Ebola-Stricken NBC News Freelancer Ashoka Mukpo 'Turned the Corner'

[cali]

The NBC News freelancer who came down with Ebola while working in Liberia has made a significant improvement, his family said Saturday.

"Ashoka has been steadily improving over the past 48 hours. He has been symptom free during that time and is increasing his physical strength. His appetite has returned and he is asking for food. His spirits are much more uplifted and continue to improve," the Ashoka Mukpo's family said in a statement.

"The team taking care of him in Nebraska now feels he has turned the corner and with time, will make a full recovery."

Mukpo, 33, received a blood transfusion from another Ebola survivor, Dr. Kent Brantly, as part of his treatment at The Nebraska Medical Center. He contracted the deadly disease while working as a camera operator for Dr. Nancy Snyderman’s team covering the outbreak in Liberia, which has been hardest-hit by the virus that has killed more than 4,000.

“Mr. Mukpo is still very weak, but his condition has improved since yesterday,” Dr. Phil Smith, medical director of the biocontainment unit at The Nebraska Medical Center, said in a statement. “He’s eating some solid food now, so we’re still headed in the right direction. However, he is still extremely weak, and the severity and unknown aspects of the disease we’re dealing with always have to be kept in mind.”

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http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/ebola-virus-outbreak/ebola-stricken-nbc-news-freelancer-ashoka-mukpo-turned-corner-n223736

[LisaL]

1. He also reportedly got the exact same experimental drug that was given to Mr. Duncan.

[Fred Sanders]

4. Though much earlier.

[woolldog]

8. And I don't believe Duncan got a blood transfusion.

[Fred Sanders]

10. That, too.....apples and oranges treatment.

[pnwmom]

21. He didn't have the right blood type. We only have a couple possible donors. n/t

[seabeyond]

16. how do you know it was much earlier. could have been. i think it was just a day duncan

started experiencing symptoms before first visit. though i do not know that is clear. it was under 48 hours before he was admitted the second time. i know they waited until a stable phase, before the experimental. hydrate, ect...

but, it seemed that the journalist went thru these periods. though i can see him checking symptoms and notifying quicker.

anyway, curious.

[cali]

7. he also got a blood transfusion from Dr. Brantley's blood.

He got the drug earlier. His ebola was detected at an earlier stage. He was at the Nebraska hospital with expertise in the disease. Many differences in care.

[LisaL]

12. I never said he got the same exact care.

I said he got the exact same experimental drug.

[SickOfTheOnePct]

2. Great news! n/t

[TwilightGardener]

3. NMC is a great facility.

[magical thyme]

19. and it's set up specifically to treat bhl-4 diseases

which I suspect makes a major difference.

[kestrel91316]

5. Good! Another survivor to potentially donate lifesaving plasma.

(crossing fingers)

[Boomer]

6. That's the good news

The bad news is that he's already wracked up over $500,000 worth of medical bills.

As news of the financial cost of treatment gets around, there is a very real concern that some people will avoid treatment out of fear of financial ruin for their families. Yet another way in which lack of an affordable public health system can affect us all.

[cali]

9. I don't get that.

He comes from a wealthy family and he has insurance.

[Fred Sanders]

11. 500K, he better have a wealthy and friendly family. Or Obamacare.

[SickOfTheOnePct]

13. Exactly

And frankly, if I even *think* I have Ebola, wracking up a huge medical bill is going to the last thing on my mind.

[SickOfTheOnePct]

14. I just read that he has traveler's insurance

But that it doesn't cover outbreaks of disease.

And as a freelancer, he probably doesn't have any kind of employer insurance.

The article said that the evac flight alone is $160,000.

[pnwmom]

22. That wealthy? I hope he has great insurance. n/t

[davidn3600]

15. After he beats Ebola, he'll have bankruptcy court to look forward too

God Bless America!

[AverageJoe90]

20. IMHO, in more extreme cases like this.....

I would say that the government would do us all a real favor by reimbursing the hospitals and paying for treatment of Ebola, and other such horrific diseases.....even if only to help make sure we never have to worry about what could one day face West Africa.....conservamoron whiners be damned.....

[kelliekat44]

17. I hope this is permanent good news. nt

[AverageJoe90]

18. Good news. I hope he actually recovers, for real.