2 Americans Recover after Ebola Treatment

Two Americans treated for Ebola infection were released from Emory University Hospital this week. Kent Brantly, M.D., 33, and Nancy Writebol, 59, were infected while working at a hospital in Liberia. They were part of the mission groups Samaritan’s Purse and SIM. Dr. Brantly and Writebol were flown home in a specially equipped plane in early August. Both were treated in an isolation unit at Emory. They were given an experimental drug, ZMapp. The drug is so new it has not been tested in humans. It’s not known whether the drug helped them or if they would have recovered anyway. Standard treatment involves fluids, pain medicines and other supportive care. Emory doctors said the two are no longer infectious. Dr. Brantly appeared at a news conference August 21. He thanked and hugged members of the medical staff who cared for him. Writebol’s husband released a statement.