Doctors treating William Pooley, the first Briton to contract Ebola, say he has been given the experimental drug ZMapp.
The medics say it’s clear he is a “remarkable and resilient young man” and he “couldn’t be in a better place”.
Mr Pooley, a volunteer nurse from Eyke, Suffolk, was exposed to Ebola while working with patients in Sierra Leone.
He returned to the UK on Sunday and is being kept in a special isolation unit at the Royal Free Hospital in London.
It is an experimental medicine, we made that absolutely clear in our discussions with him”
It is an experimental medicine, we made that absolutely clear in our discussions with him”
Dr Michael JacobsMr Pooley’s consultant at the Royal Free
The unit, for patients with highly infectious disease, is the only one of its kind in Europe.
A special tent ensures medical staff can interact with the patient but are separated by plastic and rubber.
Untested drug
Dr Michael Jacobs, consultant and clinical lead in infectious diseases at the Royal Free Hospital, said: “We have had the opportunity to give him the ZMapp treatment.
Dr Michael Jacobs said that Mr Pooley had been enthusiastic to try the experimental treatment – and understood the risks
“It is an experimental medicine, we made that absolutely clear in our discussions with him.”
Staff said he was given the first dose of ZMapp on Monday and further doses are expected to be given to him “in due course”.
Dr Mike Jacobs added: “We are giving him the very best care possible. However, the next few days will be crucial.”
The experimental drug Mr Pooley is receiving was previously given to two American aid workers who have now recovered from the virus.
But a Spanish priest and Liberian doctor who were also reported to have taken the medication died recently.
Dr Stephen Mepham explains how the isolation unit works to the BBC’s Tulip Mazumdar
The medicine has only previously been tested on animals and experts say it is still unclear whether the drug boosts chances of recovery.
And stocks are extremely limited.
The company that manufactures the drug says all available supplies have been given out.
The team are now working to make more but says this process will take months.
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