TWO AMERICAN EBOLA VICTIMS TO LAND IN U.S. FOR INTENSIVE CARE

Two Americans battling Ebola are being flown from Liberia to Atlanta in specially outfitted planes - bringing the incurable disease to U.S. shores for the first time, it has been reported.

Dr Kent Brantly and hygienist Nancy Writebol, both of whom are said to be in 'grave condition', will be brought back to the U.S. one by one.

Emory University in Atlanta has confirmed that they will be taking one of the patients 'in the next several days' after they arrive in the U.S. in the Gulfstream jet. It is not clear which of the two patients they will be housing or where the second patient will go.

Emory and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which is also based in Atlanta, have built a special containment unit to house the patient, who is in need of an extremely high level of isolation.

 

Inside the aircraft, the patients will remain in a tent-like structure called an aeromedical biological containment system, which allows officials to move highly contagious patients without fear of exposure to pathogens.

According to WXIA, Emory's isolation unit is on the ground floor and has three beds with the highest standards in negative pressure air handling, HEPA filtration and exhaust.

'When this unit was being built, we hoped we'd never have to use the space to treat a serious communicable disease,' said Emory epidemiologist Bruce Ribner.

However that's precisely what will soon happen. The modified Gulfstream III took off from Cartersville, Georgia Thursday afternoon for the first-of-its-kind mission to collect the Ebola patients.

After it emerged the Americans were returning to their homeland, Twitter lit up with fellow citizens fuming over the decision.
One self-proclaimed patriot was especially unhappy with the news.
'Ebola patient will be brought to the U.S. in a few days - now I know for sure that our  leaders are incompetent. KEEP THEM OUT OF HERE!' Donald Trump tweeted Thursday evening.

Efforts have been made to help the two patients with the means available in Liberia - and just hours before the flight to Atlanta was revealed, father-of-two Brantly gave up the single vial of an experimental treatment sent over from the U.S. in order that Writebol - a grandmother and longtime Christian missionary - could receive it instead.

Brantly, from Fort Worth, Texas, ensured Writebol received the experimental drug instead of him after only a small amount arrived in Liberia, the Samaritan's Purse charity said on Wednesday.

Brantly would receive a transfusion of the blood of a 14-year-old Ebola survivor who personally helped to treat. Giving blood transfusions from survivors to still suffering Ebola patients is an established, though not nearly proven, treatment for the largely untreatable disease.

Announcing Dr Brantly's gallant decision, Samaritan's Purse president Franklin Graham said: 'Yesterday, an experimental serum arrived in the country, but there was only enough for one person. Dr. Brantly asked that it be given to Nancy Writebol.'

However, on Thursday charity SIM said in a statement that Mrs Writebol's condition had worsened, despite the serum.

Mrs Writebol is in stable, but serious condition and is receiving an experimental drug that doctors hope will better address her condition, the charity said.

Her husband, David, is close by but can only visit his wife through a window or dressed in a haz-mat suit.

'We continue to pray for Nancy's full and complete recovery,' said Bruce Johnson, president of SIM USA. 'Even though her condition has worsened, we know she is receiving the best possible medical care, and we are thankful that she has access to this experimental drug.

'We believe in the power of prayer and ask people around the world not only to pray for Nancy and Kent, but also for everyone affected by this terrible virus.'

On Wednesday, the charity said Dr Brantley's condition had gone from grave to serious.

However, on Thursday they said he had 'taken a slight turn for the worse overnight.'

Despite Brantly's recent turn for the worse, his wife remained confident Thursday that he would pull through.

'I remain hopeful and believing that Kent will be healed from this dreadful disease,' she said in a statement Thursday. "He is strong and peaceful and confident in the love of Jesus Christ, which is his sustenance right now.'

She also said that she and her children, who were in Liberia with Brantly before he fell ill, remained perfectly healthy.

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Jose Mourinho sees the battle between Petr Cech and Thibaut Courtois a good problem

Jose Mourinho has said he has "a good problem" to look forward to as Petr Cech and Thibaut Courtois battle to be his No.1 goalkeeper at Stamford Bridge next season.
Belgium international Courtois has returned to London after three years on loan with Atletico Madrid -- with whom he won La Liga and reached the Champions League final last season -- and is targeting his "dream" of playing in the Premier League.
Mourinho has hailed the 22-year-old as the best young goalkeeper in the world, and Courtois said he was eager to learn from Czech Republic international Cech as he looks to take his place in the side.
"Petr is one of the best goalkeepers in the world," he told Chelsea's official website. "Every goalkeeper can have a type of thing they are usually good at, and when you see them train you can learn from them. It helps you in your training.
"I signed with Chelsea three years ago, but because of the loan it took until now to have my first training session -- so I'm really happy to be here.
"There will be a battle to be in the starting XI, but that's good. It helps the players to improve themselves to play even better.
"I gained a lot of experience [at Atletico] and played some important games. In every aspect of being a goalkeeper, I improved myself. I learned a lot.
"When I was younger, I always dreamed of playing in the Premier League -- so hopefully I can do that soon."
Mourinho echoed those remarks, with the Daily Mail reporting him as saying: "It's a good problem for me. Thibault just arrived, and he arrived as the best young goalkeeper in the world. They [Courtois and Cech] will fight, and for me it is a good.
"I was never afraid to make big decisions. I prefer to make this decision than to have a keeper I don't trust."
There has been speculation that, with Chelsea needing to cut one overseas player from their squad, Cech could leave -- but Mourinho played down that possibility.
The return of Didier Drogba means the Blues are now one man over the 17 foreign players limit dictated by Premier League and Champions League rules on the quota of home-grown players.
But Mourinho said he did not believe Cech faced an uncertain future, adding: "He is working hard. He is playing without limitation.
"This is a club that wants to be strong and have real possibilities to compete. We need competition in every place."

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THE KEYS TO A HAPPY LIFE- POPE FRANCIS

1. 'Live and let live.' Everyone should be guided by this principle, he said, which has a similar expression in Rome with the saying, 'Move forward and let others do the same.'

2. Generosity. 'Be giving of yourself to others.' 'If you withdraw into yourself, you run the risk of becoming egocentric. And stagnant water becomes putrid.'

3. 'Proceed calmly' in life. The pope used an image from an Argentine novel by Ricardo Guiraldes, in which the protagonist -- gaucho Don Segundo Sombra - looks back on how he lived his life. 'He says that in his youth he was a stream full of rocks that he carried with him; as an adult, a rushing river; and in old age, he was still moving, but slowly, like a pool' of water, the pope said. He said he likes this latter image of a pool of water - to have 'the ability to move with kindness and humility, a calmness in life.'

4. Leisure. 'The pleasures of art, literature and playing together with children have been lost, he said. He suggests families must also turn off the TV when they sit down to eat - having it on during mealtime 'doesn't let you communicate' with each other.

5. Sundays. These should be holidays. Workers should have Sundays off because 'Sunday is for family,' he said.

6. Young people. Find innovative ways to create dignified jobs for young people. 'We need to be creative with young people. If they have no opportunities they will get into drugs' and be more vulnerable to suicide, he said.'It's not enough to give them food,' he said. 'Dignity is given to you when you can bring food home' from one's own labor.

7. Respect nature. Environmental ruination 'is one of the biggest challenges we have,' he said. 'I think a question that we're not asking ourselves is: 'Isn't humanity committing suicide with this indiscriminate and tyrannical use of nature?''

8. Positivity. 'Needing to talk badly about others indicates low self-esteem. That means, "I feel so low that instead of picking myself up I have to cut others down,'' the pope said. 'Letting go of negative things quickly is healthy.'

9. Respect others' beliefs. 'We can inspire others through witness so that one grows together in communicating. But the worst thing of all is religious proselytism, which paralyzes: 'I am talking with you in order to persuade you,' No. Each person dialogues, starting with his and her own identity.'

10. Peace. 'We are living in a time of many wars,' he said, and 'the call for peace must be shouted. Peace sometimes gives the impression of being quiet, but it is never quiet, peace is always proactive' and dynamic.

Source: Catholic News Service

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Paul Scholes goes with Van Gaal's comment of a 'united broken squad'

Van Gaal recently described  his squad as a quality group of players, but insisted they had been left “broken” by their failings under Moyes last season.
And speaking at an event in Oldham to promote prostrate cancer awareness, Scholes told Sky Sports News he agreed with the Dutchman's assessment, adding the loss of left-back Patrice Evra is a significant one.
"He said it himself and the squad looks unbalanced to me,” Scholes said.
“They have a number of number tens, with Juan Mata, Shinji Kagawa and Adnan Januzaj, and Ander Herrera looks more like a number ten than a central midfield player.
“Tom Cleverely you could argue is a number ten as well, so there is a lot of them type of players but they are struggling a little bit for defenders.
“Phil Jones, Chris Smalling and Jonny Evans are the only recognised defenders. He said he likes Michael Keane and Tyler Blackett who are up and coming, but his priority will be defenders.
“If you look at the first three lads I mentioned they don't have great injury records as well. They don't seem to play as many games as the likes of Rio (Ferdinand), Vidic (Nemanja) and Evra (Patrice) who have been the cornerstone of the defence for the last ten years.
“If you take them out, especially Evra with the left-back situation with a young lad like Luke Shaw coming in on a big money move, there will be a lot of pressure on him.
“I think it would have been nice for Patrice to stay and guide him through that, but I can understand Patrice's side of the coin as well - he wants to play football.
“There are big losses there but there are young defenders there, and if they stay fit I  think they will do well.”
Scholes also has no problem with Van Gaal’s straight-talking approach in the wake of the Dutchman’s public comments over Shaw’s lack of fitness.
“If they don't like it then tough,” Scholes said. “I think it's the best way to be when a player knows where they stand it’s always better than being a bit unsure.
“Does the manager like me or does he not like me? It seems with this man you'll know either way, and that can only be a good thing.”
The former Manchester United midfielder can also see the Dutchman sticking with the 3-4-3 formation that van Gaal has used during pre-season.
“He has played many different systems with whatever club he has been with,” said Scholes.
“With Ajax, Barcelona and Bayern Munich he could play any system but I think when he has had a look at these players this is the system that he feels is best to cope with the squad.
“I think it's designed to get his forward players in, he likes to get his two forwards Van Persie and Rooney and the number ten, which has been Mata in.
“When you have got the quality of these players in your team you can only score goals - if he can work any system around those three then United fans are in for a good season and an  entertaining season with a lot of goals.”

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Fear of Ebola in Commonwealth Games: As a Sierra Leone Cyclist was quarantined over fear of Ebola

An athlete at the Commonwealth Games has revealed he was hospitalised and put into isolation for four days while he was tested for the deadly Ebola virus.

Cyclist Moses Sesay, from Sierra Leone in West Africa where hundreds are reported to have died from the flesh-eating virus, was admitted to hospital in Glasgow after feeling unwell and developing fever-like symptoms.

However, he was later given the all-clear and yesterday competed in the road race time trial.

Last night, the 32-year-old said he and other athletes were scared of returning home because of Ebola and would try to remain in Britain until their special three-month visas for the Games expired.

Mr Sesay, who comes from the Rotifunk Moyamba area of Sierra Leone which has been hit by the disease, said: ‘I was sick, I felt tired and listless.  All the doctors were in special suits to treat me – they dressed like I had Ebola.  I was very scared.’

‘I was admitted for four days and they tested me for Ebola.

'It came back negative but they did it again and this time sent it to London where it was also negative.’

The father of one, who competed in the Games on his 32nd birthday, finished last in his race.

He had arrived in Glasgow among a team of two dozen competitors and officials the week before the Games and felt unwell last Thursday, the day after he attended the Opening Ceremony.

‘All of us are scared about going back,' he said. 'We have a three-month visa in our passports and if I have the opportunity, I will stay here until it ends.

‘It is scary over there. My mother is a medical nurse so she may have to treat people.  My wife is also doing work in the medical field.’

A West African official last night denied a report that another member of the team, believed to be Mr Sesay’s room mate in the village, had gone missing or that others had been hospitalised.

He said that officials in Glasgow were in contact with the High Commission in London over the timing of the team’s return and that they still planned to take part in the Closing Ceremony on Sunday.

No special precautions had been taken inside the athlete’s village and they were sharing facilities with other teams, he added.

It is the second Commonwealth Games that Mr Sesay, who trains in South Africa, has attended having competed in Delhi, India, four years ago.

Officials stressed there had been no positive tests for Ebola in Scotland but refused to comment on negative tests. 

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