Freelance photographer Ashoka Mukpo was in Liberia with an NBC News crew when he got Ebola, and now he’s being treated back in the United States. Mukpo tweeted yesterday about his recovery and said he doesn’t know how he contracted it.
Mukpo tweeted yesterday about his recovery and thanked everyone who’s been giving him their support:
Recovering from Ebola is a truly humbling feeling. Too many are not as fortunate and lucky as I've been. I'm very happy to be alive.
— ashoka (@unkyoka) October 20, 2014
The head of MSFs burial team in Monrovia used to visit me when I was there. Huge Liberian guy named Toe. He'd say "you're going to make it!"
— ashoka (@unkyoka) October 20, 2014
I thought it was funny a guy who took bodies away was dropping in to give me strength, but I appreciated it.
— ashoka (@unkyoka) October 20, 2014
I got so much support from so many people these last few weeks. Endless debt, endless gratitude.
— ashoka (@unkyoka) October 20, 2014
But I feel so much empathy for the people in west Africa who are suffering with this. Their lives are important. And this disease is awful.
— ashoka (@unkyoka) October 20, 2014
There were some awful scenes I saw in Liberia that I'll never forget. I hear maybe things are getting a bit better, I really hope so.
— ashoka (@unkyoka) October 20, 2014
As for how he contracted Ebola, Mukpo couldn’t say for sure; he could only guess:
For the record – no idea how I got it. It was something fluky. My best guess is I touched a surface and didn't chlorinate fast enough.
— ashoka (@unkyoka) October 20, 2014
I was around a lot of sick people the week before I got sick. Thought I was keeping a good distance, wish I knew exactly what went wrong.
— ashoka (@unkyoka) October 20, 2014
But I don't regret going to Liberia to cover the crisis. That country was a second home to me and I had to help raise the alarm.
— ashoka (@unkyoka) October 20, 2014
I'll have time to say more the next few weeks, but for now, I'm in awe of my good fortune. I'm a very very lucky person. #blessed
— ashoka (@unkyoka) October 20, 2014
Last thing. I'm going to be happy to talk to the media but not until after I'm out of the hospital and have a chance to see my family.
— ashoka (@unkyoka) October 20, 2014
Mukpo contracting Ebola led to the entire rest of the NBC News crew being quarantined, during which time Dr. Nancy Snyderman reportedly violated the quarantine and later had to apologize.
[h/t ABC7 Chicago]
[image via Ashoka Mukpo/Twitter]
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