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(announcer: This is a KETV
NEWSWATCH 7 BREAKING NEWS
UPDATE)
WE ARE STEPPING AWAY FROM
THE PRESIDENTIAL NEWS
CONFERENCE F
WE'RE SECONDS AWAY FROM THE
PRESIDENTIAL NEWS CONFERENCE FOR
LOCAL NEWS COVERAGE.
THE NEBRASKA MEDICAL CENTER
IS ABOUT TO UPDATE US ON WHAT IS
MASSACHUSETTS DOCTOR ARRIVED AT
THE NEBRASKA MEDICAL CENTER JUST
BEFORE DAWN TO BE TREATED FOR
EBOLA.
HERE IS THE VERY ROOM WHERE THE
NEWS CONFERENCE IS ABOUT TO
BEGIN.
WE'RE ON STANDBY WAITING FOR
THIS TO HAPPEN.
THIS IS THE SAME ROOM WHERE THE
DOCTORS FIRST BREFED US ABOUT
THIS ENTIRE SITUATION ON
THURSDAY.
DR. SACRA'S MISSION EXPECTED
THE TEAM WILL TREAT DR. SACRA
FOR AT LEAST A WEEK INSIDE THE
SPECIAL BIO CONTAINMENT UNIT.
HE BECAME INFECTED WITH EBOLA
WHILE WORKING IN LIBERIA.
THE PLANE LANDED AROUND 6:00
THIS MORNING.
DR. SACRA'S FAMILY IS EXPECTED
IN OMAHA LATER TODAY.
THEY'LL VISIT WITH HIM OVER A
VIDEO IN THE BIO CONTAINMENT
UNIT.
THE DOCTOR ARRIVED AT THE
MORNING AND OMAHA RESCUE SQUAD,
PART OF THE CARAVAN THAT BROFT
HIM FROM OFFUT TO THE HOSPITAL.
THE STATE PATROL ESCORTED THE
AMBULANCE.
LET'S GO STRAIGHT TO THE NEWS
CONFERENCE NOW WHERE THEY'RE
JUST ABOUT TO BEGIN.
ONE OF OUR INFECTIOUS DISEASE
SPECIALISTS WHO HAS BEEN IN THE
BIO CONTAINMENT UNIT, AT LEAST
ON THE FLOOR AND HAS BEEN
CORRESPONDING WITH SOME DOCTORS.
THANK YOU.
SO MY NAME IS MARK AND I'M A
DIVISION CHIEF OF OUR INFECTIOUS
DISEASE DIVISION HERE AND OUR
DIRECTOR OF OUR INFECTION
CONTROL DEPARTMENT.
I'M VERY PLEASED TO RELATE A
BRIEF UPDATE ON OUR PATIENT THAT
WAS TRANSFERRED SUCCESSFULLY
FROM WEST AFRICA EARLY THIS
MORNING.
THE TRANSFER REALLY WENT VERY,
VERY SMOOTHLY AND THE PATIENT IS
UP IN OUR BIO CONTAINMENT UNIT.
OUR PATIENT IS SICK BUT STABLE
AND WE'RE TAKING APPROPRIATE
WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO.
OUR UNIT IS SPECIALLY DESIGNED
EXACTLY FOR THIS TYPE OF PATIENT
AND FOR THIS PURPOSE.
IT'S A VERY SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR
THE PATIENT AS WELL AS FOR OUR
REST OF OUR PATIENTS.
I WOULD, HOWEVER, EMPHASIZE THAT
WE ARE TAKING THIS AS ADDED
PRECAUTION AND REALLY CONTACT
ISOLATION PRECAUTIONS WOULD
SUFFICE FOR CARING FOR THIS TYPE
OF PATIENT.
WE KNOW EBOLA IS A DANGEROUS
VIRUS.
PRECAUTIONS TO MAKE SURE WE CARE
FOR THIS PATIENT SAFELY.
LET'S MOVE ON TO ROSANNA
MORRIS, OUR CHIEF NURSING
OFFICER AT THE NEBRASKA MEDICAL
OFFICER AND ALSO A NURSE.
SO SHE CAN PROVIDE THINGS FROM
THAT PERSPECTIVE.
GOOD MORNING.
I JUST WANT TO EXPRESS ON BEHALF
OF THE NEBRASKA MEDICAL CENTER
OUR DEEPEST APPRECIATION AND
GRATITUDE TO NOT ONLY ALL OF OUR
COLLEAGUES, OUR CLINICIANS, OR
STAFF, OUR NURSES WHO HAVE
HAVE EMBRACED THE OPPORTUNITY TO
CARE FOR THIS REMARKABLE PATIENT
WHO IS DOING REMARKABLE THINGS.
IT IS OUR GOAL TO PROVIDE THE
AND SUPPORT THIS INDIVIDUAL TO A
WE HAVE RECEIVED MUCH FEEDBACK,
COMMENTARY AND OVERWHELMING
SUPPORT FROM OUR COMMUNITY BOTH
INTERNATIONALLY, FOLKS FROM
EVERYWHERE ARE JUST COMMENTING
AND REALLY I THINK NOW PRAYING
FOR THIS INDIVIDUAL AND
PROVIDING SUPPORT IN MANY
DIFFERENT WAYS.
WE WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THOSE
EFFORTS AND EXPRESS, AGAIN, OUR
GRATITUDE TO THEM.
THANK YOU.
THANKS.
WE ALSO HAVE A DOCTOR WHO IS THE
DEAN OF COLLEGE OF PUBLIC HEALTH
HERE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF
NEBRASKA MEDICAL CENTER.
GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY.
I'M THE NEW DEAN OF THE COLLEGE
OF PUBLIC HEALTH AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA MEDICAL
AND I JUST RECENTLY RETIRED FROM
C.D.C. AND ASSISTANT ATTORNEY
GENERAL.
I WAS ASKED TO HELP REPRESENT
THE UNIVERSITY THIS MORNING.
LET ME SAY A COUPLE OF PREPARED
COMMENTS FIRST.
OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY,
EXTRAORDINARY CARE TO THIS EBOLA
INFECTED PATIENT AND TO PROTECT
OUR HAELT CARE WORKERS AND OUR
COMMUNITY.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO
REMEMBER THAT EBOLA DOES NOT
PRESENT A PUBLIC HEALTH THREAT
TO THE UNITED STATES.
HOWEVER, THIS EBOLA CASE AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA MEDICAL
CENTER REALLY MAKES THE POINT
INFECTIONS ARE LOCAL ISSUES AND
NOT JUST GLOBAL ISSUES.
THIS ISN'T BECAUSE PEOPLE WOULD
BE SENT TO OMAHA FOR EXCEPTIONAL
CARE BUT THE POSSIBILITY THAT
ANYBODY MAY SHOW UP AT ANY
HOSPITAL HERE WITHIN NOT JUST
AND WE'VE ALREADY BEEN SEEING
THAT HAPPEN IN WEST AFRICA POINT
BEING THAT THE LONGER THE
CURRENT OUTBREAK GOES ON, IT'S
INEVITABLE TO SEE WE'LL SEE
ADDITIONAL SPREAD WORLDWIDE AND
WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO REALLY
SHUT DOWN THIS OUTBREAK AS SOON
AS POSSIBLE AND ALL OF YOU ARE
QUITE FAMILIAR WITH THIS THIS
HAPPENING.
THESE DISEASES PRESENT LOCAL
ISSUES TO US HERE IN NEBRASKA
AS YOU JUST HEARD DR. MARK SAY,
WITH METICULOUS INFECTION
CONTROL, EBOLA PATIENTS CAN BE
TREATED IN ANY HEALTH CARE
FACILITY IN THE UNITED STATES.
THAT SAID, WE'RE REALLY HONORED
TO BE CHOSEN TO PROVIDE
EXTRAORDINARY CARE TO THIS
PATIENT.
NOT JUST BECAUSE OF THIS EXTRA
LAYER OF PROTECTION WITH OUR BIO
OF OUR DEDICATED, TRAINED AND
REALLY EXEMPLARY HOSPITAL STAFF.
AS A LEADING ACADEMIC MEDICAL
CENTER HERE AT UNIVERSITY OF
NEBRASKA MEDICAL CENTER, WE'RE
CONFIDENT IN OUR DEDICATED
STAFF, WE'LL BE TRANSPARENT WITH
ALL OF OUR ACTIONS WITH OUR
COMMUNITY AND WE ARE GOING TO
SHARE THE LESSONS WE LEARNED
FROM THIS PATIENT WITH THE
GLOBAL COMMUNITY.
AS I'VE H IRD AND AS YOU'LL HEAR
AGAIN AND AGAIN, WE HAVE AN
AND OTHER MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS
PLANNING FOR YEARS FOR THIS
SPECIFIC SCENARIO.
THROUGH ALL THE CRITICAL ISSUES
AROUND CASE MANAGEMENT AND
AROUND SAFETY.
NOW, BECAUSE I KNOW YOU WILL
ASK, WE HAVE GREAT LINKAGES.
OUR CLINICIANS AND TRAINING
RELATIONSHIPS WITH EMORY AND
OTHER INSTITUTIONS WHO HAVE BEEN
GENEROUS IN SHARING THEIR
TRANSFER OF KNOWLEDGE IS REALLY
IMPORTANT AND WE HOPE THAT THE
CURRENT EFFORTS HERE AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA MEDICAL
CENTER WILL REALLY CONTINUE TO
BUILD OUR GLOBAL CAPACITY FOR
HOW TO TREAT THESE TYPES OF
PATIENTS AND PREPARE ALL
COUNTRIES TO BE BETTER ABLE TO
RESPOND FOR SUBSEQUENT CASES.
THANK YOU, DR. KAHN.
NOW WE HAVE BRUCE JOHNSON WHO IS
THE PRESIDENT OF SIM U.S.A.
THANK YOU.
AND ALSO WITH ME IS WILL.
WILL IS THE S.I.M. COUNTRY
DIRECTOR FOR LIBERIA.
LET ME JUST START FIRST, WILL
AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR
DEDICATION.
DR. KAHN, TO ME THIS IS AN
EXAMPLE OF GOD'S PROVISION.
HE'S BEEN FOLLOWING EBOLA AROUND
THE WORLD, STUDYING IT FOR
LITERALLY DECADES AND TO BE ABLE
TO HAVE HIM HERE AT THIS MEDICAL
CENTER IS PHENOMENAL SO THANK
YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR STAFF, YOUR
THEIR LEVEL OF COOPERATION AND
COMMITMENT FOR DR. RICK SACRA
AND HIS FAMILY AND FRANKLY, JUST
YOUR MIDWESTERN HOSPITALITY HAS
REALLY BEEN SHOWN, BEEN
ENCOURAGING AND VERY MUCH
APPRECIATED.
ON BEHALF OF DR. SACRA'S DEAR
WIFE DEBBIE AND THEIR THREE SONS
AND THE GLOBAL COMMUNITY OF
S.I.M., I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE
WHO HAS HAD A PART IN THIS.
THIS HAS ALL HAPPENED SO QUICKLY
THAT DEBBIE IS MAKING
ARRANGEMENTS FOR HER FAMILY AND
WILL ARRIVE HERE IN OMAHA THIS
WEEKEND TO BE REUNITED WITH
RICK.
OF COURSE, SHE WOULD APPRECIATE
HER PRIVACY DURING THESE COMING
DAYS.
FOR S.I.M. AND PARTICULARLY FOR
WILL AND MYSELF, THE SPEED AND
EFFORT TO BRING RICK BACK TO THE
UNITED STATES FOR HIS CONTINUED
TREATMENT OF THIS EBOLA VIRUS
US.
TWO DAYS AGO AT OUR PRESS
CONFERENCE IN CHARLOTTE, THIS
WAS AN OPTION.
TODAY RICK IS IN OMAHA.
STATE DEPARTMENT, THE U.S.
EMBASSY STAFF THERE IN LIBERIA
TO THE, OF COURSE, NEBRASKA
MEDICAL CENTER, OUR WONDERFUL
STAFF, S.I.M., AND MEDICAL
PERSONNEL IN LIBERIA, EXTENDED
TO THE EVACUATION AIRPLANE, THE
CREW, THE MEDICAL STAFF THAT
WERE ON THAT, EVEN AS I SAW THIS
MORNING, THE AIR FORCE BAIT TO
THE OMAHA POLICE AND PUBLIC
SAFETY TO THE NEBRASKA PUBLIC
HEALTH AUTHORITIES AND TO THE
MONROVIA LIBERIA AIRPORT MANAGER
AND HIS STAFF.
AND I'M SURE THERE'S A LOT OF
OTHER PEOPLE THAT I HAVEN'T
MENTIONED BUT OUR GRATITUDE
REALLY GOES OUT TO EVERYONE.
THE LOGISTICS AND COMPLEXITY OF
THIS OPERATION WERE PHENOMENAL
AND WE WANT TO PRAISE GOD THAT
SEAMLESSLY.
RICK WOULD ACTUALLY BE SOMEWHAT
EMBARRASSED BY ALL OF THIS
ATTENTION.
HE'S A HUMBLE MAN AND WHEN WILL
RICK MONDAY MORNING THAT HIS
TEMPERATURE HAD RISEN, HERE IS
WHAT HE WROTE.
TO ALL OF YOU AT S.I.M. AND TO
MY COLLEAGUES HERE IN LIBERIA, I
APOLOGIZE.
YOU KNOW, YOU SEE, RICK DIDN'T
WANT THIS TO DETRACT OR DISRUPT
ANY OF THE CARE OF THE PATIENTS
AT OUR HOSPITAL IN MONROVIA.
CONTINUE TO CARE FOR THE PEOPLE
THERE IN LIBERIA.
EVACUATION, I KNOW AND ACCEPT
THAT THERE IS NO EASY SOLUTION
FOR AN EVACUATION.
SO I DON'T EXPECT ONE.
JESUS IS RIGHT HERE WITH ME IN
LIBERIA.
AND DR. BROWN, OUR S.I.M.
MEDICAL DIRECTOR WHO IS LINE
EARIAN HAS A LOT OF EXPERIENCE
NOW AND THE UNIT HAS BEEN
DISCHARGING A LOT OF PATIENTS.
I KNOW THAT WITH OR WITHOUT
EVACUATION, I COULD WELL DIE
FROM THIS DISEASE AND FRANKLY,
MY MAIN CONCERN ARE FOR DEBBIE
AND MY BOYS AND THE MINISTRY OF
THINGS.
I CAN ONLY TRUST THAT GOD IS AT
WORK, UNQUOTE.
THIS MORNING, I HAD AN
EXPERIENCE AT THE HOTEL JUST
BEFORE COMING OVER HERE.
I WAS HAVING BREAKFAST AND THE
PERSON SERVING ME ASKED ME IF I
WELL, I'M ACTUALLY HERE FOR THE
EBOLA PATIENT.
I HAPPEN TO BE THE PRESIDENT OF
S.I.M. U.S.A.
HE CAME BACK 10 MINUTES LATER
AND HE SAID, I'VE JUST ACTIVATED
A PRAYER CHAIN ACROSS THREE
STATES IN THE MIDWEST THAT ARE
PRAYING FOR DR. SACRA.
INDEED, GOD IS AT WORK.
WILL AND I AND THE DOCTORS WOULD
BE GLAD TO TAKE YOUR QUESTIONS.
[INAUDIBLE]
CAN YOU GIVE US A LITTLE MORE
WHAT HIS SYMPTOMS ARE?
YES.
I'M REALLY NOT AT LIBERTY TO
SHARE ANY SPECIFIC DETAILS.
WHAT I CAN TELL SU THAT HE DID
ARRIVE SAFELY, THAT WE'RE DOING,
YOU KNOW, OUR BASIC CHECKS ON
HIM RIGHT NOW WITH GETTING SOME
OF OUR BASELINE LABORATORIES,
MAKING SURE HIS FLUID INTAKE,
ELECTRO LIGHTS ARE IN CONTROL
AND THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.
I CAN'T SHARE DETAILS ON THAT,
I'M SORRY.
WE KNOW HE'S SERIOUSLY ILL WITH
A VIRUS THAT HAS A FAIRLY HIGH
MORTAILITY RATE ASSOCIATED WITH
IT.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO CARE WITH
HIM WITH VERY AGGRESSIVE,
SUPPORTIVE CARE AND WE'RE
LOOKING INTO ALTERNATIVES FOR
THERAPEUTICS RIGHT NOW.
[INAUDIBLE]
THE THING THAT CONCERNS ALL
OF US THE MOST IS WE HAVE NO
SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC MODALITIES
TO TREAT THIS VIRUS SO WE'RE
USING AGGRESSIVE, SUPPORT I
DIDN'T HAVE CARE TO SUPPORT HIS
ORGAN SYSTEMS, FLUIDS,
ELECTROLYTES, ET CETERA.
WE'LL TRY TO MAKE SURE THERE'S
NOTHING ELSE GOING ON WITH HIM
AND THEN WE'LL BE EXPLORING OUR
OPTIONS TO SEE WHAT SORT OF
EXPERIMENTAL THERAPEUTICS ARE
AVAILABLE AND WE'LL BE LOOKING
AT THOSE AND TRYING TO FIGURE
PROMISING AND POTENTIALLY USING
THAT FOR OUR PATIENT.
[INAUDIBLE]
THERE'S A NUMBER OF THINGS
THAT ARE BEING CONSIDERED.
COULD USE IMMUNITIES SO TAKING
IMMUNE GLOBIN PREPARATION FROM A
SURVIVING PATIENT AND
POTENTIALLY USING THAT.
THERE'S SOME EXPERIMENTAL
THERAPEUTICS THAT HAVE BEEN DE
V DEVISED THAT TRY TO TRICK THE
VIRUS, IF YOU WILL.
THERE'S ALSO NUGLEUS
DEVELOPMENT.
IN HUMANS.
WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT THAT.
WE'RE TALKING TO EXPERTS AROUND
THE COUNTRY THAT HAVE STARTED TO
DO SOME OF THIS WORK AND WE'LL
BE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT IF THIS
PROVIDES AN OPTION FOR OUR
PATIENT.
WE'LL BE MAKING THAT AS QUICKLY
AS WE CAN.
YOU TALKED ABOUT YOU EXPECT
MORE PATIENTS.
ANY PROJECTIONS AS TO HOW MANY
PEOPLE WILL BE COMING TO
AMERICA?
THAT -- ARE WE GOOD?
PERFECT.
I THINK THE REAL ISSUE IS NOT
PROJECTIONS ON CASES HERE IN
AMERICA.
IT'S HOW DO WE STOP THE OUTBREAK
IN AFRICA AND HOW DO WE SCALE UP
WHAT NEEDS TO GET DONE TO STOP
[INAUDIBLE]
NO WAY TO MAKE A PROJECTION.
WHAT'S CLEAR IS THE OUTBREAK IS
COMPLEX, DIFFICULT AND CASES ARE
INCREASING SO WE NEED TO
RESPOND.
HOW WILL THE OUTBREAK BE
STOPPED?
PEOPLE JUST --
[INAUDIBLE]
IS THERE A WAY TO STOP IT?
THERE'S NOTHING NEW ABOUT
THIS OUTBREAK.
MORE COMPLEX THAN PREVIOUSLY
OUTBREAKS GIVEN WHERE IT'S
OCCURRING.
IT'S OCCURRING IN A PLACE THAT'S
NEVER HAD AN OUTBREAK BEFORE SO
THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY AND THE
COMMUNITY AREN'T VERY FAMILIAR
WITH EBOLA.
IT'S OCCURRING AT A COMPLEX OF
URBAN AREAS AND EXTREMELY RURAL
AREAS AND IT'S OCCURRING IN A
PLACE THAT REALLY HAS A
DEVASTATED HEALTH SYSTEM AND
PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEM AND YOU
COMPOUND THAT WITH THE FACT
THERE'S REALLY A LACK OF TRUST
OFTEN BETWEEN THE COMMUNITY AND
HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS AND THE
ABILITY TO STOP THE OUTBREAK TO
THE CURRENT DATE AND THIS HAS
REALLY BEEN EXACERBATED BY YEARS
OF LACK OF ATTENTION TO HEALTH
ISSUES.
SO THERE'S -- AND THAT'S LED TO
VIOLENCE AND OTHER ISSUES SO
THAT'S WHY THIS COMPLEX -- THIS
OUTBREAK IS A LITTLE MORE -- IN
MANY WAYS DIFFERENT FROM TER
PREVIOUS OUTBREAKS LIKE THE
LARGEST OUTBREAK EVER REPORTED.
THIS IS THE MOST DEATHS EVER
REPORTED.
HOUFRP, THE DISEASE IS THE SAME
AND HOW TO GET THE OUTBREAK IN
CONTROL IS THE SAME.
MEASURES.
CASE IDENTIFICATION, ISOLATION,
HEALTH COMMUNICATIONS, GOOD
INFECTION CONTROL WITHIN HEALTH
CARE SETTINGS SO THEY NEED TO
STOP TRANSMISSION WITHIN
EVERY PATIENT, THEY NEED TO
TRACK EVERY CONTACT.
[INAUDIBLE]
I HAD BEEN GLAD TO ANSWER
THAT.
YES, HE'S -- HE WAS TREATING
OBSTETRICS SO HE WAS HELPING
WOMEN THROUGH C-SECTIONS, SO
FORTH SO HE WASN'T TREATING
EBOLA PATIENTS.
WE'RE WORKING WITH THE C.D.C.
WHO IS ON THE GROUND IN
MONROVIA.
WE'VE BEEN COOPERATING WITH THEM
OVER THE LAST TWO MONTHS.
FOR S.I.M., WE WOULD ACTUALLY
LIKE TO KNOW WHAT IS THAT
CONTACT POINT?
BECAUSE AS DR. KAHN HAS SAID,
WHEN WE KNOW THAT CONTACT POINT,
THEN WE CAN BETTER UNDERSTAND
THE SITUATION.
SO WE HAVE NO CONFIRMATION ON
THE CONTACT POINT.
[INAUDIBLE]
WE WOULD ANTICIPATE A COURSE
SIMILAR TO WHAT OUR COLLEAGUES
SAW IN EMORY.
THIS MIGHT BE A TWO OR
THREE-WEEK PERIOD OF TIME THAT
OUR PATIENT GOES THROUGH A
CONVALESCENT PERIOD OF TIME.
WE KNOW THE NATURAL HISTORY OF
EBOLA VIRUS.
YOU KNOW, AGAIN, THE INCUBATION
PERIOD BEING SOMEWHERE IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD FROM THE SHORTEST
TIME OF TWO DAYS, MAYBE TO AS
LONG AS THREE WEEKS, FOLKS COME
DOWN WITH SYMPTOMS CONSISTING OF
HEADACHES, FEVERS, NAUSEA,
VOMITING, MUSCLE ACHES, A
SEVERE-LIKE ILLNESS.
SYMPTOMS WHERE THEY START TO
BLEED FROM THE G.I. TRACT, ET
CETERA.
WE'RE NOT SEEING THAT CURRENTLY.
WE'LL BE MONITORING CLOSELY AND
MONITORING AS AGGRESSIVELY AS WE
CAN.
[INAUDIBLE]
WELL, I THINK YOU CAN LOOK AT
THE DATA COMING FROM WEST AFRICA
WHERE THE MORTAILITY HAS BEEN
SOMEWHERE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF
ABOUT A50% OR SO.
THAT'S BEEN IN FAIRLY PRIMITIVE
SUPPORTIVE CONDITIONS BY OUR OWN
STANDARDS SO THESE AREN'T
HOSPITALS THAT HAVE I.C.U.
CAPACITY AND SOME OF THE
CAPABILITIES THAT WE HAVE HERE
IN THE UNITED STATES.
WE WOULD THINK WITH THAT
SUPPORTIVE THERAPY THAT OUR
PATIENT HAS AT LEAST A GOOD, IF
NOT MUCH BETTER CHANCE OF
SURVIVAL.
[INAUDIBLE]
RIGHT NOW I THINK WE'LL HAVE
TO WITHHOLD COMMENTS ON THAT.
OBVIOUSLY HE HAS A VERY SERIOUS
INFECTION.
WE KNOW THAT THIS CAN BE
ASSOCIATED WITH MORTAILITY.
SUPPORT THIS PATIENT AND HOPE
FOR THE BEST.
[INAUDIBLE]
AS PREVIOUSLY WAS MENTIONED,
FOR ALMOST A DECADE SO WE'VE
BEEN PLANNING FOR THIS DAY FOR A
AND VERY METICULOUS IN THAT
PLANNING.
WE'VE BEEN HAVING DRILLS ON A
QUARTERLY BASIS FOR YEARS.
IN RECENT MONTHS, WE'VE
OBVIOUSLY BEEN STEPPING THAT UP
THINKING THIS EVENTUALITY MIGHT
OCCUR.
CONSTRUCTED, IT'S SECURE, IT'S
SEPARATED FROM THE REST OF THE
HOSPITAL.
IT HAS A SEPARATE AIR HANDLING
THE AIR IS OF NEGATIVE PRESSURE
SO ALL THE AIR IS WITHDRAWN BACK
IN THE ROOM.
IT DOESN'T CAPE BACK OUT OF THE
UNIT.
IT'S GONE THROUGH A HEPA FILTER
AND GONE OUTSIDE.
ANY MEDICAL GENERATED WASTE
WOULD BE AUTO CLAVED.
THERE'S A DUMP TANK WITH
ANTISEPTICS SO WE CAN TAKE THE
VIAL AND DISINFECT IT AS IT
COMES OUT OF THE UNIT SO IT'S A
VERY, VERY WELL THOUGHT OUT
PROCESS.
AS FAR AS THE TRAINING THAT'S
BEEN DONE AS HAS ALREADY BEEN
MENTIONED, FOLKS HAVE GONE
THROUGH A RIGOROUS TRAINING
PROCEDURE.
WE WORK WITH SORT OF A BUDDY
SYSTEM SO THAT THERE'S A PERSON
THAT HELPS ANOTHER PERSON PUT ON
THEIR ISOLATION GARB VERY
CAREFULLY, MAKING SURE WE'RE
METICULOUS, DON'T MISS ANY STEPS
AND LIKEWISE, WHEN THEY COME OUT
OF ISOLATION, THE PERSON IS
THERE TO HELP THEM TAKE OFF
THEIR GARB AND MAKE SURE IT IS
DONE SAFELY.
WE HAVE BOTH AN ANTISEPTIC
SHOWER AS WELL AS JUST A
SANITARY SHOWER FOR PEOPLE
MEASURE IS BEING DONE TO TAKE
CARE OF THIS PATIENT WITH THE
GREATEST AMOUNT OF SAFETY FOR
AGAIN, WE THINK THIS IS ABOVE
AND BEYOND WHAT IS PROBABLY
REQUIRED.
AS DR. KAHN HAS RELATED, IT'S
FAIRLY LIKELY WE WILL SEE
PATIENTS COMING FROM ENDEMIC
AREAS OF THE WORLD AND
PRESENTING WITH AN ILLNESS,
IN OUR SITUATION, WE KNOW IT'S
EBOLA AND THEREFORE, IT MAKES IT
A SAFER ENVIRONMENT.
IDEOLOGY, IT'S TRICKY AND
HOSPITALS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY
EVENTUALITY AND MAKING PLANS FOR
IT.
I'M IN CLOSE CONTACT AND
COMMUNICATION WITH MY COLLEAGUES
ALL OVER THE COUNTRY AND EVERY
MAJOR HOSPITAL IN THE U.S. IS
THINKING OF PLANS HOW TO SAFELY
DEAL WITH THIS KIND OF PATIENT.
AGAIN, WHEN WE KNOW IT'S AN
EBOLA PATIENT, WE HAVE THIS UNIT
AND IT MAKES GREAT SENSE TO USE
IT.
THIS TRULY IS OUR MISSION TO
TAKE CARE OF SICK PATIENTS.
IT'S ALSO OUR MISSION TO LEARN
FROM THIS PATIENT SO THAT'S WHY
IT'S GREAT TO BE IN THIS
ENVIRONMENT AT A UNIVERSITY
MEDICAL SYSTEM WHERE WE CAN BE
LOOKING FOR THE BEST WAYS AND
THE SAFEST WAYS OF CARING FOR
THIS PATIENT.
SO EVERYTHING IS BEING DONE VERY
METHODICALLY, VERY CAREFULLY IN
A SAFE MANNER AND I THINK THIS
IS EXACTLY THE RIGHT PLACE FOR
THIS PATIENT TO BE.
IN REGARDS TO THE UNIT, YOU
REACTION.
[INAUDIBLE]
IN ATLANTA THERE WAS A CONCERN
WHY ARE THEY BRINGING THIS
PATIENT HERE?
SO I THINK FIRST AND
FOREMOST, WE NEED TO COMMUNICATE
INTERNALLY AND THAT WAS AMONGST
OUR LEADERS, AMONGST OUR STAFF
AND THEN OUR PATIENTS THAT WERE
ACTUALLY IN THE HOSPITAL
YESTERDAY AFTERNOON THAT THE
QUITE PUBLIC AND WE WANTED TO
MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE VERY
PROACTIVE ABOUT COMMUNICATING
WHAT WAS HAPPENING AND
REASSURING FOLKS AND ANSWERING
ANY QUESTIONS THAT CAME UP.
SO THAT WAS OUR FIRST SORT OF
TOUCH POINT, IF YOU WILL, IN
TERMS OF HOW THE REACTION OR ANY
FEEDBACK THAT WE WERE RECEIVING
AND ACROSS THE BOARD, COMMENTS
LIKE OF COURSE THIS PATIENT
WOULD COME HERE.
DEFINITELY WE CANNOT ONLY
PROVIDE THIS LEVEL OF CARE BUT
OUTSTAND
G CARE TO MEET THIS
PATIENT'S NEEDS SO THAT WAS THE
INTERNAL FEEDBACK.
I ALSO WANT TO GIVE A THANKS TO
EMORY BECAUSE RELATED TO
COMMUNICATION AND FEEDBACK AND
WHAT CAN YOU ANTICIPATE, BOTH
POSITIVELY AND ANY CONCERNS,
THEY SHARED SOME BEST PRACTICES
THAT THEY HAD IDENTIFIED,
PARTICULARLY WITH THEIR PATIENTS
AND FAMILIES THAT WERE WITHIN
THE HOSPITAL SETTING.
SO WE ALSO HAVE OUR INTERNET
SITES AND SO WE'RE RECEIVING A
TO THAT AND OUR FABULOUS MEDIA
FOLKS ARE MONITORING THAT
INFORMATION VERY CLOSELY AND
AGAIN, THE OUTPOURING HAS BEEN,
WE THINK WHAT YOU'RE DOING IS
GREAT.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE
ALWAYS GOING TO BE CONCERNS BUT
WE'RE APPRECIATIVE OF THE
FEEDBACK WE'VE RECEIVED THUS
FAR.
[INAUDIBLE]
WHY NEBRASKA AS OPPOSED TO,
SAY SACRA TO EMORY?
CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THE
GOVERNMENT'S INVOLVEMENT IN
THIS?
SURE.
SO WE WERE REQUESTED BY THE
DEPARTMENT OF STATE TO CARE FOR
THIS PATIENT.
THIS WAS PASSED THROUGH THE
VARIOUS MECHANISMS AND WAS A
DEGREE
GREED UPON BY OUR OWN STATE
DEPARTMENT.
WE'VE ALREADY RELATED THIS RS
GOING TO BE A BIG OUTBREAK IN
AFRICA.
TIME BEFORE WE GET CONTROL OVER
IT.
THERE ARE GOING TO BE PATIENTS
THAT SHOW UP ON THE DOORSTEPS
EITHER WITH KNOWN OR PERHAPS
HAVING EBOLA SO IT MAKES SENSE
TO TRY TO COMBRUF OUR
INFRASTRUCTURE FOR CARING FOR
THESE TYPES OF PATIENTS, MAKING
SURE WE HAVE CENTERS OF
EXCELLENCE THAT WE LEARN FROM
AND SO, AGAIN, BUILDING OUR
ABILITY TO CARE FOR THESE FOLKS
BY USING THE VARIOUS UNITS WE
HAVE AT OUR DISPOSABLE MAKES
GREAT SENSE AND FROM THAT
EXPERIENCE, TRANSLATING INTO
PRACTICE IN OUR SETTINGS
IT'S VERY LIKELY THAT THE OTHER
HOSPITALS WILL SEE THESE TYPES
OF PATIENTS EVENTUALLY AND WE
PLAN ON LEARNING FROM OUR
PATIENT, PASSING ON THE BEST
CARE EXPERIENCES TO THEM.
IT'S PARTLY TO MAKE SURE THAT
THESE UNITS ARE FUNCTIONING LIKE
THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO AND LEARNING
AND AGAIN, NOT OVERWHELMING THE
CAPABILITY IN ANY ONE PLACE SO
AGAIN, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I
THINK WE'RE IN FOR A PERHAPS
LONGER HAUL THAT WE MAY HAVE
INITIALLY THOUGHT ABOUT AND IT
WILL PROBABLY GO FOR SOME TIME.
TALK ABOUT THE VIRUS ITSELF.
WHAT KIND OF LIFE EXPECTANCY, IF
ANY, DOES THE VIRUS HAVE IF IT
GETS LIKE ON THE AMBULANCE THAT
TRANSPORTED HIM THERE OR THE
SUITS THAT THE MEDICAL STAFF IS
WEARING OR ANY MEDICAL
EQUIPMENT?
DOES IT HAVE A LIFE EXPECT JI?
IS THERE A POSSIBLE WAY IT CAN
SPREAD OTHER THAN HUMAN TO HUMAN
CONTACT?
SO THESE THINGS HAVE BEEN
CONSIDERED VERY CAREFULLY.
OBVIOUSLY WE THOUGHT ABOUT THIS
AS WE TRANSPORTED THIS PATIENT
HERE SO THEY'RE IN A SPECIAL
TRANSPORT VEHICLE WITH SPECIAL
PRECAUTIONS BEING TAKEN AND VERY
AGGRESSIVE DISINFECTION
PRACTICES BEING TAKEN.
THIS VIRUS IS NOT PARTICULARLY
RESISTANT TO KNOWN ANTISEPTICS
AND DISINFECTANTS SO VERY MUCH
THE ROUTINE DISINFECT ANTS CAN
BE USED AND WILL INACTIVE ATE
THIS VIRUS.
IT'S ALSO NOT PARTICULARLY
ENVIRONMENTALLY HARDY SO IN
OTHER WORDS, IF IT'S OUT THERE
IN THE ENVIRONMENT, IT'S FAIRLY
QUICKLY DYING DUE TO SUNLIGHT
AND DRYING SO IT'S NOT A VIRUS
THAT IS PARTICULARLY CON TAMOUS
OR INFECTIOUS.
AS WE'VE STATED, IT'S SPREAD BY
DIRECT CONTACT WITH BODY FLUIDS.
IT'S NOT AIRBORNE AND FLOATING
AROUND THE AIR WE'RE GOING TO
INHALE SO WE FEEL VERY, VERY
CONFIDENT THAT WE CAN CARE FOR
PRECAUTIONS THAT ARE IN PLACE
AND WE ARE OBVIOUSLY TAKING
VERY, VERY SPECIAL CARE WITH OUR
STERILIZATION PRACTICES.
[INAUDIBLE]
WHAT PRECAUTIONS ARE YOU
FOLKS TAKING --
[INAUDIBLE]
YEAH.
WELL, WE CONTINUE TO PUT INTO
PRACTICE GUIDELINES ESTABLISHED
BY C.D.C. AND ACTUALLY EXCEEDING
THOSE SO WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO
DO THAT.
WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO LEARN
JUST AS THE NEBRASKA MEDICAL
CENTER WANTS TO CONTINUE TO
LEARN.
WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO LEARN TO
BE ABLE TO PROVIDE GOOD
PRACTICE.
YOU KNOW, WHAT'S INTERESTING IS
WHEN RICK BECAME INFECTED AND WE
HAD CONFIRMATION ON THAT, JUST
THIS LAST MONDAY, ONE OF OUR
S.I.M. DOCTORS LEFT WITHIN 24
HOURS TO GO TO MONROVIA, LIBERIA
TO BOTH CARE FOR RICK, CHECK ON
HIM.
WE DIDN'T REALIZE THAT HE WOULD
BE EVACUATED SO QUICKLY AND THEN
CONTINUE OUR CARE IN OUR
SO YEAH, WE'RE -- AND THAT
DOCTOR, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, KNOWS
THE SITUATION, KNOWS THE
PROTOCOLS AND WAS WILLING TO GO
IN AND WE WERE WILLING TO HAVE
HIM GO BACK IN.
I'M SORRY.
WE HAVE SOME FOLKS LISTENING IN
ON THE PHONE.
DO YOU WANT TO FINISH THAT?
[INAUDIBLE]
WE HAVE TWO S.I.M. PERSONNEL
IN THE FIELD FROM OTHER
COUNTRIES OTHER THAN LIBERIA BUT
WE HAVE 250 STAFF WORKERS.
NOT ALL OF THEM WORK AT THE
AT THE RADIO STATION, AT THE
SCHOOL AND JUST KEEPING THE
GENERATORS AND THE WATER RUNNING
BECAUSE THERE'S NO GRID THERE
THAT CAN ACTUALLY HELP TO RUN
THE HOSPITAL SO WE HAVE TO DO
THAT ALL OURSELVES.
BUT THERE'S MANY, MANY LINE E--
LIBERIAN STAFF DOING A WONDERFUL
JOB.
NOT ONLY IN THE HOSPITAL BUT THE
TWO CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES
THERE ON THE CAMPUS.
ONE HAS 43 PATIENTS ABOUT THREE
DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS AND THE
LIBERIAN GOVERNMENT, THAT HAS
120 BEDS AND MAYBE NEED TO BE
INCREASED TO AROUND 200.
SO I JUST WANT TO CONFIRM WHAT
DR. KAHN IS SAYING THAT THIS
DISEASE IS SOMEWHAT OUT OF
CONTROL BUT THERE IS
OPPORTUNITIES WITH GOOD HEALTH
CARE MEASURES TO BRING IT UNDER
CONTROL.
BEFORE WE GO TO THE FOLKS WHO
ARE LISTENING ON T O PHONE TO
SEE IF THEY HAD ANY QUESTIONS,
WE HAVE ONE MORE QUESTIONS BACK
HERE AND THEN WE'LL COME BACK
AFTER THE PHONE QUESTIONS.
THE PATIENT WAS TRANSPORTED
FROM THE PLANE TO THE AMBULANCE
AND INTO THE ENTRANCE VIA
GUERNEY.
BUT WE HAVE SOME FOLKS
LISTENING IN ON THE PHONE, I
THINK.
IF WE WOULD LIKE TO FIELD ANY
QUESTIONS FROM THOSE FOLKS, FIRE
AWAY.
HI.
THIS IS IS JULIE CALLING FROM
REUTERS.
CAN YOU HEAR ME?
WE CAN.
GREAT.
TELL US, WHO IS PAYING FOR THE
TRANSPORTATION AND FOR THE CARE
OF THESE PATIENTS?
IS THIS SOMETHING THAT IS
HANDLED BY S.I.M. OR IS THIS THE
GOVERNMENT OR THE HOSPITAL?
YOU KNOW, JUST CURIOUS ABOUT
THAT PART, PLEASE.
S.I.M. IS ASSUMING THE
FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE
EVACUATION.
WE'RE TRUSTING THAT OUR GOOD
MEDICAL INSURANCE WILL BE ABLE
THE MEDICAL CENTER AS WELL AS
WE'RE EXPLORING OUR EVACUATION
PROVIDED.
ALL OF OUR MISSIONARIES THAT GO
AROUND THE WORLD, WE SEND PEOPLE
FROM OVER 50 COUNTRIES TO ALL
FIVE CONTINENTS AND THOSE
INDIVIDUALS HAVE EVACUATION
INSURANCE FOR THIS KIND OF
SITUATION.
CAN YOU EE BE ELABORATE ON
THAT REMARK THIS MORNING, WE GOT
A PRETTY GOOD DEPTH INTO THE
EVACUATIONS WHICH IS GOOD BUT IT
SHOWS THE LEVEL OF RISK YOUR
MEDICAL PERSONNEL FACE IN
COUNTRIES.
RISK HERE.
IS THERE A POINT WHERE PHE
LIABILITY BECOMES SO GREAT NOT
JUST FROM AN ECONOMIC STANDPOINT
HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THE AMERICAN
MISSIONARIES?
I'M GOING TO ASK WILL.
I SENSE HE HAD A RESPONSE TO
THAT.
YES.
YEAH, WE -- WHEN WE EVACUATE, WE
EVACUATE A LOT OF NON ESSENTIAL
PERSONNEL AND THEN WE HAVE
MEETINGS TO ASSESS THE RISK OF
PEOPLE GOING BACK IN THERE.
AND WE'RE ALWAYS CONTINUALLY
LOOKING AT THAT.
BUT ONE OF THE THINGS I WOULD
SAY IS, YOU KNOW, FIREFIGHTERS
WHEN THEY HAVE A FIRE THERE,
THEY ASSESS THE RISK.
THE BURNING BUILDING.
DO THEY RESCUE THE PERSON?
THEY'VE DONE ALL THE PRECAUTIONS
THEY CAN TO MINIMIZE THE RISK
AND THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO DO AS
WE HAVE MEDICAL STAFF GOING IN
THERE, TO MINIMIZE THE RISKS
THAT PEOPLE TAKE.
SITUATIONS WHERE YOU HAVE DONE
ALL YOU CAN TO MITIGATE AGAINST
THOSE BUT SOMETHING UNEXPECTED
HAPPENS.
THIS IS WHERE WE NEED TO LEARN
ABOUT THOSE RISKS AND AS IS
BEING SAID, THIS IS TOTALLY
DIFFERENT IN TERMS OF THE
CONTEXT OF THIS DISEASE
HAPPENING IN WEST AFRICA TO
OTHER OUTBREAKS.
WE TALK TO INDIVIDUALS ABOUT
GOING IN AND THE RISK THEY'RE
TAKING.
THERE MAY BECOME A POINT IN THE
FUTURE WHERE WE SAY WE CAN'T
ACTUALLY TAKE THE RISK OF OTHER
PEOPLE GOING IN THERE.
BUT OUR HEART IS WITH THE
ARE NEEDING THE HEALTH CARE AND
WHO ARE DYING FROM THIS DISEASE.
AND WE NEED TO RAMP UP THE
INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE TO THE
EBOLA CRISIS HAPPENING IN
LIBERIA AND THE REST OF WEST
AFRICA.
WE CAN'T STAND BY AND DO
NOTHING.
I CAN'T SAY AT THE MOMENT WHAT
THAT POINT IS.
BUT I CAN'T SAY AT THE MOMENT.
BEFORE WE FIELD ANY MORE
QUESTIONS, DO WE HAVE ANY MORE
ON THE PHONE?
YES.
OKAY.
THE GENTLEMAN WHO SPOKE FIRST.
GO AHEAD.
HI.
THIS IS KEVIN WITH WAGA
TELEVISION IN ATLANTA.
I WAS CURIOUS, WHAT WERE THE
MOST IMPORTANT ELEMENTS THAT
WERE LEARNED FROM EMORY
UNIVERSITY THAT SHOOEF --
THEY'VE SHARED WITH YOU?
IS THERE ANYTHING YOU LEARNED
THAT YOU WILL DO DIFFERENTLY?
HAVE BEEN IN CLOSE CONTACT WITH
OUR COLLEAGUES AT EMORY.
THEY WERE VERY FORTHCOMING WITH
SHARING THEIR EXPERIENCE.
THEY TALKED ABOUT SOME OF THE
PRACTICALITIES OF USING SOME
ISOLATION GEAR AND HOW TO DO
THAT MORE EFFECTIVELY AND
EFFICIENTLY.
ADVISEMENT AND ARE LOOKING AT
OUR OWN PRACTICES HERE.
SO I THINK THOSE ARE THE TYPES
OF -- YOU KNOW, PERHAPS EVERY
DAY, MUNDANE SORT OF TIPS THAT
ARE SOMETIMES THE MOST VALUABLE
AND WE'VE CLEARLY BEEN LISTENING
VERY, VERY CLOSELY AND TRYING TO
MIRROR OR PRACTICES TO MAKE USE
OF THEIR EXPERIENCE.
[INAUDIBLE]
THERE WERE NO SURPRISES TO
THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE.
WE HAD ONE MORE QUESTION.
EXCUSE ME.
FINISH THAT ONE.
[INAUDIBLE]
DETAILS ON THE CONDITION OF THE
PATIENT.
SUFFICE IT TO SAY THE TRANSFER
WENT VERY SMOOTHLY.
PATIENTS IN OUR UNIT WERE
EVALUATED AND HE'S GETTING
BASELINE MEASURES RIGHT NOW AND
STABILIZING.
I'M NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO
SHARE SPECIFIC DETAILS ON HIS
CONDITION.
I'M SORRY.
I THINK WE HAD AT LEAST ONE
MORE QUESTION ON THE PHONE.
HI.
CAN YOU HEAR ME?
ABSOLUTELY G. AHEAD.
THANKS.
I WAS WONDERING IF YOU COULD
TELL US MORE ABOUT THE LATEST ON
THE HOSPITAL, WHERE THE DOCTOR
GOT EBOLA.
WERE THERE ANY OTHER PATIENTS
THERE IN THE OBSTETRIC WARD WHO
HAD EBOLA OR HOW IS THAT BEING
TRACKED AND WHAT'S THE LATEST ON
THAT?
I'LL RESPOND TO THAT.
WE DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER PATIENTS
IN THE HOSPITAL THAT HAVE EBOLA
IN THE HOSPITAL WHERE THEY'RE
TREATING OBSTETRICS PATIENTS AND
WE'RE HOPING TO TREAT PEDIATRIC
PATIENTS.
THERE ARE MANY PATIENTS IN THE
EBOLA CASE MANAGEMENT UNITS AS I
MENTIONED BEFORE.
WE HAD ABOUT 43 PATIENTS JUST A
THE UNITS UP TO 120 AND -- BUT
NO EBOLA PATIENTS AT THE
HOSPITAL.
ONE OF THE ISSUES WE'RE FACING
IS MANY HOSPITALS IN LIBERIA HAS
CLOSED DOWN.
THE STAFF IS NOT THERE, THEY'RE
FEARFUL ABOUT COMING TO WORK AND
THERE ARE PEOPLE THERE DYING
FROM OTHER DISEASES OTHER THAN
EBOLA SUCH ASTHMA LAYER A AND
TYPHOID AND THERE'S MOTHERS WHO
NEED TO GO TO HOSPITAL TO HAVE
THEIR BABIES.
THERE'S NOT A HOSPITAL THAT CAN
NECESSARILY TAKE THEM.
THAT'S AS MUCH OF AN ISSUE AS
THE EBOLA CRISIS ITSELF.
IS THERE A WINDER WHY WE
SHOULD BE MONITORING CDC ADVICE
TO HELP GET THIS OUTBREAK IN
CHECK?
BECAUSE OF THE CHALLENGES THERE
IN LIBERIA WHICH IS WHERE
EVERYBODY'S HEART IS BUT AGAIN,
EVERY GLOBAL PROBLEM IS A LOCAL
PROBLEM.
[INAUDIBLE]
I MENTIONED WE'RE EVALUATING
THE POSSIBILITY OF USING SERUM
FROM THE RECOVERED PATIENTS.
THEY WOULD PRESUMABLY HAVE
ANTIBODIES FORMED AGAINST THE
VIRUS SO WE WOULD BE ABLE TO USE
THAT PREFORMED ANTIBODY AND GIVE
IT TO OUR PATIENT.
THAT'S ONE POSSIBILITY BEING
EVALUATED.
SO FOR EXAMPLE, IN SOME OF THE
MORE PRIMITIVE SETTINGS WHERE
DELIVERED IN SOME OF THE POOREST
PARTS OF THE WORLD, THEY MAY NOT
HAVE THE CAPABILITY OF GIVING
INTRAVENOUS INFUSIONS.
REHYDRATION THERAPY.
THEY CAN'T GIVE PATIENTS
MEDICATIONS THAT WOULD SUPPORT
THEIR BLOOD PRESSURE, LET ALONE
PUT THEM ON A VENTILATOR SO
THESE ARE THE KINDS OF THINGS
WE'LL BE ABLE TO DO IN THIS UNIT
AND AGAIN, I THINK TRIES TO
SHIFT THE BALANCE IN FAVOR OF
OUR PATIENT.
[INAUDIBLE]
SO IT'S REALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO
SAY WITH SUCH LIMITED EXPERIENCE
HOW EFFECTIVE THIS MEDICATION
IS.
I THINK THAT MANY AUTHORITIES
BELIEVE THAT IT'S THE MEDICATION
THAT THE FURTHEREST ALONG IN
DEVELOPMENT THAT SHOWS PROMISE.
CLEARLY IT'S BEEN GIVEN TO A
NUMBER OF FOLKS, THE TWO
PATIENTS HERE IN THE UNITED
STATES SURVIVED.
I'M AWARE GIVEN TO THE PATIENT
IN SPAIN AND DIED.
SO WE HOPE THAT IT'S HELPFUL.
I KNOW THAT THEY'RE WORKING VERY
HARD TO DEVELOP ADDITIONAL DOSES
AND AS I MENTIONED, YOU KNOW,
THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY EVEN
THOUGH IT'S A BIG TRAGEDY FOR US
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS DISEASE
IT.
CLEARLY WE WANT TO BE USING
RESPONSIBLE MANNER AS POSSIBLE
TO LEARN THE MOST THAT WE CAN.
[INAUDIBLE]
WHAT I WILL SHARE IS HE IS
COMMUNICATING WITH US.
THANK YOU.
WE'RE EVALUATING OUR OPTIONS
AT THIS POINT.
T.THAT'S ABOUT ALL I CAN SAY.
[INAUDIBLE]
ONCE IT'S GONE, IT'S GONE?
IS THAT IT?
THAT'S CORRECT.
ONCE SOMEBODY SURVIVES THEIR
IMMUNE TO THE DISEASE.
THAT'S PROTECTIVE.
THE VIRUS CAN REMAIN IN CERTAIN
BODY FLUIDS FOR SOME PERIOD OF
TIME AND SO THERE IS SOME
CONCERN THAT IT COULD BE IN
SEMINAL FLUID FOR A LONGER
PERIOD OF TIME SO THESE ARE
THINGS TT POPULATIONS NEED TO
BE AWARE OF AND TAKE PRECAUTIONS
FOR.
THIS IS ONE OF THE WORRIES IN
WESTERN AFRICA THAT YOU MAY HAVE
PATIENTS WHO SURVIVE AND THEN
COULD POTENTIALLY, FOR A SHORT
PERIOD OF TIME, WE'RE NOT
MEANS BUT FOR WEEKS COULD HAVE
OF THE AREA.
WE'RE ABOUT TO WIND THINGS
DOWN.
TWO OR THREE MORE QUESTIONS AND
THEN WE'LL CALL IT A DAY HERE.
[INAUDIBLE]
YEAH.
ON A PERSONAL LEVEL, WHEN I READ
RICK'S EMAIL MONDAY MORNING, YOU
CAN JUST TELL BY MY EMOTIONS
THAT I HAD THE SAME RESPONSE
MONDAY MORNING.
SOME TEARS, EMOTION, TAKING A
DEEP BREATH AND REALIZING THIS,
YOU KNOW, HAD THE POSSIBILITY
BUT IT WAS LABOR DAY.
I WAS TRYING TO, YOU KNOW, RELAX
AND BE ABLE TO RESTORE MYSELF
AND HONESTLY, IT TOOK THE WIND
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I HAVE
SEEN GOD'S FAITHFULNESS WITH
WR
WRITEBOL SO MY FAITH HELD SURE.
IT WAS ACTUALLY THEN MONDAY
AFTERNOON I WAS STANDING IN THE
LINE WITH MY WIFE, WE WERE
BUYING AN APPLIANCE AND I WAS IN
THE CHECKOUT LINE WHEN I LOOKED
AT MY TEXT THAT HE HAD TESTED
POSITIVE AND SO WILL AND I AND
THE REST OF OUR LEAD ARE SHIP
ACTIVATED A RAPID RESPONSE TEAM
AND THE TEAM HAS JUST RESPONDED
AND HAS REALLY PULLED TOGETHER,
YOU KNOW, ON OUR SIDE AND THEN
BEING ABLE TO SEE ALL OF THE
DIFFERENT PEOPLE THAT RESPONDED
TO BE ABLE TO BRING RICK BACK,
HAS REALLY ENCOURAGED OUR
HEARTS.
BUT EVEN THIS MORNING WHEN I SAW
RICK BEING TRANSPORTED INTO THE
HOSPITAL ON THE AMBULANCE, I'M
SITTING THERE CRYING.
TEARS ACTUALLY OF GRATITUDE THAT
HE WAS ABLE TO COME BACK AND
CARE FOR HIM AND TRUST IN GOD
FOR A GOOD OUTCOME.
AND TRUSTING GOD TO USE THE GOOD
MEDICAL STAFF HERE, WHATEVER
TREATMENTS GOD USES ALL MEANS
AND WE'RE PRAYING JUST AS JIM,
MY NEW FRIEND, WHO SERVED ME
BREAKFAST THIS MORNING ACTIVATED
YOU TALK ABOUT RICK BEING
KIND OF A HUMBLE GUY BUT CAN YOU
TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT
WHAT HE'S LIKE?
YEAH.
I'VE KNOWN RICK SINCE THE YEAR
2000 WHEN WE WERE BOTH ON THE
SAME S.I.M. LEADERSHIP COURSE
AND I'VE KNOWN HIM OFF AND ON
SINCE THEN.
I'VE BEEN IN LIBERIA FOR FOUR
YEARS AS THE COUNTRY DIRECTOR
AND RICK HAS BEEN IN AND OUT BUT
HE'S BEEN IN LIBERIA FOR 25
YEARS.
HE WAS WORKING ALL THROUGH THE
CIVIL WAR THAT WAS THERE.
HE'S BEEN EVACUATED TWICE
BECAUSE OF THAT OUT OF LIBERIA
BUT HE'S A GUY WHO LOVES THE
LIBERIAN PEOPLE AND JUST THE
IN LIBERIA, NOT ONLY THE S.I.M.
MISSIONARIES THAT ARE THERE BUT
ALSO OUR LIBERIAN COLLEAGUES ARE
FANTASTIC PEOPLE WHO ARE
DEDICATED TO SERVING THOSE THAT
ARE AROUND THEM AND GIVING THE
GLORY TO GOD.
SO I THINK FOR RICK, YOU KNOW,
AS BRUCE HAS SHARED, HE'S A
WHAT WAS HAPPENING.
HE WANTS TO SEE THE MINISTRY OF
THE MOMENT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
THE FIRST, WE'RE BUILDING A
HOSPITAL THERE TO REPLACE THE
DILAPIDATED ONE THAT WE HAVE AND
AS DR. KAMN HAS SAID, THE PUBLIC
HEALTH SYSTEM IN LIBERIA NEEDS
IMPROVEMENT AND THAT'S PART OF
WHAT WE'RE ABORET.
WORKING WITH PARTNERS IN ORDER
TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.
PART OF RICK'S COMMITMENT IS TO
GO BACK, LORD WILLING, IF HE
SURVIVES, TO HELP TO SET UP A
RESIDENCY PROGRAM FOR TRAINING
LIBERIAN DOCTORS.
WE WANT TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH
CARE SYSTEM IN LIBERIA AND
THAT'S BADLY NEEDED AT THE
MOMENT.
[INAUDIBLE]
SO THE BASIS FOR THIS IS
SOMEBODY WHO HAS RECOVERED FROM
THE INFECTION WOULD HAVE
AND WE WOULD USE THAT PASSIVELY.
IN OTHER WORDS, GIVING THAT
ANTIBODY TO OUR PATIENT.
WE'RE EVALUATING WHETHER THAT'S
POSSIBLE AND THAT'S ALL I CAN
SHARE AT THIS POINT.
THAT WILL WRAP UP THINGS HERE
THIS AFTERNOON OR THIS MORNING,
WHATEVER TIME IT IS.
THIS WILL BE OUR FINAL OFFICIAL
BRIEFING FOR TODAY.
WHETHER WE'LL HAVE SOMETHING
TOMORROW.
IT'S VERY LIKELY WE WILL.
SO STAY TUNED.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE ADDED TO
THE LIST OF FOLKS WHO RECEIVE
OUR EMAILS, SEND ME AN EMAIL.
YOU'VE BEEN LISTENING TO THE
FIRST UPDATE OF EBOLA PATIENT
DR. RICK SACRA AT THE NEBRASKA
MEDICAL CENTER.
WE HEARD THIS MORNING THE
OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE TO THE
MEDICAL CENTER.
THE INFECTIOUS DISEASE DOCTOR
SAYING THAT HE'S SICK BUT IN
STABLE CONDITION AND HE'S BEEN
ABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH DOCTORS
AND STAFF.
WE HAVE NEW VIDEO ALSO THIS
MORNING.
THIS IS COURTESY OF THE NEBRASKA
STATE PATROL FROM THEIR
HELICOPTER.
YOU CAN SEE DR. SACRA BEING
TRANSPORTED FROM THE PRIVATE
PLANE INTO THE AMBULANCE ON HIS
WAY TO THE NEBRASKA MEDICAL
CENTER.
HE'S SERIOUSLY ILL WITH A
DISEASE THAT HAS A HIGH
MORTALITY RATE AND THEY'RE
LOOKING AT TREATMENT OPTIONS.
ONE OF THOSE OPTIONS IS THE
DRUG OF THE OTHER TWO EBOLA
PATIENTS THAT WERE TREATED IN
ATLANTA, THEY RAN OUT OF THAT
DRUG SO NOW THEY'RE LOOKING AT
OPTIONS INCLUDING USING BLOOD
AND ANTIBODIES FROM THOSE TWO
DOCTORS THAT WERE SUCCESSFULLY
THAT COULD TAKE TWO TO THREE
WEEKS, MAYBE LONGER JUST
DEPENDING ON THE CONDITION THERE
OF DR. RICK SACRA.
THEY GAVE VERY LIMITED
INFORMATION.
THEY SAY HE'S SICK BUT STABLE
AND HE'S COMMUNICATING WITH
DOCTORS.
OF COURSE, HIS FAMILY COMES TO
OMAHA TOMORROW.
WE'LL CONTINUE TO UPDATE THIS
STORY ON KETV.COM SO CONTINUE TOE
FOLLOW THE UPDATES THERE.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
WE'LL SEND IT BACK TO REGULAR
PROGRAMMING.