5 U.S. aid workers monitored and quarantined for Ebola in Omaha released

The Ebola outbreak continues to ravage West Africa 

Five American aid workers being observed and monitored at the Biocontainment Unit at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) in Omaha, Nebraska for exposure to the deadly Ebola virus have completed their quarantine periods free from symptoms of the deadly virus and have been released.

The biocontainment Unit at UNMC

Nebraska Medical Center spokesman Taylor Wilson said Tuesday that four of the individuals who were brought to Omaha earlier this month for monitoring have already left the area. 

The fifth, who developed a heart problem Saturday and required CPR, has now been discharged from the hospital and will soon also leave Omaha.

The U.S. health care missionary workers were exposed to Ebola in Sierra Leone in West Africa when one of their colleagues became ill with the deadly virus. 

They were staying on the Nebraska Medical Center's campus while in quarantine. Ebola has a 21-day incubation period before showing signs and symptoms of an infection.

Patient exposed to the Ebola virus hospitalized in Omaha

Another American exposed to Ebola is brought to UNMC for quarantine and treatment in Omaha, NE 

An American health worker exposed to the Ebola virus while working in Sierra Leone, Africa arrived in Omaha, NE Sunday and is now being monitored at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) in its level-four biohazard containment unit on campus.

Safety measures taken 'out of an abundance of caution' in transporting patients
exposed to the Ebola virus in West Africa at Epply Airfield in Omaha

Paramedics were taking no chances in handling the patient so they were wearing full-body protective gear akin to a NASA space suit as they took an Ebola patient, who has not been identified, by ambulance from a plane that arrived at Eppley Airfield around 1:45 p.m. to the hospital, which has a specialized biocontainment unit.

"I can't comment on if the patient does or doesn't have any kind of symptoms at this point, but I can say the crew inside the biocontainment unit, the crew that received the patient at the airport, is treating this patient as if he or she does have the virus, just out of an abundance of caution," said UNMC spokesman Taylor Wilson.

“This patient has been exposed to the virus, but is not ill and is not contagious,” said Dr. Phil Smith, medical director of the level-4 biocontainment unit. “However, we will be taking all appropriate precautions. This patient will be under observation in the same room used for treatment of the first three patients and will be carefully monitored to see if Ebola disease develops.”

UNMC's third Ebola patient, Dr. Martin Salia, dies in Omaha

Dr. Martin Salia of Sierra Leone succumbed to the Ebola virus on Monday morning 

A West African surgeon, who contracted the deadly Ebola virus in his native Sierra Leone and was flown to Omaha for treatment, received aggressive treatment at University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) over the weekend but died Monday morning.

The medical director of UNMC's Biocontainment Unit did not have good news
to report on Monday when Dr. Martin Salia succumbed to Ebola virus

Dr. Martin Salia's death is a reminder of just how deadly the Ebola virus is and how important it is to receive treatment as soon as possible, said Dr. Jeff Gold, chancellor of the UNMC in Omaha.

"In the very advanced stages, even the modern techniques we have at our disposal are not enough to help these patients once they reach a critical threshold," Gold said at a news conference announcing the medical center’s first fatality from Ebola.

Salia, 44, was diagnosed with the virus Nov. 6, 2014. By the time he was flown to Omaha for treatment on Saturday, he was in already in an advanced stages of shock in critical condition with no kidney function and in severe respiratory distress.

He was placed on dialysis and intubated on a ventilator, and was given several supportive medications to support his failing organ systems, the hospital said in a statement.