On Wednesday, the World Health Organization announced that the Ebola death toll had increased to 932, with 45 people dying between August 2 and 4.
In addition, two more countries reported deaths of citizens suspected of carrying the virus. The new death toll is up from the previous number of 887 just two days ago. WHO said 108 new cases were reported between Saturday and Monday in the West African nations of Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone.
According to CNN:
Nigeria reported that a nurse died after treating someone believed to have contracted Ebola in Liberia. And Saudi Arabia reported that a man died, apparently of the virus, after a trip to Sierra Leone.
Virtually all of the deaths have been in Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea. The nurse in Nigeria had helped care for Patrick Sawyer, a Liberian-American man who had traveled to Nigeria, where he died on July 25, the country’s Ministry of Health said Wednesday.
Nigeria has also confirmed another five cases of Ebola, the Health Ministry said.
As the numbers of infected rise in Africa, a second American aid worker who contracted the virus landed in Georgia and is now being treated at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta.
Nancy Writebol, one of two aid workers who contracted the deadly virus in Liberia, was flown from Africa overnight in a specially equipped plane and driven by ambulance to Emory University Hospital.
“We’re grateful to everyone who was joined us in praying for this moment,” her son Jeremy said in a statement.
At Emory, Writebol joins Dr. Kent Brantly, who arrived at the hospital on Saturday. Brantly, 33, was strong enough to walk into the hospital. Writebol, 59, was taken in by stretcher, her head slightly elevated.
Both aid workers received doses of an experimental Ebola drug, derived in part from tobacco plants and never before tested on humans, before they left Liberia. Brantly got an additional dose at Emory.
Doctors say both Brantly and Writebol are improving.
So far, 1,700 people have been infected in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Nigeria. We’ll keep you updated with the latest.
SOURCE: CNN, NBC | PHOTO CREDIT: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
