American aid worker who contracted Ebola 'growing stronger every day'
Dr. Kent Brantly and his wife, Amber, are seen in an undated photo provided by Samaritan's Purse. Brantly became the first person infected with Ebola to be brought to the United States from Africa. (AP Photo/Samaritan's Purse) (AP Photo/Samaritan's Purse)
An American doctor who contracted Ebola in Africa has released a statement from his isolation room saying that he is “growing stronger every day.”
Dr. Kent Brantly is being treated for the deadly disease at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta alongside fellow American aid worker Nancy Writebol.
Dr. Brantly, who lived in Liberia with his wife and two children, said that it had never been his goal to fight Ebola specifically, but he believed it was “God’s call” that had led him to work on the outbreak.
“When Ebola spread into Liberia, my usual hospital work turned more and more toward treating the increasing number of Ebola patients,” he said.
“I held the hands of countless individuals as this terrible disease took their lives away from them… I witnessed the horror first-hand and I can still remember every face and name.”
Dr. Brantly said he immediately isolated himself after starting to notice the symptoms of Ebola, with tests confirming the diagnosis three days later.
Doctors said that Dr. Brantly and Ms Writebol are both improving after receiving an experimental Ebola treatment never tested on humans, however US health officials cautioned that it is too early to tell whether the drugs are being effective.
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