A Sierra Leone surgeon that was flown to Nebraska to be treated for Ebola died yesterday (Nov.17), Associated Press reports.
When Dr. Martin Salia began showing symptoms, he was tested for Ebola and his results came back negative, which was incorrect. It took three days for another test, which correctly diagnosed him on Nov. 10th, and then another five days for him to be flown to the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha for treatment last Saturday (Nov. 15). By the time Salia reached the U.S. his kidneys had shut down, which led to breathing difficulties.
“At this point, we can’t say for certain whether it was this misdiagnosis or not that led to his death,” Deputy Information Minister Theo Nicol said in a statement to the AP.
During treatment, Salia was placed on kidney dialysis, a ventilator, received a plasma transfusion from an Ebola survivor and was given several medications, including an experimental Ebola drug called ZMapp.
The 44-year-old was a Maryland native but after graduating from the Pan African Academy of Christian Surgeons training program in 2008, he decided to stay in Sierra Leone to continue his practicing. At the time of his diagnosis, he was working at the Kissy United Methodist Hospital in the Sierra Leone.
Salia was the 10th patient to receive care for the virus on American soil.
