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Scottish Ebola nurse readmitted to hospital after infection complication Scottish Ebola nurse readmitted to hospital after infection complication
(35 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 of an unusual late complication of the infection.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.
The 39-year-old was admitted to the Queen Elizabeth University hospital in Glasgow on Tuesday after feeling unwell. During this time she was treated in the infectious diseases unit. The 39-year-old was admitted to the Queen Elizabeth University hospital in Glasgow on Tuesday after feeling unwell. During her time there she was treated in the infectious diseases unit.
Cafferkey was transported from Glasgow in the early hours of Friday morning in a military aircraft under supervision.Cafferkey was transported from Glasgow in the early hours of Friday morning in a military aircraft under supervision.
Related: Nurse who contracted Ebola released from hospitalRelated: Nurse who contracted Ebola released from hospital
Dr Emilia Crighton, the 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.”Dr Emilia Crighton, the 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.”
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. She recovered following treatment in isolation at the Royal Free, the UK’s specialist treatment centre for Ebola.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. She recovered following treatment in isolation at the Royal Free, 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”.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.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.“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.”“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 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.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.
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.”
Last week McCafferkey was in London to collect a Pride of Britain award at the Daily Mirror’s annual event. Last week, McCafferkey was in London to collect a Pride of Britain award at the Daily Mirror’s annual event. In an interview with the BBC before the awards, she told how she continued to be affected by the virus after her recovery, revealing her hair had fallen out.
In an interview with the BBC before the awards she told how she continued to be affected by the virus after her recovery, revealing her hair had fallen out.
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“So it’s taken me a good few months to recover from it, that’s the thing you don’t know long-term wise, hopefully this is the end of it, you just don’t know,” she said. “So it’s taken me a good few months to recover from it. That’s the thing you don’t know long-term wise. Hopefully this is the end of it. You just don’t know,” she said.
More than a year after the epidemic, doctors are still learning about the long-term effects of Ebola. More than a year after the epidemic, doctors are still learning about the long-term effects of Ebola. Before this latest outbreak it was it was known the virus remained in semen and vaginal fluid and survivors were advised to abstain from sex for three months after recovery.
Before this outbreak it was it was known the virus remained in semen and vaginal fluid and survivors were advised to abstain from sex for three months after recovery.
Since the outbreak in west Africa, more research into the convalescent period has been conducted. US researchers and medics have discovered that the virus also continues to be present in ocular fluid in the eye and in spinal fluid.Since the outbreak in west Africa, more research into the convalescent period has been conducted. US researchers and medics have discovered that the virus also continues to be present in ocular fluid in the eye and in spinal fluid.
One doctor in the US, Ian Crozier, who contracted the virus in Sierra Leone, reported a burning sensation in his eyes and worsening blurred vision two months after his recovery.One doctor in the US, Ian Crozier, who contracted the virus in Sierra Leone, reported a burning sensation in his eyes and worsening blurred vision two months after his recovery.
In an interview in the New York Times he revealed that one of his eyes had changed colour about four months after being diagnosed. The pressure inside his eye, which had been dangerously elevated, began to drop. The eye became doughy to the touch, as if it were turning to mush. “The eye felt dead to me,” Crozier said. In an interview in the New York Times, he revealed that one of his eyes had changed colour about four months after being diagnosed. The pressure inside his eye, which had been dangerously elevated, began to drop. The eye became doughy to the touch, as if it were turning to mush. “The eye felt dead to me,” Crozier said.
The biggest shock came one morning about 10 days after his symptoms started, when he glanced in the mirror and saw that one eye, normally blue, had turned green.The biggest shock came one morning about 10 days after his symptoms started, when he glanced in the mirror and saw that one eye, normally blue, had turned green.
Over the next few months his vision recovered and his eye returned to its natural colour. Scientists from Emory University School of Medicine found the fluid in his eye had live Ebola virus.Over the next few months his vision recovered and his eye returned to its natural colour. Scientists from Emory University School of Medicine found the fluid in his eye had live Ebola virus.
Related: UK expert warns of disaster if lessons are not learned from Ebola outbreakRelated: UK expert warns of disaster if lessons are not learned from Ebola outbreak
Dr John S Schieffelin, a physician from the Tulane University School of Medicine in the US who studied survivors in Kenema in Sierra Leone, where both Crozier and British nurse Will Pooley contracted the virus, said the main problems seemed to be joint pains, chronic headaches and an interruption of menstrual periods in women.Dr John S Schieffelin, a physician from the Tulane University School of Medicine in the US who studied survivors in Kenema in Sierra Leone, where both Crozier and British nurse Will Pooley contracted the virus, said the main problems seemed to be joint pains, chronic headaches and an interruption of menstrual periods in women.
“I have met one former patient who appears to be deaf,” he told the New York Times.“I have met one former patient who appears to be deaf,” he told the New York Times.
The hearing loss could result from brain inflammation or very low blood pressure for an extended period, both caused by Ebola, Schieffelin said.The hearing loss could result from brain inflammation or very low blood pressure for an extended period, both caused by Ebola, Schieffelin said.
Dr Russell Van Gelder, of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, said at the time: “This remarkable case now demonstrates that the virus can remain viable in ocular fluids long after the patient has recovered from the systemic infection. Dr Russell Van Gelder, of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, said at the time: “This remarkable case now demonstrates that the virus can remain viable in ocular fluids long after the patient has recovered from the systemic infection. If the Ebola epidemic continues, ophthalmologists throughout the world will be seeing patients with post-Ebola uveitis [inflammation], and will need to recognise and treat this condition.
“If the Ebola epidemic continues, ophthalmologists throughout the world will be seeing patients with post-Ebola uveitis [inflammation], and will need to recognise and treat this condition.
“However, I want to emphasise that as far as we know, the Ebola virus is not transmitted by casual contact. The current study does not suggest that infection can be transmitted through contact with tears of patients who have recovered from their initial infection.”“However, I want to emphasise that as far as we know, the Ebola virus is not transmitted by casual contact. The current study does not suggest that infection can be transmitted through contact with tears of patients who have recovered from their initial infection.”
Further studies by Emory University suggest the virus could remain in other “immune privileged” sites such as the central nervous system, testicles and cartilage.Further studies by Emory University suggest the virus could remain in other “immune privileged” sites such as the central nervous system, testicles and cartilage.
Orphan Dauda Fullah told the Guardian that he continued to have joint pains months after recovery.Orphan Dauda Fullah told the Guardian that he continued to have joint pains months after recovery.