Ebola Virus Outbreak 2014: Specialist Internist is First Cuban to Contract Disease

Dr. Felix Baez Sarria is the first Cuban who contracted the Ebola virus.

According to the report of the Associated Press, Baez is among the 165 doctors and nurses that Cuba sent to help Ebola victims in Sierra Leone. He allegedly contracted the disease while helping one of the patients who fell over.

"He saw someone who was falling, and went to help them and it seems like that's how he got contaminated," Baez's older brother, Michel Gutierrez Sarria, was quoted by AP.

Gutierrez also told AP that they know that Baez is stable and that what they only want is for him to get better. He also said that Baez "knew the risks of going to Sierra Leone but he stepped up and we respect his decision."

AP noted that Baez is currently being treated in Africa but he is set to be moved to Geneva as recommended by the World Health Organization.

Reuters reported that Baez, who specializes in internal medicine, started having a fever last Sunday and was confirmed having the disease the following day. A statement from the Health Ministry cited by Reuters said that Baez did not show any complications and that he is "hemodynamically stable."

"Our collaborator is being tended to by a team of British professionals with experience in treating patients who have displayed the disease and they have maintained constant communication with our brigade," the statement that Reuters cited read.

To date, there are over 250 doctors and nurses from Cuba who were deployed in the affected West African countries. Aside from the 165 medical professionals in Sierra Leone, there are also 53 others in Liberia and 38 in Guinea. They have vowed to help these countries for a period of at least six months. Over 200 other Cuban medical professionals have also underwent training to aid victims. Reuters noted that Cuba has earned praises from other countries such as the United States for their commitment to help Ebola victims. 

Baez' boss, Dr. Jorge Delgado Butillo, told the Agence France Presse that the 43-year old Baez is "not critical" and that "he's doing well and in a good condition."

"The most important thing now is to get him evacuated to Geneva pretty soon," Butillo added.

AP reported that Baez is scheduled to be sent to Geneva "during the next 48 hours." He will ride in a private American airline flight. In Geneva, he will be placed in a "special isolated room" at the city's University Hospital.

According to the latest data provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a total of 5,177 deaths have been recorded as of November 11. It also said that a total of 14,413 cases of the virus have already been recorded.

Liberia had the most number of deaths and cases. A total of 2,812 deaths were recorded out of the 6,878 total cases in this country. It is followed by Sierra Leone with 1,187 deaths out of the 5,586 recorded cases. Guinea is next with 1,166 deaths out of the 1,919 total cases.