Samaritan’s Purse airlifts protective supplies to Ebola-stricken Liberia

Boone-based Samaritan’s Purse is airlifting more than 200,000 pounds of protective supplies to Liberia to help the West African nation fight the deadly Ebola virus.

On Wednesday, a 747 cargo jet at Charlotte Douglas International Airport was loaded with crates filled with rubber gloves, masks, disinfectants, rubber boots, raincoats and more.

“This is a drop in the bucket; much more is needed,” said Franklin Graham, who heads the Christian charity. “Samaritan’s Purse is committed to do all we can.”

Graham also called for people to pray for the people of Liberia: “Ebola is devastating. It’s the most dangerous virus in the world. It will kill you.”

The cargo jet is expected to land Thursday morning in Monrovia, the capital of Liberia and the site of a hospital and Ebola clinic that Samaritan’s Purse helps fund and operate.

One of the charity’s physicians, Dr. Kent Brantly, contracted Ebola earlier this year. Samaritan’s Purse flew him and Charlotte missionary Nancy Writebol, who also was infected with the virus, to Emory University Hospital in Atlanta, where they recovered after being treated in a special isolation unit. Tim Funk

This story was originally published October 1, 2014 at 4:34 PM with the headline "Samaritan’s Purse airlifts protective supplies to Ebola-stricken Liberia."