1st Dallas Nurse In 'Fair, Stable' Condition In Md. Hospital
BETHESDA, Md. (WJZ) -- The first nurse to contract Ebola after treating an infected Liberian national in a Dallas hospital arrived in Maryland on Monday night to start treatment at the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center.
As the virus--which has killed nearly 4,500 people in West Africa--continues to pose a threat the the United States, President Barack Obama has named Ron Klain as the Ebola czar. The former chief of staff to Vice President Joe Biden will serve as point person on the U.S. government's response to the crisis.
Doctors said Friday morning that Pham was in "fair" condition and she is stable and resting. They believe her condition may have gone from "good" to "fair" because of her long flight, but they said it's not really a downgrade as they expect her condition to improve.
Pham flew into Maryland via an executive jet and dressed in protective gear at the Frederick Municipal Airport around 10:30 p.m. A group of onlookers, some holding signs with good wishes, were waiting. She was then transported to the hospital in an awaiting ambulance.
Pham was admitted to NIH's Bethesda campus in the Special Clinical Studies Unit after Texas Health Presbyterian, where she was receiving treatment and where she worked, requested her transfer.
"We believe that transferring Nina to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is the right decision," the Texas hospital said in a statement Thursday. "With many of the medical professionals who would normally staff the intensive care unit sidelined for continuous monitoring, it is in the best interest of the hospital employees, nurses, physicians and the community to give the hospital an opportunity to prepare for whatever comes next."
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According to NIH, the Special Clinical Studies Unit is "specifically designed to provide high-level isolation capabilities and is staffed by infectious diseases and critical care specialists."
"The staff is trained in strict infection control practices optimized to prevent spread of potentially transmissible agents such as Ebola," the hospital reported in a statement Thursday.
Pham contracted Ebola after she treated Thomas Eric Duncan, a Liberian man who had traveled through Dulles International Airport to Dallas in September. Duncan, who had contracted Ebola in his home country, died last week after spending several weeks undergoing treatment in a Dallas hospital.
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The group at NIH is highly trained for infectious disease control, the doctors said Friday, saying their training is "very intense."
"Our focus is taking care of this patient," Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said.
NIH is capable of admitting up to two patients in this specialized unit at any given time.
Although Pham is in isolation she's cared for by five nurses on shifts that cover 24/7 care and at any given time one infectious disease doctor is on call to give care as needed. Two nurses are in the room when caring for Pham and are monitored to make sure all procedures are followed.
The care Pham will receive at NIH is free for her and doesn't cost taxpayers anymore than what their taxes already contribute to the hospital.
She will also help the unit with their research and may try other experimental drugs while in their care.
Ebola Research In Maryland
Several Maryland facilities are being used to test Ebola vaccines on humans after the vaccines were tested on animals.
One experimental Canadian-made vaccine is being tested at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, while another vaccine was recently used to treat five healthcare workers in the country of Mali, by Dr. Milagritos Tapia and Dr. Myron Levine. Tapia and Levine are both of University of Maryland Centers for Vaccine Development.
Pham asked the Texas hospital to release the following statement Thursday: "I'm so thankful for the outpouring of love and support from friends and family, my coworkers and complete strangers. I feel very blessed, and have gained strength from their support. I appreciate everything that my coworkers have done to care for me at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas. I'm doing really well thanks to this team, which is the best in the world. I believe in my talented coworkers. I am #presbyproud!"
Johns Hopkins held an Ebola Symposium earlier this week to help bring together experts on the topic of Ebola, its treatment and prevention.
NIH said they are taking every precaution to ensure the safety of patients, NIH staff and the public.
A second nurse, 29-year-old Amber Joy Vinson, recently tested positive for Ebola as well. She had also cared for Duncan. Vinson was transferred to Emory University Hospital in Atlanta, Ga.
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