Dr. Kent Brantly, the Fort Worth doctor who survived Ebola, has donated blood to a Dallas nurse who recently contracted the virus, widespread media reports indicate. Brantly previously donated blood to a freelance journalist diagnosed with Ebola.
Nina Pham was one of the people caring for Thomas Eric Duncan at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital. Duncan died on October 8. Pham was diagnosed with Ebola on October 11. After initially requesting total privacy, Pham's family released her name and photograph to the media.
The 26-year-old TCU graduate grew up in Fort Worth and now lives in the M Streets area of Dallas. Her car and apartment in the 5700 block of Marquita Avenue were promptly decontaminated, and her dog Bentley is in the care of Dallas Animal Services.
Pham's case has sparked increased concern about Ebola's spread. She contracted the disease despite the fact that she wore gloves, face shield and a protective gown. CDC director Thomas Frieden said Pham's infection was caused by a "breach in protocol." He later clarified that he was not faulting Texas Health Presbyterian or Pham.
"People on the front lines are really protecting all of us. People on the front lines are fighting Ebola," Frieden said. "The enemy here is a virus. Ebola. It's not a person. It's not a country. It's not a place. It's not a hospital."
In an October 14 statement, Pham said she was doing well and expressed gratitude for everyone's concern.
I’m doing well and want to thank everyone for their kind wishes and prayers. I am blessed by the support of family and friends and am blessed to be cared for by the best team of doctors and nurses in the world here at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas.
A decontamination crew arrives at Pham's apartment in Dallas.
