Scottish Ebola nurse back in isolation

Image
Press Trust of India London
Last Updated : Oct 09 2015 | 4:22 PM IST
A 39-year-old Scottish nurse who had contracted the deadly Ebola in West Africa was today readmitted to an isolation unit after she developed what appears to be a very rare reactivation of the virus at a hospital here.
Pauline Cafferkey has been flown to the Royal Free hospital for treatment of an "unusual late complication" of the infection.
She was admitted to the Queen Elizabeth University hospital in Glasgow yesterday after feeling unwell.
Cafferkey was transported from Glasgow early today in a military aircraft under supervision.
She recovered following treatment in isolation at the hospital, the UK's specialist treatment centre for Ebola.
The Greater Glasgow health board said the virus was present in Cafferkey but that it was left over from the original infection.
A government source said the transfer to the specialist unit was a "highly precautionary process."
"We can confirm that Pauline Cafferkey was transferred from the Queen Elizabeth University hospital in Glasgow to the Royal Free London hospital in the early hours of this morning due to an unusual late complication of her previous infection by the Ebola virus," the Royal Free hospital said in a statement.
The Ebola virus can only be transmitted by direct contact with the blood or bodily fluids of an infected person while they are symptomatic so the risk to the general public remains low and the NHS has well-established and practised infection control procedures in place.
Cafferkey contracted Ebola while working in a Save the Children treatment centre in Kerry Town, Sierra Leone.
The nurse arrived at Heathrow on December 28 and complained that she was developing a fever. Her temperature was found to be in the normal range and she was allowed to fly on to Glasgow.
"Pauline's condition is a complication of a previous infection with the Ebola virus. The risk to the public is very low."
The World Health Organisation admits not much is known about the long-term implications after having Ebola.
More than 11,000 people in West Africa died during the recent outbreak.
Last week there were no new cases for the first time since March 2014.
*Subscribe to Business Standard digital and get complimentary access to The New York Times

Smart Quarterly

₹900

3 Months

₹300/Month

SAVE 25%

Smart Essential

₹2,700

1 Year

₹225/Month

SAVE 46%
*Complimentary New York Times access for the 2nd year will be given after 12 months

Super Saver

₹3,900

2 Years

₹162/Month

Subscribe

Renews automatically, cancel anytime

Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans

Exclusive premium stories online

  • Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors

Complimentary Access to The New York Times

  • News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic

Business Standard Epaper

  • Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share

Curated Newsletters

  • Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox

Market Analysis & Investment Insights

  • In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor

Archives

  • Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997

Ad-free Reading

  • Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements

Seamless Access Across All Devices

  • Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app

More From This Section

First Published: Oct 09 2015 | 4:22 PM IST

Next Story