Emory University hospital officials discuss the discharge of Dr. Kent Brantly and Nancy Writebol, who have been treated for Ebola at the hospital the past three weeks. You can watch the conference live or follow updates here.
11:55 a.m.: Ribner noted near the conclusion of the news conference that the hugging of Dr. Brantly by nurses and doctors as he left the news conference, shows the confidence they have that he is no longer contagious.
11:50 a.m.: Ribner: We are working with a number of medical journals and other organs to disseminate the knowledge we gained from treating these patients. We are hopeful that what we learned here will assist our colleagues in Africa."
11:45 a.m.: He said the hospital released Writebol without notice because she requested it and because "we did not believe there was any public health risk in her release."
11:40 a.m.: Dr. Ribner said doctors used the special isolation unit because it was available, but there was no need for this unit – "any hospital on a daily basis is providing this level of treatment" to infectious diseases.
11:35 a.m.: Dr. Ribner said five physicians and 21 nurses cared for the two Ebola patients.
11:30 a.m.: Dr. Ribner continued to answer questions from the media after Brantly leaves the news conference to rousing applause.
11:25 a.m.: Brantly said his family will be going away to reconnect, decompress and continue to recover. "For now, we need some time together after more than a month part."
11:21 a.m.: Brantly thanked his Emory University doctors and nurses. "Please do not stop praying for the people of Liberia and West Africa." He said Nancy Writebol had this to say as she left the hospital Tuesday: "To God be the glory."
11:18 a.m.: Dr. Brantly spoke of his Ebola diagnosis in Liberia and how he prayed to God as he grew weaker. "I can not thank you enough for your prayers and your support. I serve a faithful God who answers prayers. "
11:15 a.m. He announced that Writebol has been discharged Tuesday. He said the discharges posed no public health threat.
11:12 a.m.: Dr. Bruce S. Ribner, the physician who led the team of doctors, nurses and others who have cared for Brantly and Writebol, announced that Dr. Brantly was being discharged from the hospital. It was determined he has recovered from the Ebola infection. He can return to his family and life.
11:10 a.m.: A smiling Dr. Kent Brantly enters the room and heads to the podium.
11:05 a.m.: More than a dozen Emory University Hospital nurses are gathered on the podium. Doctors to set to appear shortly.
UPDATE: Missionary Nancy Writebol, one of two Ebola patients being treated at Emory University Hospital reportedly left the hospital Thursday morning, according to Channel 2 Action News. Sources told Channel 2 that Writebol has been discharged and is no longer a patient at the hospital.
ORIGINAL: Emory University Hospital officials have scheduled a news conference for late Thursday morning to discuss the impending release of the two Ebola patients who were transferred to the facility earlier this month.
Channel 2 Action News reported that one of those patients, Dr. Kent Brantly, will make a statement at the 11 a.m. press conference, and that Emory officials will also give updates on the second patient, missionary Nancy Writebol.
Brantly is expected to leave the hospital with his family following the news conference, according to Channel 2.
Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan’s Purse, the humanitarian organization Brantly and Writebol were working with, issued a statement early Thursday, saying, “Today, I join all of our Samaritan’s Purse team around the world in giving thanks to God as we celebrate Dr. Kent Brantly’s recovery from Ebola and release from the hospital.”
Brantly was transferred from Liberia to Emory on August 2, and Writebol arrived two days later. The two were infected while working in a missionary clinic outside Liberia's capital.
An Atlanta Journal-Constitution reporter and photographer will be at the news conference.
— Please return to ajc.com for updates.
About the Author
