Kent Brantly, the doctor who contracted Ebola while working in Liberia, recently donated blood in Kansas City.
Kent Brantly, the doctor who contracted Ebola while working in Liberia, recently donated blood in Kansas City.
Experts treating Ashoka Mukpo, the photojournalist who became infected with the virus, reached out to Brantly and asked for a bit of his plasma.
It’s their hope that the survivor’s antibodies will help get Mukpo’s immune system up and working efficiently.
At this time, Mukpo is said to be stable but not out of danger’s way. In addition to the plasma, he’s being given an experimental drug.
Brantly, who was en route from Indiana to Texas when he got the call, was happy to honor their request and within minutes stopped off at a Kansas City clinic.
Once the blood was taken it was transported via air to Omaha.
A spokesperson for the facility that handled the donation gave assurances that the safety of others was never threatened.
She pointed out that Brantly’s blood is now Ebola free. Further, all standard universal precautions were exercised.
This isn’t the first time the former patient’s blood has been used for treatment, either.
Brantly's blood was previously given to another man who was infected with the Ebola virus. That person went on to make a full recovery.
