US President Barack Obama spoke by phone from Beijing on Wednesday with Dr. Craig Spencer, an American health-care worker who contracted Ebola while working to combat the disease in Guinea, the White House announced. Obama called Spencer, who on Tuesday was released from Bellevue Hospital in New York City after being declared Ebola-free, to herald his recovery, the announcement said.
"The President commended Dr. Spencer for his selflessness and compassion in fighting this disease on the front lines in West Africa," it said. "The President underscored that his administration would continue to support those who, similar to Dr. Spencer, who wish to act on that admirable commitment to serve others." Obama noted that the most effective way to protect against Ebola cases at home is to continue to fight the disease at its source, and he thanked Spencer for his service to his country and to the people of West Africa, it said.