The last U.S. Ebola patient, Dr. Craig Spencer, was released from Bellevue Hospital in New York Tuesday morning and took the opportunity to remind everyone where the real Ebola crisis is.
“It is important to remember that my infection represents but a fraction of the more than 13,000 reported cases to date in West Africa,” Spencer said.
Spencer traveled with Doctors Without Borders to Guinea to help treat those infected with the deadly virus when he ended up with it himself. He returned to the U.S. and was diagnosed with Ebola a few days later on Oct. 23.
He said early detection and reporting is how he recovered.
“I’m a living example of how those protocols work and how early detection is critical to surviving Ebola and ensuring that it is not transmitted to others,” said Spencer.
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio was on hand to wish Spencer well and give him a big hug in front of the crowd of reporters and health care workers.
“It’s a good feeling to hug a hero,” de Blasio said.
