The doctor who was infected with Ebola while working in Africa but cleared of the disease after being successfully treated here in the US, is now back in the hospital with a respiratory infection.
Doctors at UMass Memorial Medical Center said in a statement that Dr. Richard Sacra was hospitalized Saturday for observation and is in stable condition with a cough and conjunctivitis, commonly known as pinkeye.
The hospital stressed that doctors don’t believe the virus has recurred. They are awaiting test results from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for confirmation, which they expect to have by late Monday.
Meanwhile, Sacra is in isolation at the hospital.
“We are isolating Dr. Sacra to be cautious pending final confirmation of his illness,” said Dr. Robert Finberg, who is heading Sacra’s medical team. “We think it is highly unlikely that he has Ebola. We suspect he has an upper respiratory tract infection.”
