Third American missionary tests positive for Ebola

MONROVIA, Liberia, Sept. 3 (UPI) -- Weeks after two American healthcare workers received experimental treatment for the Ebola virus, another American doctor has been diagnosed with Ebola in Liberia's capital.

Like nurse Nancy Writebol, the latest anonymous American to contract the deadly disease was working with South Carolina-based missionary organization SIM USA. Unlike Writebol and Samaritan's Purse missionary Dr. Kent Brantly, this individual was not working Ebola patients, but obstetrics and gynecology unit at the same ELWA facility.

"It's a real gut check," Seth Barnes, a missionary and executive director of Georgia-based Christian organization Adventures in Missions, told the Wall Street Journal.

"You go back and you say: Why am I doing this? Was I called by God? Is the stuff that I say I believe really real?"

For SIM USA president Bruce Johnson, the latest infection is saddening, but has only strengthened his resolve.

"My heart was deeply saddened, but my faith was not shaken, when I learned another of our missionary doctors contracted Ebola," Johnson said in a statement.

"As a global mission, we are surrounding our missionary with prayer, as well as our Liberian SIM/ELWA colleagues, who continue fighting the Ebola epidemic in Liberia. We have gifted Liberian doctors, medical staff and support staff who are carrying on the fight."

SIM USA says the infected doctor is "doing well and is in good spirits."

It remains unclear how he or she contracted the virus as Ebola patients are treated in isolation units far from obstetrics on SIM USA's 136-acre ELWA hospital campus.