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Scottish Ebola nurse flown to specialist hospital in London Scottish Ebola nurse flown to specialist hospital in London
(34 minutes later)
Pauline Cafferkey, the Scottish nurse who contracted Ebola in west Africa last year, has been flown to the Royal Free hospital in London for treatment. Pauline Cafferkey, the Scottish nurse who contracted Ebola in west Africa last year, has been flown to the Royal Free hospital in London for treatment of an unusual late complication of the infection.
She had worked in Sierra Leone at the end of last year, and was diagnosed with the virus on her return to the UK in December. The 39-year-old was transported from Glasgow in a military aircraft under supervision. People who have been in close contact with her are being monitored by Scottish health authorities as a precaution.
Following treatment in isolation at the Royal Free, the UK’s specialist treatment centre for Ebola, Cafferkey made a recovery. Cafferkey worked in Sierra Leone at the end of last year, and was diagnosed with the virus on her return to the UK in December. Following treatment in isolation at the Royal Free, the UK’s specialist treatment centre for Ebola, Cafferkey made a recovery.
There is no confirmation her condition has anything to do with the virus and her transfer to London has been described by the BBC as “highly precautionary”. 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”.
In a statement, the Royal Free said: “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.
“She will now be treated in isolation in the hospital’s high-level isolation unit under nationally agreed guidelines.
“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.Cafferkey contracted Ebola while working in a Save the Children treatment centre in Kerry Town, Sierra Leone.
The nurse arrived at Heathrow on 28 December 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.The nurse arrived at Heathrow on 28 December 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.
Once home, her condition worsened and she was flown to the Royal Free, where she spent three weeks in a critical condition before recovering.Once home, her condition worsened and she was flown to the Royal Free, where she spent three weeks in a critical condition before recovering.
She contracted the disease while using a visor rather than goggles to treat patients at the facility, an internal investigation by Save the Children found.She contracted the disease while using a visor rather than goggles to treat patients at the facility, an internal investigation by Save the Children found.
“She was not able to use the standard protective goggles used there because she could not get them to fit properly,” the report said. “She acquired a visor that was the same as the one which she had used in her initial training but that was not used by Save the Children.“She was not able to use the standard protective goggles used there because she could not get them to fit properly,” the report said. “She acquired a visor that was the same as the one which she had used in her initial training but that was not used by Save the Children.
“Both visors and goggles are equally safe but there are slight differences in the types of clothing worn with each, and in the protocols for putting the equipment on and taking it off.”“Both visors and goggles are equally safe but there are slight differences in the types of clothing worn with each, and in the protocols for putting the equipment on and taking it off.”
The report added: “Although the procedures, equipment and protocols used at the ETC [Ebola treatment centre] are considered safe, they are only effective if applied as prescribed. Compliance (human factors) is a key factor.”The report added: “Although the procedures, equipment and protocols used at the ETC [Ebola treatment centre] are considered safe, they are only effective if applied as prescribed. Compliance (human factors) is a key factor.”