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The last known person to have Ebola in the U.S. is free of the virus and has been released from the hospital.
Dr. Craig Spencer was released from New York City’s Bellevue Hospital Center on Tuesday after being declared free of the deadly virus, according to NBC News. He was treated at the facility after contracting Ebola in Guinea, where he was working with Doctors Without Borders.
Spencer caused something of a controversy after he was diagnosed with Ebola, when it was revealed that he had traveled to various parts of New York City using public transportation between returning to the U.S. and showing symptoms of the virus.
“Today I am healthy and no longer infectious,” Spencer said at a press conference held at Bellevue Hospital.
He also said that even though we appear to be free of Ebola in the U.S. at the current time, there still is a long way to go before the virus is completely eradicated.
“It is important to remember that my infection represents but a fraction of the more than 13,000 reported cases to date in West Africa, the center of the outbreak, where families are being torn apart and communities are destroyed,” Spencer said.
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Tech giants Google and Facebook both announced new campaigns to raise money for the Ebola cause.
Last week, Facebook began allowing users to donate money to one of three charities working to fight the virus: International Medical Corps, the American Red Cross and Save the Children. Additionally, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg donated $25 million of his own money toward the effort.
Earlier this week, Google began taking donations as well. For each dollar donated, Google will donate $2 until $7.5 million is raised. This is in addition to another $25 million from Google and its co-founder/CEO Larry Page’s family foundation.
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The family of Thomas Eric Duncan—currently the only Ebola victim to die of the virus in the United States—has reached a “resolution” with Texas Health Presbyterian, the Dallas hospital where he was treated, according to WFAA.
The resolution was announced at a news conference, and Duncan’s family’s attorney said Texas Health Resources has set up a charitable trust to help victims in West Africa in honor of Duncan. It was not announced how much the settlement was worth.
“As part of the healing process, we have again extended our sincere apologies to the family and shared our regret that the diagnosis of Ebola Virus disease was not made at the time of Mr. Duncan’s initial emergency department visit,” said Candace White, a Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas spokesperson, in a statement. “…Texas Health Dallas greatly appreciates the acknowledgment by the family’s attorney that Mr. Duncan’s inpatient care was excellent. We are grateful to reach this point of reconciliation and healing for all involved.”
