Group Identifies third US doctor infected with Ebola

                                                                       Dr. Rick Sacra 
The president of SIM USA, a missionary group, confirmed the identity of the third American doctor infected with Ebola.

Dr. Rick Sacra was infected in Liberia while working with pregnant women. Sacra reportedly has ties to the Boston area. He is communicating by cell phone to his family, SIM President Bruce Johnson said.

It is unclear at the moment whether he will stay in Liberia or come back to the US for treatment.

On August 28, Sacra posted to Facebook from Monrovia, Liberia about his work with Ebola patients.

"Thanking God for 4 more healthy discharges from the smaller ELWA Ebola Treatment unit ("ELWA 2" for short). 4 yesterday as well. These are individuals who tested positive for Ebola and have now fully recovered."

On Friday and Saturday, Sacra reportedly noticed that his temperature had increased, and self-isolated at that point. On Monday, he took an Ebola test that came back positive.

The mission group released a statement related to Sacra on its website Tuesday.

"Upon onset of the symptoms, the doctor immediately isolated himself and has since been transferred to the ELWA Ebola isolation unit. The doctor is doing well and is in good spirits,"

The statement read, in part. Sacra is originally from Wayland, according to his Facebook page. He has been practicing in Liberia for almost 20 years, according to his personal blog. His sons live in the Greater Boston area.

UMass Medical School released a statement about Sacra, who graduated in 1989.

"Though he has spent much of his career working overseas, including nearly two decades in Liberia, he has a voluntary faculty appointment as an assistant professor of family medicine and community health at UMass Medical School, as a consequence of teaching in the medical school's residency program when he returns to the US for periodic respite visits.” 

SIM is the same group that volunteer Nancy Writebol was part of. She is one of two Americans infected with Ebola who was brought from Africa to Atlanta for treatment at Emory Hospital.

Source: MyFoxBoston.com