The Doctors without Borders physician who was confirmed positive for Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) is getting slightly worse, as expected, as he enters the next phase of his illness, with the appearance of gastrointestinal symptoms, according to health officials at Bellevue Hospital Center in New York City.

Image/CDC
Image/CDC

Spencer  is awake and communicating. The Bellevue clinical team in charge of care for the patient is in constant communication with CDC and with other leading medical centers such as Emory University Hospital and the Nebraska Medical Center.  A large CDC team has been actively involved in advising the Bellevue staff and we are very appreciative of the additional guidance.

In addition to the required supportive therapy, antiviral therapy was initiated within hours of admission.

Ebola survivor, SIM USA volunteer, Nancy Writebol, donated her antibody-rich plasma, which was given to Dr. Spencer on Friday. “I am praying for Dr. Spencer’s recovery and am happy to be able to donate blood,” Mrs. Writebol said.

This type of therapy has been used to help treat other Ebola patients NBC cameraman Ashoka Mukpo, Dr. Rick Sacra and nurse Nina Pham at Nebraska and NIH.

Dr. Spencer’s fiancee returned home Saturday under quarantine.