An American doctor who contracted Ebola treating victims of the deadly virus in Liberia has been released from a U.S. hospital.
Atlanta, Georgia’s Emory University Hospital, officials said on Thursday in Atalanta that Kent Brantly was released after receiving the ZMapp treatment, the experimental drug.
“Kent Brantly is given ZMapp, a trial drug used on a handful of patients in the West African outbreak, and flown to the U.S. this month,’’they said.
The hospital said it would hold a news conference to discuss Brantly’s case and that of a second American, Nancy Writebol, being treated there with ZMapp.
Mapp, the supplier of the drugs has said that the drugs have been exhausted due to high demand.
Samaritan’s President Franklin Graham said Brantly would leave Emory hospital after the news conference.
“I have marveled at Brantly’s courageous spirit as he has fought this horrible virus with the help of the highly competent and caring staff at Emory University Hospital.
“We have more than 350 staff in Liberia, and others will soon be joining them, so please pray for those who have served with Brantly ,’’he added.
Graham said the other doctors, aid workers and organisations that are at this very moment desperately trying to stop Ebola from taking any more lives, should also be put into prayers.
Brantly and Nancy Writebol were flown out of Liberia earlier this month and have been getting treatment for the deadly disease in an isolation unit at the hospital.
The two were infected while working at a missionary clinic outside Liberia’s capital. [Reuters /NAN]
