An American photojournalist who contracted the dreaded Ebola virus while working in Liberia is on his way home for treatment, reports indicated on Sunday.

Set to receive treatment for the deadly virus in Omaha, 33-year-old Ashoka Mukpo began his journey back to the United States on Sunday after testing positive for the virus while he was documenting the struggles of those in Ebola-stricken countries.

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Mukpo will be confined at Nebraska Medical Center's isolation unit specialized for treating the virus that had already killed over 3,000 individuals in West Africa.

"We are ready, willing and able to care for this patient. We consider it our duty to give these American citizens the best possible care we can," said Dr. Phil Smith, Nebraska Medical Center's bio containment unit chief.

On Thursday, Mukpo was announced to be the fifth American to have contracted the disease after he began working as a freelance cameraman for NBC News last week.

According to his father, Dr. Mitchell Levy, Mukpo was "scared and worried" after learning about having the disease but confirmed that he was not feeling very ill on Sunday as he was "counting the minutes" leading up to his return.

Levy also declared that he and the rest of Mukpo's family will be travelling to Nebraska from their Rhode Island home to support him.

Those close to Mukpo, a converted Buddhist from Rhode Island, described him as someone with a passion for Liberian culture and a person who had the natural desire to help people.

A friend and a former classmate described him as "a very thoughtful, caring person" who had studied Africa with a sense of genuine altruism.

Mukpo's friends and family stated that they wish the young man the best and hope he recovers from the illness soon after he returns to the U.S. 

TagsAmerican, journalist, Nebraska, Virus, outbreak, West Africa