Earlier today, Dallas nurse Nina Pham received a blood transfusion from Dr. Kent Brantly. Pham was one of the 70 nurses who took care of Thomas Eric Duncan, who died of Ebola last Wednesday. Duncan was the first person diagnosed with Ebola in the U.S.
Pham, 26 years of age, was in the patient’s room often, especially during his last days. The CDC says that there must have been a breach in safety protocol for the nurse to contract the disease. Pham is the first person in the U.S. to contract the Ebola virus.
According to an article by the Associated Press, Pham’s mother told Reverend Jim Khoi, of Our Lady of Fatima Church, that a “gentleman” had given her daughter a blood transfusion. The Pham family regularly attends the church.
The church held a Mass for the nurse at Fort Worth.
“Her mom says that she got the blood from the gentleman, a very good guy. I don’t know his name but he’s very devoted and a very good guy from somewhere,” Khoi said about the blood transfusion donor.
Dr. Kent Brantly is part of an organization called Samaritan’s Purse: a medical mission organization whose trademark is “Helping in Jesus’ name.” Spokesperson Jeremy Blume from Samaritan’s Purse told the Associated Press that Dr. Brantly had donated his blood to nurse Pham.
Brantley, an Ebola survivor who was given an experimental treatment, has given blood transfusions to at least two other victims: Dr. Rick Sacra and NBC Cameraman Ashoka Mukpo.
“He’s a doctor. That’s what he’s there to do. That’s his heart,” Blume said.
How Pham contracted the disease is still unknown. The Ebola virus is transmitted through bodily fluids such as sweat, blood, urine, semen, and feces. Pham says that protocols were followed and the room was kept in isolation. A possible break in protocol could have been through the improper removal of protective gear that the health care workers wore when caring for Duncan. The CDC is investigating further.
