's Children's Agency fears many of these children are not only orphans, but outcasts because of the fear of infection.

The CBC's Senior Correspondent, Adrienne Arsneault, was in Monrovia to tell us more about the children left behind.

• Liberia's health workers face tough choices -- CBC's Adrienne Arsenault reports from Monrovia

The AIDS crisis orphaned far more children than the Ebola epidemic has, but with AIDS, extended families would often rush in to take care of the survivors. However, many Ebola orphans find themselves desperately alone.

UNICEF in Liberia is trying to help the orphans receive some love and care. Sarah Crowe is the Chief of Crisis Communications with UNICEF. She was in Monrovia, Liberia.

Losing both parents to a horrible disease is beyond terrifying. But Ebola has even more terrors for the children of west Africa. Rob MacGillivray is the Country Director for Sierra Leone with Save the Children.

This segment was produced by The Current's Liz Hoath and Sarah Grant.