Victor Willoughby, Sierra Leone’s leading doctor in the treatment of the dreaded Ebola disease was reported to have died of Ebola on Thursday, a few hours after the experimental drug, ZMab, that was intended to use in treating him arrived in the country, the chief medical officer of the government said.
Willoughby was diagnosed with Ebola last week after treating a man for an organ-related problem. The patient who was reported to be a senior banker, was later diagnosed with Ebola and passed away shortly after.
The Zmab drug which was brought into the country in a frozen form from a Brussels Airlines flight that arrived overnight had to thaw before it could be used on Willoughby. Unfortunately, his condition deteriorated rapidly before the drug could be utilized.
With Willoughby’s death, the total number of doctors who have contracted the deadly virus now increases to 12 and eleven have died. According to the figures reported by the World Health Organization (WHO), 142 health workers have contracted the disease in the West African country and 109 have died. As we reported earlier, Sierra Leone was said to now have the highest number of Ebola cases according to a WHO report (click here if you missed reading this).
It was reported that late Dr. Victor Willoughby will be laid to rest today at the Kingtom cemetery.
Photo Credit: AP
