The two US citizens who were infected with the Ebola virus flown from West Africa back home, have been discharged from Emory Hospital in Atlanta on Wednesday.
"After a rigorous course of treatment and testing, the Emory healthcare team has determined that both patients have recovered from the Ebola virus and can return to their families and community without concern for spreading this infection to others," said director of the hospital's infectious disease unit Dr. Bruce Ribner in a statement on Thursday.
Kent Brantly who was working as a doctor in Liberia said at a press conference today: "On Wednesday, July 23, I woke up feeling under the weather and then my life took an unexpected turn as I was diagnosed with the Ebola virus disease." He continued: "Today is a miraculous day I'm thrilled to be alive, well, and to be reunited with my family." The other infected American, Nancy Writebol, was discharged Tuesday but has not made any comments.
Doctors had not expected the two to survive until they were given an experimental drug called Zmapp that saved them from the virus. Doctors indicated Brantly's release required two negative blood tests to prove he no longer was infected.