US Ebola survivor ‘very grateful’ for prayers, medical care

A Dallas nurse who contracted Ebola after contact with Eric Duncan, the index case, is now free of the virus, United States health officials confirmed on Friday.

Nina Pham contracted Ebola while treating the US’s first diagnosed case, Duncan, who later died of Ebola in a Dallas hospital, is now Ebola free and has been discharged.

Although she was diagnosed on October 12, Pham began undergoing treatment at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, Maryland, on October 16, with her earlier treatment at Texas Presbyterian Hospital.

While speaking at a press conference, Anthony Fauci, director at the National institute of Allergy and infectious diseases at NIH, said Pham was now Ebola-free despite not having to take any experimental drug.

Pham, who also spoke, expressed gratitude to everyone who prayed for her during her prophylaxis, saying she needed privacy to reunite with her family.

“On my way back from recovery, I think of how many have not been so fortunate. I am so very thankful for everyone involved in my care from the moment I came,” the survivor said.

“I would especially like to thank Dr Kent Brantly for his selfless act of donating plasma to me. As a nurse, I have a special appreciation for the care I have received from so many people, not just doctors and nurses but the entire support team.

“I believe in the power of prayers because I know so many people all over the world have been praying for me. I do not know how; I can never thank everyone enough for their prayers and their expressions of concern, hope and love.

“I join you in prayer now for the recovery others, including my colleague and friend, Amber Vinson and Craig Spenser.

“With gratitude and respect for everyone’s concern, I ask for my privacy and my family privacy to be respected as I return to Texas and try to get back to a normal life and reunite with my dog, thank you everyone.”

Pham’s infection was the second case of Ebola transmission in the US.