The third U.S. Ebola patient will have to hope that conventional medication and treatment with help him fight off the disease since all supplies of the experimental drug ZMapp have been exhausted.
Richard Sacra who contracted Ebola while overseas assisting healthcare workers in Liberia landed in the United States on Friday and was immediately transferred to the Biocontainment Unit at Nebraska Medical Center, USA Today reports.
During his time at the specialized unit - there are only four such ones for highly infectious diseases in the county - the 51-year-old Worcester family physician will be treated by 35 doctors and nurses.
"This unit was specifically designed to care for patients of this nature and is staffed with infectious disease experts who have prepared for years for situations like this one," Dr. Phil Smith said in a statement.
According to NBC News, Sacra's wife, Debbie, spoke at a news conference ahead of the flight and said she spoke with his doctor, who assured her that Sacra walked onto the plane under his own power, though he "is clearly sick."
Doctors, including Smith, have been trying to reassure the public that there is no worry of Ebola spreading by bringing Sacra into the country since the disease requires close contact with an infected person.
With Sacra in the country, doctors are looking at how best to treat him with ZMapp not an option. Smith has said that some suggestions were to try and use a blood serum from someone who survived Ebola.