A leading doctor in Sierra Leone has succumbed to the deadly Ebola virus that has devastated the nation since the outbreak began several months ago.
Reuters noted that Dr. Victor Willoughby, 67, who was diagnosed with the disease last week after assisting an infected person, died on Thursday. The doctor passed away just hours after an experimental drug that could have been administered to him arrived in the country.
The experimental ZMab drug was transported overnight but needed time to thaw out before it could be used on Ebola patients.
The Associated Press noted that health officials said Willoughby is the 11th doctor in Sierra Leone to die from the illness.
"Dr. Victor Willoughby was a mentor to us physicians and a big loss to the medical profession," said Dr. Brima Kargbo, the country's chief medical officer. "He has always been available to help junior colleagues."
The virus has killed close to 7,000 people, mostly in the West African region, since March.
Sierra Leone's government recently outlined a plan that it hopes will stop or slow the spread of the debilitating disease. The country also decided to ban all public Christmas and New Year gatherings in light of the outbreak.