United States Records Second Ebola Fatality

November 18, 2014

Image Credit: REUTERS/JEFF BLEIJERVELD, DIRECTOR OF GLOBAL MINISTRIES/UBCENTRAL.ORG/HANDOUT

44-year-old Dr. Martin Salia, is a native of Sierra Leone but an American resident (by marriage) who got infected with the deadly disease in Sierra Leone. He was transferred to the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) a few days ago on Nov 15 for treatment and that’s were he died today.

He was suffering from advanced symptoms of Ebola when he arrived at the hospital Saturday, authorities said, including kidney and respiratory failure.

The hospital took to Twitter to announce his passing writing,

We are sorry to announce that the 3rd Ebola patient, Dr. Martin Salia, has passed away as a result of the advanced symptoms of the disease. Dr. Salia was extremely critical when he arrived here, & unfortunately, despite our best efforts, we weren’t able to save him.

Up until his passing, he worked at Kissy United Methodist Hospital, a 60-bed facility that serves one of the poorest neighborhoods in Freetown, the capital of Sierra Leone, he was there as part of a Christian missionary group to help tackle the Ebola scourge over there.

He was the 10th person to be treated for Ebola in the U.S. and the second who has died. The 1st was Liberian citizen Thomas Duncan who died in October.