Following the receipt, treatment and release of Christian missionary health workers, Dr. Kent Brantly and Nancy Writebol, Emory University Hospital received a third Ebola patient yesterday morning. This is the fourth Ebola patient to be evacuated to the United States since the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak in West Africa began.

Dr. Bruce Ribner gives a tour of the Emory University Hospital isolation unit Image/Video Screen Shot
Dr. Bruce Ribner gives a tour of the Emory University Hospital isolation unit
Image/Video Screen Shot

According to a statement from Emory, “A third patient with Ebola virus disease arrived at Emory University Hospital Tuesday morning, Sept. 9, at approximately 10:25 a.m. The patient was transported by air ambulance from West Africa.  The patient will be treated in the same isolation unit in which two patients were recently treated and discharged. Emory is bound by patient confidentiality and has no information regarding the status of the patient.”

Dr. Rick Sacra, the Ebola infected physician who was transported to Nebraska Medical Center last Friday for treatment is improving according to physicians taking care of him. “We’re pleased with his progress,” said Phil Smith, MD, medical director of the Biocontainment Unit at The Nebraska Medical Center. “His lab values are improving and he’s becoming more alert and interactive. We continue to be encouraged by what we’re seeing up to this point.”

Dr. Sacra’s family members tell doctors they’re starting to see more of his personality emerge each day. “He’s kind of becoming his normal self,” said Angela Hewlett, MD, associate medical director of the Biocontainment Unit at The Nebraska Medical Center. “Family members continue to speak with Dr. Sacra on a regular basis via video conference and that’s a big help for both the patient and his family.”

The staff caring for Dr. Sacra is also faring well. “Everyone has been positive and upbeat,” said Shelly Schwedhelm, director of ED, trauma and emergency preparedness at The Nebraska Medical Center. “Everyone has been able to get some much-needed rest and we’re making sure everyone is taking good care of themselves as well as Dr. Sacra.”