Top Sierra Leone Doctor died from Ebola on Thursday, BBC reported.
Leading Sierra Leone doctor Victor Willoughby died from Ebola virus hours after an experimental drug arrived. Willoughby tested positive for the disease on Dec.13 and died less than a week after.
The senior physician's death is considered as "a big loss to the medical profession". Willoughby is the 11th doctor out of the 120 volunteers who died from the outbreak.
Sierra Leone's chief medical officer Brima Kargbo has shared how Willoughby's death has affected medical professionals.
"Dr Victor Willoughby was a mentor to us physicians and a big loss to the medical profession. He has always been available to help junior colleagues. We all looked up to Dr Willoughby and would consult him on many issues relating to our medical profession," Kargbo said.
Another colleague of Willoughby, Dr. Dr. M'Baimba Baryoh shared how the sudden deaths of medical professionals have affected the entire team, according to NBC News.
"We've lost personal friends and colleagues we've worked with. It's extremely depressing and frustrating. You can talk to someone today and tomorrow they are Ebola-infected," Baryoh said
The death of Willoughby could have been prevented if the drug ZMAb has been administered to the sick doctor. ZMab is an experimental drug developed in Canada. The medication is related to the breakthrough drug ZMapp.
Although the efficacies of the two drugs have not been clinically proven, ZMapp and ZMab were able to help in the recovery of several physicians infected with Ebola, The Guardian reported.
American doctor Kent Brantly who was infected with Ebola in Liberia a few months ago was treated with ZMapp. Cuban doctor Felix Baez was given ZMab as his medication for the virus.
Scientist Dr. Gary Kobinger is looking forward to conduct further tests for the experimental drugs.
"We hope that initial safety testing in humans will be undertaken soon, preferably within the next few months, to enable the compassionate use of ZMapp as soon as possible," Kobinger said.
Proven treatment for Ebola must be discovered soon since recent survey shows that 7,000 people have already died from the outbreak.
