The two American missionaries, Kent Brantly and Nancy Writebol, who had contracted Ebola while treating patients at Liberia, will be returning to the U.S. next week to receive special treatment. It is the first time that the Ebola virus will be coming into the country.
"We are grateful for the help and support of the U.S. State Department in this endeavor. As believers in the power of prayer, we covet the prayers of the people around the world, not only for Nancy and Kent, but also for all those fighting this brutal virus," said Bruce Johnson, the president of SIM USA.
Both patients will be treated at the Emory University Hospital in Atlanta, in a special isolation unit, overseen by Dr. Bruce Ribner.
Dr. Ribner described that the Emory University Hospital is "one of only four U.S. institutions capable of such care," according to CNN, and that the hospital is taking many measures to ensure that the virus will not be spread onto anyone else. These measures include specially enforcing who and what comes in and out of the special isolation unit, and an intercom communication system so that patients can interact with guests without having to physically come into contact with them.
To assure the public, Dr. Ribner explained that he and all of the medical staff are well aware of the modes of transmission of Ebola, and that they are confident it will not be transmitted to others.
"We have two individuals who are critically ill, and we feel that we owe them the right to receive the best medical care," he said.
The Ebola outbreak in West Africa, particularly in Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Libera, has been the worst in recent history, and the CDC released a statement warning the public against nonessential travel to the area. However, experts are assuring the public that the virus can be contained.
