Dallas nurse Nina Pham free of Ebola, released from hospital

WASHINGTON (WABC) -- The first nurse diagnosed with Ebola after treating an infected man at a Dallas hospital is free of the virus and released from the hospital.

Nina Pham told reporters outside the hospital, "I feel fortunate and blessed to be standing here today," adding she is eager to try to resume "a normal life" and reunite with her dog, Bentley.

The 26-year-old Pham arrived last week at the NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. She had been flown there from Texas Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas.

Officials said Pham has had 5 negative blood tests free of Ebola. Her mother and sister joined her at the news conference.

"I am on my way back to recovery even as I reflect on others who have not been so fortunate," she said, reading from a short, prepared statement thanking the people who treated her, prayed for her and Dr Kent Brantly for, "selflessly donating plasma to me."

She declined to take questions, "This whole experience has been very stressful for me and my family...It will be a while before I have my strength back so I ask for privacy."

Dr. Anthony Fauci, infectious disease chief at the NIH, gave Pham a hug and told reporters that five consecutive tests showed no virus left in her blood. Five tests is way beyond the norm, he stressed, but his team did extra testing because the NIH is a research hospital.

"She is cured of Ebola, let's get that clear," Fauci said.

Pham is one of two nurses in Dallas who became infected with Ebola while treating Thomas Eric Duncan, who died of the virus Oct. 8.

She was set to meet with President Obama on Friday afternoon.