The fight is still isn't over. As reported by Reuters on Thursday, December 18, another doctor in Sierra Leone has succumbed to Ebola infection before an experimental drug can be administered to him.
Victor Willoughby is considered as one of the leading doctors in the country and is active in treating Ebola patients. He's been diagnosed with the virus he's been trying to fight a week ago after he's been exposed to a banker who also died due to organ problems. It turns out that he was also carrying the Ebola virus.
The doctor was about to be treated by an experimental drug calld ZMab, but before he can be given to him, his condition quickly went from bad to worse then later died.
The health care community of the country is deeply saddened by his loss especially since he's the only Ebola specialist and virologist. This means that other doctors and the rest of the health workers in the battleground come to him for his opinion and consultation.
Sierra Leone is one of the countries in West Africa that have the most number of cases and deaths. So far, Willoughby is the 12th health worker to have died in the country. Dr. Salia, another Sierra Leone doctor, was brought back to the United States for treatment, but his condition then was already severe he eventually died.
Meanwhile, if they are not found in the treatment facilities, health workers are in the streets, trying to find more patients in an effort to bring down their death rate, stop the spread, and ultimately try to put an end to the outbreak.
The country has also postponed Christmas and New Year this year, only allowing those who practice the festivities to attend masses.
The UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon along with his party that includes Margaret Chen of World Health Organization (WHO) is planning to visit Sierra Leone.