in Liberia has attributed his recovery from the deadly virus to God
and not to the experimental Zmapp drug used in treating him.
After being discharged from the Emory University Hospital in the
United States of America, Dr. Brantly made his first public statement
since contracting Ebola in Liberia almost a month ago, thanking God
for his survival.
In a video posted online on Friday, he began by sharing how he and his
family came to be in Liberia as medical missionaries who moved to West
Africa because "God called us to serve the people of Liberia."
According to him, on July 23, his life took an "unexpected turn" when
he contracted the deadly virus.
"Today is a miraculous day. I am thrilled to be alive, to be well and
to be reunited with my family. As I lay in bed in Liberia for the
following nine days, getting sicker and weaker each day, I prayed that
God would help me be faithful, even in my illness," he said.
"And I prayed that in my life or in my death that he would be
glorified. I did not know then, but have learned since, that there
were thousands, maybe even millions of people around the world praying
for me throughout that week and even till today.
"I cannot thank you enough for your prayers and your support, but what
I can tell you is that I serve a faithful God who answers prayers."
While Brantly thanked the medical staff in the isolation unit at Emory
hospital, he believed his survival was a "direct answer to thousands
and thousands of prayers".
In an earlier statement from his isolation room, the doctor thanked
"God for His mercy" and noted "God often leads us to unexpected
places."
According to Brantly, "God saved my life".
More than 1,300 people have been killed by the virus in West Africa
alone, and the number is growing at a considerable rate.
More than 2,473 people have contracted the disease, more than the
previous 24 Ebola outbreaks combined, according to the World Health
Organisation.
It has a mortality rate of 90 per cent, and has been declared a global
health emergency.
A team of five infectious disease experts and 21 nurses worked around
the clock to provide care for Brantly, and while he took a moment to
hug each at the end of the briefing, he credited God for being an
important part of his recovery.
"Above all, I am forever thankful to God for sparing my life," he said.
"Please continue to pray for Liberia and the people of West Africa."
Also, the President,Samaritan's Purse,a religious charity
organisation, Franklin Graham, ascribed the doctor's faith in God for
his speedy recovery.
"Today I join all of our Samaritan's Purse team around the world in
giving thanks to God as we celebrate Dr. Kent Brantly's recovery from
Ebola and release from the hospital. His faithfulness to God and
compassion for the people of Africa have been an example to us all,"
he stated.
Brantly and American nurse who also contracted EVD Nancy Writebol,
were given one of only five courses available of the experimental
drug.
The pair split the dose before being moved to the US from Liberia.
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