Two Christians from the United States working in Liberia have contracted the deadly Ebola virus.

Dr Brantly (in white) giving medical orders

Dr Kent Brantly is a medical director for the Samaritan’s Purse Ebola Consolidated Case Management Centre in Monrovia, Liberia. Nancy Writebol is employed by SIM in Liberia and was helping the joint SIM/Samaritan’s Purse team at the centre they both work at when she too contracted the virus.

Ebola broke out in Liberia in March, and the two organisations have been working closely together to combat the spread of the highly contagious disease.

Dr Brantly’s wife Amber has released a statement describing her family as “people with a deep faith in Jesus” and thanking people for lifting her husband up in prayer.

“We continue to believe that God will deliver Kent from this deadly virus,” she writes. “We ask for your continued prayers for Kent, his colleague, Nancy Writebol, and the healthcare workers in Liberia struggling to meet the overwhelming demands of those who are sick with the Ebola virus as well as patients who have come to that hospital with other needs.”

Both victims have two children who are staying in undisclosed locations to protect their privacy.

Dr Brantly was apparently wearing protective boot covers, gloves, coveralls, and a face mask at all times while treating Ebola patients, however a spokesperson for Samaritan’s Purse told Reuters: “It’s too early to try to explain it. We will have an intensive and thorough investigation.”

Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), or Ebola hemorrhagic fever causes fever, diarrhoea, vomiting, headache, joint pain, and other symptoms. EVD outbreaks have a case fatality rate of up to 90 per cent. There is no cure for the virus.

According to the World Health Organisation, Ebola is transmitted through body fluids or indirect contact with environments contaminated with such fluids.

The Guardian reports Ebola has killed 672 people in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone since it was first diagnosed in February, amounting to the world’s biggest and most widespread outbreak of Ebola.

Image: Samaritan’s Purse