Nina Pham, the first nurse who contracted Ebola while caring for a patient in Dallas, was released from a NIH hospital in Maryland on Friday, and declared Ebola-free.
Pham, 26, appeared at a news conference outside the Bethesda clinical care facility, where she was admitted on Oct. 16. Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, announced that Pham was rid of the virus, which has killed more than 4,800 people in West Africa.
Pham said she was excited to get home to Texas, where her dog Bentley awaits (Bentley already tested negative for Ebola last week).
“I am on my way back to recovery, even as I reflect on how many others have not been so fortunate,” Pham said.
Pham got Ebola while caring for Thomas Eric Duncan, who became the first person to contract and die of the disease on U.s. soil. Last week, she was transferred to the NIH facility to receive specialized care.
Pham is slated to meet with President Barack Obama at the White House on Friday afternoon.
For more info on how the state would handle future cases of Ebola, check out this article.
UPDATE Obama knows she’s Ebola-free. He went right in for the hug:
Pres Obama hugs Nina Pham, nurse who recovered from Ebola contracted while treating Dallas patient; Oval Office. pic.twitter.com/uMNodxQ9jT
— Stephen Crowley/crowleygraph (@Stcrow) October 24, 2014
