Pope Congratulates Italian Health Minister for Ebola Patient Cure

On Saturday, Pope Francis called Italy’s Minister of Health, Beatrice Lorenzin, to congratulate Italian health workers following the cure of a Neapolitan doctor infected by the Ebola virus. The doctor had contracted the deadly virus while working in Sierra Leone.

News of the phone call spread after Lorenzin expressed her gratitude on her Facebook profile. “What excitement to speak with Pope Francis; it gives us strength and courage to dare ever more.” She added that the Pope told her “that he prays for the patients and health workers.”

On Friday, Rome’s Lazzaro Spalanzani Hospital, which specializes in infectious diseases, announced that Italian Doctor Fabrizio Pulvirenti was discharged after a month of treatment for the Ebola virus. The hospital also announced that plasma from his blood will serve to foster the cure of other patients.

For his part, the cured doctor, a member of the “Emergency” organization, said that he cannot wait to return to Sierra Leone to help those affected by this contagious disease.

In his end-of-the-year message, Italian President Giorgio Napolitano praised Doctor Pulvirenti and other Italians, for honoring their country with their work.

In its latest January 2nd report, the World Health Organization indicated that the number of deaths reported in West Africa by the Ebola virus increased to 7,905. A total of 20,20 cases have been reported since December of 2013, when the epidemic was first detected.

Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone are the nations most affected by the outbreak. In recent weeks, cases have decreased in Liberia and, although there are signs of a decrease in Sierra Leone, it remains the most affected country.