Health care providers on the front line of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak are out their taking extraordinary risks trying to save lives from this very large and lethal viral outbreak–in fact some have given their lives.
News was reported this weekend from Liberia about the tragic death of the Chief Medical Doctor at Liberia’s John F. Kennedy Medical Center , Dr. Samuel Brisbane. Brisbane, along with two other team members including Dr Nelson Korkor have been quarantined for several days battling the Ebola virus, according to a FrontPageAfrica report Saturday.
The Christian relief organization, Samaritan’s Purse announced two Ebola infections in members working in West Africa treating EVD patients. ” Dr. Kent Brantly, Medical Director for the Samaritan’s Purse Ebola Consolidated Case Management Center in Monrovia, Liberia, has tested positive for the Ebola virus. He is currently undergoing treatment at a Samaritan’s Purse isolation center at ELWA Hospital, according to an organization press release.
“Samaritan’s Purse is continuing medical operations at our Ebola Case Management Centers in cooperation with the Centers for Disease Control, the World Health Organization, the Liberia Ministry of Health, and other global health authorities.”
In addition they recently reported about a second U.S. citizen working in Liberia has tested positive for the Ebola virus. Nancy Writebol is employed by SIM in Liberia and was helping the joint SIM/Samaritan’s Purse team that is treating Ebola patients at the Case Management Center in Monrovia. SIM manages ELWA Hospital there, and the two organizations have been working closely to combat Ebola since the current outbreak began in Liberia in March.
The Sierra Leone Ministry of Health and Sanitation said yesterday on their Facebook page that the country’s “Ebola Doctor”, Dr. Sheikh Umar Khan is responding well to treatment to his Ebola infection.
As of 23 July 2014, the cumulative number of cases attributed to EVD in the three countries stands at 1 201, including 672 deaths, according to the World Health Organization. For more infectious disease news and information, visit and “like” the Infectious Disease News Facebook page
