Doctors: Dallas nurse with Ebola in «good condition»
Nina Pham, a 26-year-old nurse at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital, was infected with the deadly virus while treating patient Thomas Eric Duncan. ‘I’m doing well and want to thank everyone for prayers,’ she said in a statement.
The Dallas nurse infected with Ebola expressed gratitude for all the kind messages she’s received and is hopeful that she will recover as doctors upgraded her status to good condition Tuesday afternoon.
«I’m doing well and want to thank everyone for prayers,» she said in a statement, released by Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Tuesday.
Nina Pham, 26, was one of the 70 staff members at the hospital who cared for Liberian Ebola patient Thomas Eric Duncan.
The young woman was in Duncan’s hospital room every day until he passed away on Oct. 8 and became the first person to contract the deadly disease on U.S. soil.
Pham said she understood the risks, and tried to reassure her family that they were taking all of the proper precautions and that she would be safe.
She and other staff members wore protective gear while treating Duncan. This included masks, face shields, gloves, gowns and sometimes even full-body suits.
Still, Pham came down with the virus.
She recently received a plasma transfusion from Dr. Kent Brantly, first American to return to the U.S. for Ebola treatment. He beat the disease.
The World Health Organization estimates that West Africa may see up to 10,000 new Ebola cases a week in the next two months.
People who contract the deadly disease only have a 30% chance of surviving, according to the health agency.
The CEO of Texas Health Resources, Barclay Berdan, said, “The hearts and prayers of everyone at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas are with Nina Pham, and we are working tirelessly to help her in this courageous fight.
The doctors and nurses treating are hopeful that Pham will make a recovery,