Second American with Ebola Responding to Treatment in West Africa

Obtained by ABC News from Grady Hospital(ATLANTA) — The second American stricken with the Ebola virus is responding to treatment in West Africa and due at a specialized medical facility at Emory University on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Dr. Kent Brantly, who was infected with virus while in South Africa, is improving at an Atlanta hospital.

The air ambulance that moved Brantly to Atlanta returned to pick up Nancy Writebol, assuming that doctors in Liberia determine she is fit for travel. Officials tell ABC News that Writebol has been given a second dose of the experimental drug that was also given to her colleague, who experienced improvement in his condition within 20 minutes.

Writebol is now eating, which health experts see as a good sign — usually Ebola patients don’t eat due to vomiting or the state of their deteriorating health.

Medical crews transported Brantley via ambulance to Emory Hospital on Saturday, though the vehicle was specially retrofitted for the critical care patients. During the trip, both the driver and additional paramedic in the rear were wearing special suits, with the patient in an isolation pod to prevent the spread of bodily fluids.

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Paramedics who rode in the ambulance with Brantly told ABC News’ Aaron Katersky they had no concerns of the virus spreading due to the security of vehicle.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say transmitting Ebola is difficult, as it is not passed through casual contact or the air. Still, health officials are not discounting the present risk. The agency says the best way to get Americans safe is to pinpoint the virus at its source in affected countries, including Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Nigeria.

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