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The Texas nurse who became the first person to contract Ebola on U.S.
soil said she is "doing well."
Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas released a statement
Tuesday on behalf of Nina Pham.
She said she wants "to thank everyone for their kind wishes and prayers."
The hospital is the same one where Pham was infected while caring for
a Liberian man who became the first person to die of Ebola in the
United States.
The hospital's CEO said the doctors and nurses involved with Pham's
treatment "remain hopeful." He said the hospital is "working
tirelessly to help her in this courageous fight."
The optimistic outlook for Pham comes after it was revealed she
received a blood transfusion from Kent Brantly, the American doctor
who recovered from Ebola in the U.S. after contracting it in Liberia.
Blood transfusion
Christian aid group Samaritan's Purse confirmed the plasma donation
from Dr. Kent Brantly, the first American to return from Liberia to be
treated for Ebola. He had been working in that country on the
international aid group's behalf.
Pham is the third Ebola victim to receive Brantly's blood, which
carries antibodies to the virus because he is a survivor. It was also
given to aid worker Rick Sacra, now recovered, and U.S. journalist
Ashoka Mukpo, who appears to be improving.
The 26-year-old was among about 70 people who cared for Thomas Eric
Duncan, the patient who died from Ebola last Wednesday.
Brantly reportedly offered to donate blood to Duncan, but their blood
types did not match.
Duncan's girlfriend, her 13-year-old son and two older nephews — all
of whom shared an apartment with Duncan for days while he was ill — so
far have shown no symptoms, Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings said on CNN,
according to Reuters.
Officials also reportedly are watching a Dallas person with whom the
nurse was in direct contact with while she was contagious. Some
reports have indicated that person is her boyfriend. Her pet dog has
also been taken to an undisclosed location for monitoring.
