HEALTH - Life After Ebola

"How Ebola can hide in the bodies of survivors" PBS NewsHour 5/11/2015

Excerpt

SUMMARY:  Liberia was declared Ebola-free this weekend, marking a major milestone in the fight against the epidemic in West Africa, where it killed more than 10,000.  But for survivors, the disease can still wreak serious after-effects.  Judy Woodruff learns more about those health complications from Ebola patient Dr. Ian Crozier, who nearly went blind from the virus after making a narrow escape from death.

JUDY WOODRUFF (NewsHour):  This weekend marked a major milestone in the fight to end the Ebola outbreak.  Liberia was declared Ebola-free after 42 days without a new case.  Many took to the streets to celebrate.

And efforts are under way to rebuild schools, hospitals and other clinics.  The disease has killed more than 10,000 people in West Africa, including 500-plus health care workers.  While the outbreak has slowed considerably, there are new health complications for survivors.

Dr. Ian Crozier is one American health care worker who nearly lost his life while volunteering in Sierra Leone with the World Health Organization.  After contracting the virus, he was evacuated to Atlanta’s Emory University Hospital and he eventually recovered.  Months later, the virus was found in his eye and it nearly blinded him before a series of procedures and treatments.  He is still experiencing a number of other symptoms.

And he joins me now.

And, Dr. Crozier, welcome.  And we’re so glad to see you doing much better.

DR. IAN CROZIER, Ebola Patient/Survivor:  Good afternoon. It’s a pleasure to be here. It’s a pleasure to be anywhere.

(LAUGHTER)

JUDY WOODRUFF:  Tell us, first of all, how are you doing?  It’s, what, been eight months since you were first diagnosed.

DR. IAN CROZIER:  So, I’m doing remarkably well, given what I have been through.

First of all, I’m fortunate to be here and to be alive, and, secondly, to be looking at you through two fairly clear eyes is quite remarkable.  So still struggling with a few symptoms that have been part of my sort of post-Ebola syndrome, but I’m doing much better than I was a few months ago.  Thank you.