The third American Ebola patient, Dr. Richard Sacra, has been released from the Nebraska hospital where he was being treated for Ebola.
“Literally thousands of people around the nation, even around the world have been praying for me. Those prayers have been answered,” Sacra told a press conference at the Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha.
Blood samples taken from Dr. Sacra 24 hours apart showed he was free of the virus, the CDC confirmed. Sacra received an experimental drug, TKM-Ebola, as well as blood serum from Ebola survivor Dr. Kent Brantly and supportive care. His doctors say it’s not clear which treatment saved his life.
Sacra thanked the medical team who cared for him: “God has used you to restore my life to me. I am so grateful.” He also thanked Dr. Brantly, “my dear colleague and friend,” for donating his plasma to help treat him.
Sacra, a family physician, said he believed he contracted the disease while delivering babies and performing C-sections. He said he had not decided if he would return to Africa and for now is focused on his recovery.
IN-DEPTH
- Doctor Recovering From Ebola Got Experimental Tekmira Drug
- Ebola Survivor Kent Brantly Donates Blood to Treat Rick Sacra
- Ebola Patient Dr. Rick Sacra Gets 'Everything We Had'
SOCIAL
-Lisa Tolin