Dr. Brantley, infected with Ebola virus in Liberia, discharged: ‘God saved my life’

ATLANTA (CBS Atlanta/AP) — After nearly three weeks of treatment, the two American aid workers who were infected with the deadly Ebola virus in Africa have been discharged from an Atlanta hospital, officials said Thursday.

Dr. Kent Brantly
Dr. Kent Brantly

Their release poses no public health risk, Dr. Bruce Ribner of Emory University Hospital stressed. Dr. Kent Brantly, 33, and Nancy Writebol, 59, show no evidence of Ebola, and generally patients do not relapse and they are not contagious once they’ve recovered, said Ribner, director of the hospital’s infectious disease unit.

At a news conference, Brantly, standing with his wife, said, “Today is a miraculous day.” … Brantly choked up several times while thanking his aid group, North Carolina-based Samaritan’s Purse, and the Emory medical team. The couple hugged the medical staff and joked with them. Several blinked back tears, then cheered and applauded as Brantly and his wife made their way from the room. Brantly said he and his family would be going away as he continues to recover.

“God saved my life. A direct answer to thousands and thousands of prayers,” Brantly said. In his statement, David Writebol said his wife “was greatly encouraged knowing that there were so many people around the world lifting prayers to God for her return to health. Her departure from the hospital, free of the disease, is powerful testimony to God’s sustaining grace in time of need.”

Brantly was flown out of the west African nation of Liberia on Aug. 2, and Writebol followed Aug. 5. The two were infected while working at a missionary clinic outside Liberia’s capital.

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