Nurse Amber Vinson's discharge from the hospital Tuesday
brings to seven the number of American patients who have survived
Ebola, leading many people to wonder what has allowed them to beat the
odds.
In West Africa, about 70% of patients die from the Ebola virus, according to the World Health Organization.
Vinson, 29, was released from Atlanta's Emory University Hospital. She was infected with Ebola while working at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas, where she was part of the care team for Thomas Eric Duncan, a Liberian national who was the first person to be diagnosed with Ebola in the USA. Duncan died Oct. 8.
As she was released, Vinson thanked Ebola survivors Kent Brantly and Nancy Writebol for donating blood to help her. Vinson ended up receiving blood only from Brantly, who also donated blood to several other surviving patients. Doctors have been experimenting with blood transfusions in the hope that a survivor's blood will contain antibodies to help other patients fight the virus.
Vinson's fellow nurse, 26-year-old Nina Pham, who also contracted Ebola while treating Duncan, was released from the National Institutes of Health last week. Pham also received blood from Brantly.
In West Africa, about 70% of patients die from the Ebola virus, according to the World Health Organization.
Vinson, 29, was released from Atlanta's Emory University Hospital. She was infected with Ebola while working at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas, where she was part of the care team for Thomas Eric Duncan, a Liberian national who was the first person to be diagnosed with Ebola in the USA. Duncan died Oct. 8.
As she was released, Vinson thanked Ebola survivors Kent Brantly and Nancy Writebol for donating blood to help her. Vinson ended up receiving blood only from Brantly, who also donated blood to several other surviving patients. Doctors have been experimenting with blood transfusions in the hope that a survivor's blood will contain antibodies to help other patients fight the virus.
Vinson's fellow nurse, 26-year-old Nina Pham, who also contracted Ebola while treating Duncan, was released from the National Institutes of Health last week. Pham also received blood from Brantly.
From USATODAY.COM
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