Doctors 'Optimistic' About Prognosis for American Journalist With Ebola, Family Says
— -- An American freelance journalist working in Monrovia, Liberia, has tested positive for Ebola, his father said in a statement.
Ashoka Mukpo, who had been doing human rights work in West Africa, returned to Liberia when the Ebola outbreak began, his father, Mitchell Levy, told ABC News.
"Having lived there for the last several years, Ashoka was well aware of the risks but felt strongly about trying to help provide honest perspective from the ground level," his father said in the statement. "Ashoka is being evacuated to the USA where he will receive the best possible treatment. The doctors are optimistic about his prognosis.”
NBC News hired Mukpo, 33, as a cameraman earlier this week. He went to the Medecins Sans Frontieres treatment center earlier today after learning he had a fever and quarantining himself, NBC reported.
"We are doing everything we can to get him the best care possible," NBC News President Deborah Turness said in a note to staff. "The rest of the crew, including Dr. Nancy [Snyderman], are being closely monitored and show no symptoms or warning signs. However, in an abundance of caution, we will fly them back on a private charter flight and then they will place themselves under quarantine in the United States for 21 days – which is at the most conservative end of the spectrum of medical guidance."
Mukpo is the fourth American to contract Ebola since the outbreak began in West Africa this spring. The other three - Nancy Writebol, Dr. Kent Brantly and Dr. Richard Sacra - were all brought back to the U.S., where they were treated and later released.
A man traveling to Dallas from Liberia was in an isolation unit today after testing positive for the virus.
