Friends raise money for US journalist with Ebola

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Friends of the American freelance journalist with Ebola are turning to crowdsourcing to help pay for what they say is expected to be more than $500,000 in medical bills.

Ashoka Mukpo (ah-SHOH'-kuh MUK'-poh), of Providence, Rhode Island, contracted Ebola while covering the crisis in Liberia. He was working for NBC News as a cameraman when he was diagnosed.

NBC and the VICE Media Group say they're coordinating to assist in paying for his medical care. NBC says it wants a solution where he and his family won't have to pay anything.

A fundraiser on the website Gofundme had raised more than $47,000 by Monday afternoon, with more than 650 donations.

The fundraising page says Mukpo's travelers' insurance doesn't cover his treatment.

Nebraska Medical Center has said Mukpo is improving.