American Doctor Kent Brantly 'Thanks God' For Improved Health
Kent Brantly, the U.S. aid worker receiving treatment in Georgia for the Ebola virus, released a statement Friday confirming his health was improving.
Samaritan's Purse, the evangelical humanitarian organization that Brantly had been working for in Liberia, released a statement on the doctor's behalf that read: "I am writing this update from my isolation room at Emory University Hospital, where the doctors and nurses are providing the very best care possible."
"I am growing stronger every day, and I thank God for His mercy as I have wrestled with this terrible disease."
Brantly and a fellow clinic worker who was also infected with the virus, Nancy Writebol, had received doses of an experimental serum created in San Diego, California and meant to combat the Ebola virus. The serum appears to be working, as both aid workers have reportedly improved in their condition.
Writebol's husband, David, told reporters that his sons have indicated that Nancy is also showing signs of improvement. David remains in Liberia, but said: "I don't believe we could say she's in the clear […] I would say she's in very good hands and is being well attended to."
The World Health Organization, as well as Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Nigeria, have declared national and international states of emergency as the Ebola virus continues to aggressively spread through West Africa. Since the surge in cases began back in March, over 900 people have died from the deadly virus, also called hemorrhagic fever. Another 1,700 have been infected with the highly contagious disease.
