Aid worker Kent Brantly issues a statement from his isolation room as Canada deals with its first suspected victim.
An American doctor being treated for ebola has revealed he is “growing stronger every day” in an emotional statement from his isolation room.
Aid worker Kent Brantly is in confinement at a hospital in Atlanta, Georgia after contracting the disease – which has killed almost 1,000 – in Liberia.
“I am writing this update from my isolation room at Emory University Hospital, where the doctors and nurses are providing the very best care possible.
“I am growing stronger every day,” he wrote.
Dr Brantly – who returned to the US a week ago – went on to explain how his faith provided comfort upon learning he had the “terrible disease”.
“When I started feeling ill on that Wednesday morning, I immediately isolated myself until the test confirmed my diagnosis three days later,” he said.
“When the result was positive, I remember a deep sense of peace that was beyond all understanding.”
The World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the ebola outbreak in West Africa an international health emergency on Friday.
The declaration came amid reports a Canadian hospital had isolated a suspected victim who arrived from Nigeria.
Two patients are being treated in the US and one in Spain, while a Saudi Arabian man died from ebola-like symptoms this week after visiting Sierra Leone.
The epidemic is otherwise confined to Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea and Nigeria.
Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan declared a national emergency on Friday as a ninth case was reported.
There is no licensed treatment or vaccine for ebola and the death rate has been approximately 50%.
The US Agency for International Development has announced more than $12m (£7.2m) in additional funding to help curb the outbreak.
Meanwhile, the European Union has upped its contribution by €8m (£6.4m).
WHO has admitted it is struggling to cope with the largest ever ebola epidemic.
Director-general Margaret Chan said: “The outbreak is moving faster than we can control it.”