Journalist with Ebola on way to Nebraska hospital

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — An American photojournalist who contracted the deadly Ebola virus while working in West Africa has begun his journey home for treatment.

Ashoka Mukpo will be the second Ebola patient to be treated at the Nebraska Medical Center’s specialized isolation unit. Hospital officials said they expected an Ebola patient to arrive Monday, but declined to provide a name.

The 33-year-old Mukpo was working as a freelance cameraman for NBC in Liberia last week when he became ill. NBC reported Sunday that Mukpo is en route to Nebraska for treatment. Mukpo’s family said Friday he is going to Omaha.

Mukpo is the fifth American to be evacuated to the United States for treatment since the start of the Ebola outbreak, which the World Health Organization says has killed more than 3,400 people.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Federal News Network Logo
Log in to your WTOP account for notifications and alerts customized for you.

Sign up