The family of a Dallas nurse who flew to Ohio and was diagnosed with Ebola says doctors no longer detect the virus in her body.
A family statement released Wednesday through a media consultant says officials at Emory University Hospital and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention couldn't detect Ebola in Amber Vinson as of Tuesday evening. Doctors usually do two tests a day apart before saying they can't detect the virus. It's unclear how many tests Vinson has had.
The statement says Vinson's mother spoke to her Wednesday and Vinson has been approved for transfer from isolation.
Vinson is being treated at Emory, near Atlanta. Emory officials won't comment on her status.
"Amber and our family are ecstatic to receive this latest report on her condition," Vinson's mother, Debra Berry, said in the statement. "We all know that further treatment will be necessary as Amber continues to regain strength, but these latest developments have truly answered prayers and bring our family one step closer to reuniting with her at home."
Vinson helped care for Thomas Eric Duncan, a Liberian man with Ebola, who died Oct. 8 at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas. Another nurse there also became infected. That nurse, Nina Pham, was transferred last week to the National Institutes of Health and is in good condition.
Read the statement
Amber's mother, Debra Berry, spoke to her just a few hours ago. Amber is steadily regaining her strength and her spirits are high. We are overjoyed to announce that, as of yesterday evening, officials at Emory University Hospital and the Centers for Disease Control are no longer able to detect virus in her body. She has also been approved for transfer from isolation. Amber remains under treatment within Emory's Serious Communicable Diseases Unit. "Amber and our family are ecstatic to receive this latest report on her condition," Mrs. Berry said. "We all know that further treatment will be necessary as Amber continues to regain strength, but these latest developments have truly answered prayers and bring our family one step closer to reuniting with her at home." Amber is committed to continuing to work closely with the doctors at Emory and following their guidance until she has fully recovered. She and our family would like to thank the entire team at Emory, as well as Amber's colleagues at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas for their continued support throughout her treatment. We appreciate everyone for keeping Amber in your thoughts and prayers.
