The Samaritan’s Purse doctor who contracted the deadly Ebola virus working in Liberia is the first of two patients to arrive in the United States. Brantly, a 33-year-old physician from Fort Worth, has landed in Georgia and is being transported to Emory University Hospital in Atlanta.

Image/CDC
Image/CDC

News reports note unofficially that the Gulfstream private jet, set up to transport an Ebola patient, landed in Maine for fuel prior to arriving at Dobbins Air Force Base in Marietta, Georgia.

Emory physicians and health care staff are prepared for the arrival of these patients and have put infection control measures in place to protect health care workers and other patients and hospital visitors. The patients are housed in a special isolation unit separate from other units and patients. The unit is located on a separate floor from any other patient areas. This includes a laboratory separate from the regular facility so blood and other body fluid samples will not be exposed to the regular hospital staff.

This will be the first time a patient with the Ebola virus will be treated in the U.S. and Emory is taking safety precautions seriously, according to Emory infectious disease physician, Dr. Bruce Ribner.

Dr. Brantly is reportedly in serious ,but stable condition and clearly in good enough condition for the intercontinental flight.

It is also being reported that the plane to pick-up SIM volunteer Nancy Writebol has just departed for Africa.