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Ebola nurse Pauline Cafferkey 'in serious condition'
BBC NEWS
OCTOBER 9, 2015 12:30 PM ET
A Scottish nurse who contracted Ebola in Sierra Leone last year is in a "serious condition" after being readmitted to an isolation unit in London.
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde confirmed that the virus is still present in Pauline Cafferkey's body after being left over from the original infection.
She is not thought to be contagious.
The 39-year-old has been flown back to the isolation unit at the Royal Free Hospital in London.
Bodily tissues can harbour the Ebola infection months after the person appears to have fully recovered.
Ms Cafferkey, from Cambuslang in South Lanarkshire, spent almost a month in the unit at the beginning of the year after contracting the virus in December 2014.
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) said she had been admitted to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow on Tuesday after feeling unwell and was treated in its infectious diseases unit.
She was then transferred to the Royal Free Hospital in the early hours of Friday morning due to an "unusual late complication" in her illness.
Dr Emilia Crighton, NHSGGC director of public health, said: "Pauline's condition is a complication of a previous infection with the Ebola virus.
"The risk to the public is very low. In line with normal procedures in cases such as this, we have identified a small number of close contacts of Pauline's that we will be following up as a precaution."
Government sources have described her transfer to the specialist unit as a "highly precautionary process".
He said the effects of the virus on the body could last for up to two years, although it was difficult to know how long it could actually persist.
He added: "The nice news here is that she's beaten the virus once so she can probably beat it again.
"The odds are that she has actually inherited a lucky set of genes and these are probably what protected her the first time and probably what will keep her safe the second time regardless of any treatment. The outlook's good."
Ebola is passed on through bodily fluids. It is not transmitted through casual contact.
Last week Ms Cafferkey, who works at the Blantyre Health Centre, was in London receiving an award at the Pride of Britain ceremony which recognised the risks aid workers took with their own health.
There are not thought to be any concerns about contact she had with people at the event but health officials in Scotland are focusing on who she had seen since her return home.
Ms Cafferkey contracted Ebola while working as a volunteer with Save the Children at a treatment centre in Kerry Town, in Sierra Leone.
She was diagnosed on 29 December last year, after returning to Glasgow via London.
Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Ms Cafferkey contracted Ebola while working as a volunteer in Sierra Leone last year Her temperature had been tested seven times before she flew from Heathrow to Glasgow and she was cleared to travel, before later falling ill.
She was placed in an isolation unit at Glasgow's Gartnavel Hospital after becoming feverish, before being transferred by an RAF Hercules plane to London on 30 December.
She was then transferred to the specialist isolation unit at the Royal Free.
After a few days Ms Cafferkey's condition began to deteriorate, with the hospital announcing she had become critically ill on 4 January.
After leaving hospital later the same month, Ms Cafferkey said she was "very happy to be alive" and was looking forward to returning to "normal life".
An investigation by Save the Children later concluded that the nurse had probably caught Ebola by wearing a visor instead of goggles while treating patients.
Ebola virus disease (EVD)
Image copyright SPL
NHS Lanarkshire said she had begun a phased return to work in mid-March, and had last been at work on 1 October.
Consultant in Public Health David Cromie said: "Pauline was well while at work and there is no wider public health risk for patients treated by her or her staff colleagues.
"In line with normal procedures in cases such as this, a small number of close contacts of Pauline have been identified and will be followed up as a precaution.
"Together with Pauline's colleagues, our thoughts are with Pauline and we wish her a full speedy recovery."
BBC NEWS
OCTOBER 9, 2015 12:30 PM ET
A Scottish nurse who contracted Ebola in Sierra Leone last year is in a "serious condition" after being readmitted to an isolation unit in London.
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde confirmed that the virus is still present in Pauline Cafferkey's body after being left over from the original infection.
She is not thought to be contagious.
The 39-year-old has been flown back to the isolation unit at the Royal Free Hospital in London.
Bodily tissues can harbour the Ebola infection months after the person appears to have fully recovered.
Ms Cafferkey, from Cambuslang in South Lanarkshire, spent almost a month in the unit at the beginning of the year after contracting the virus in December 2014.
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) said she had been admitted to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow on Tuesday after feeling unwell and was treated in its infectious diseases unit.
She was then transferred to the Royal Free Hospital in the early hours of Friday morning due to an "unusual late complication" in her illness.
Dr Emilia Crighton, NHSGGC director of public health, said: "Pauline's condition is a complication of a previous infection with the Ebola virus.
"The risk to the public is very low. In line with normal procedures in cases such as this, we have identified a small number of close contacts of Pauline's that we will be following up as a precaution."
Government sources have described her transfer to the specialist unit as a "highly precautionary process".
He said the effects of the virus on the body could last for up to two years, although it was difficult to know how long it could actually persist.
He added: "The nice news here is that she's beaten the virus once so she can probably beat it again.
"The odds are that she has actually inherited a lucky set of genes and these are probably what protected her the first time and probably what will keep her safe the second time regardless of any treatment. The outlook's good."
Ebola is passed on through bodily fluids. It is not transmitted through casual contact.
Last week Ms Cafferkey, who works at the Blantyre Health Centre, was in London receiving an award at the Pride of Britain ceremony which recognised the risks aid workers took with their own health.
There are not thought to be any concerns about contact she had with people at the event but health officials in Scotland are focusing on who she had seen since her return home.
Ms Cafferkey contracted Ebola while working as a volunteer with Save the Children at a treatment centre in Kerry Town, in Sierra Leone.
She was diagnosed on 29 December last year, after returning to Glasgow via London.
Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Ms Cafferkey contracted Ebola while working as a volunteer in Sierra Leone last year Her temperature had been tested seven times before she flew from Heathrow to Glasgow and she was cleared to travel, before later falling ill.
She was placed in an isolation unit at Glasgow's Gartnavel Hospital after becoming feverish, before being transferred by an RAF Hercules plane to London on 30 December.
She was then transferred to the specialist isolation unit at the Royal Free.
After a few days Ms Cafferkey's condition began to deteriorate, with the hospital announcing she had become critically ill on 4 January.
After leaving hospital later the same month, Ms Cafferkey said she was "very happy to be alive" and was looking forward to returning to "normal life".
An investigation by Save the Children later concluded that the nurse had probably caught Ebola by wearing a visor instead of goggles while treating patients.
Ebola virus disease (EVD)
Image copyright SPL
- Symptoms include high fever, bleeding and central nervous system damage
- Spread by body fluids, such as blood and saliva
- Fatality rate can reach 90% - but current outbreak has mortality rate of about 55%
- Incubation period is two to 21 days
- There is no proven vaccine or cure
- Supportive care such as rehydrating patients who have diarrhoea and vomiting can help recovery
- Fruit bats, a delicacy for some West Africans, are considered to be virus's natural host
NHS Lanarkshire said she had begun a phased return to work in mid-March, and had last been at work on 1 October.
Consultant in Public Health David Cromie said: "Pauline was well while at work and there is no wider public health risk for patients treated by her or her staff colleagues.
"In line with normal procedures in cases such as this, a small number of close contacts of Pauline have been identified and will be followed up as a precaution.
"Together with Pauline's colleagues, our thoughts are with Pauline and we wish her a full speedy recovery."
