Emory Healthcare announced today that Amber Vinson, a patient from Dallas treated for Ebola virus disease, has been discharged from the hospital. Ms. Vinson arrived at Emory University Hospital on Oct. 15.
A series of tests from Emory and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have found Ms. Vinson to be free of virus. The Emory medical team has maintained its comprehensive safety procedures throughout the treatment process and is confident that the discharge of this patient poses no public health threat.
"Emory Healthcare physicians, in collaboration with the CDC, are pleased to report that Amber Vinson is virus free and she can return to her family and community without any public health concern," says Bruce Ribner, MD, director of the Serious Communicable Disease Unit in Emory University Hospital.
"The Emory Healthcare team is extremely pleased with Ms. Vinson’s recovery, and we were inspired by her courageous attitude and the strong support of her family and health care colleagues in Dallas," says Ribner.
Ms. Vinson is the fourth patient to be successfully treated for Ebola virus infection at Emory University Hospital and discharged free of virus.
Emory Healthcare’s mission is to heal and to advance knowledge. The team of health care professionals who care for Ebola patients in the Serious Communicable Disease Unit has trained extensively to treat and contain the most dangerous infectious diseases in the world. Emory medical professionals will apply the experience and knowledge they have gained to colleagues treating Ebola virus disease in West Africa and the United States, and to the treatment of other challenging infectious diseases that may emerge in the future.
Emory University Hospital hosted a news conference at 1 p.m. regarding Vinson’s discharge. Please visit the News Center throughout the day for updates.
Official Statements
Transcript of statements by Dr. Bruce Ribner, Emory University, and patient Amber Vinson from the news conference held Oct. 28, 2014.