Ebola Patient Transferred to National Institutes of Health

Nina Pham, 26, the first health care worker known to be infected with Ebola in the United States, is being transferred to the Washington, D.C., National Institutes of Health for treatment. She will be the last Ebola patient with Ebola at Texas Presbyterian Hospital. There was some concern about the lack of qualified staff available to treat her at the Dallas Hospital. 

Pham and Amber Joy Vinson, 29, were both infected while working with Thomas Eric Duncan, the Liberian man first infected in West Africa. He showed up at the hospital in Dallas, and was initially told to go home. He returned three days later and was admitted for treatment, but spent some time in an open area of the hospital before being transferred to isolation. 

  Nina Pham's Tranfer to the National Institutes of Health in Washington, D.C.

 Up to 77 health care workers were directly responsible for treating Duncan, and all are being monitored for signs of Ebola infection, but to date, only two have been infected from exposure to the Liberian man. Nina Pham’s received a blood transfusion from Dr. Richard Brantly, an American physician who was working in West Africa with Ebola patients who contracted the disease and recovered. Pham’s condition rapidly improved, but she continues to need supportive care she has stated, “I’m doing really well thanks to this team, which is the best in the world. I believe in my talented co-workers.” 

  Bently the Dog in Quarantine

Pham’s dog, Bently, was also isolated and is being monitored for symptoms of the Ebola virus. There is currently no more information on his condition.