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Scottish Ebola nurse Pauline Cafferkey 'critically ill' | Scottish Ebola nurse Pauline Cafferkey 'critically ill' |
(35 minutes later) | |
Scottish nurse Pauline Cafferkey, who is being treated for complications from Ebola, is now "critically ill", doctors have said. | Scottish nurse Pauline Cafferkey, who is being treated for complications from Ebola, is now "critically ill", doctors have said. |
Ms Cafferkey, 39, was readmitted to a specialist isolation unit at the Royal Free Hospital in London last week. | Ms Cafferkey, 39, was readmitted to a specialist isolation unit at the Royal Free Hospital in London last week. |
The hospital said in a statement that her condition had deteriorated. | The hospital said in a statement that her condition had deteriorated. |
Ms Cafferkey contracted Ebola while working at a treatment centre in Sierra Leone last year. | Ms Cafferkey contracted Ebola while working at a treatment centre in Sierra Leone last year. |
She spent almost a month in isolation at the Royal Free at the beginning of the year after the virus was detected when she arrived back in the UK. | She spent almost a month in isolation at the Royal Free at the beginning of the year after the virus was detected when she arrived back in the UK. |
She was later discharged after apparently making a full recovery, but it was discovered last week that Ebola was still present in her body. | She was later discharged after apparently making a full recovery, but it was discovered last week that Ebola was still present in her body. |
Bodily tissues can harbour the Ebola infection months after the person appears to have fully recovered. | Bodily tissues can harbour the Ebola infection months after the person appears to have fully recovered. |
A statement released by the hospital on Tuesday said: "We are sad to announce that Pauline Cafferkey's condition has deteriorated and she is now critically ill. | A statement released by the hospital on Tuesday said: "We are sad to announce that Pauline Cafferkey's condition has deteriorated and she is now critically ill. |
"She is being treated for Ebola in the high level isolation unit at the Royal Free Hospital." | "She is being treated for Ebola in the high level isolation unit at the Royal Free Hospital." |
Analysis by Fergus Walsh, BBC medical correspondent | Analysis by Fergus Walsh, BBC medical correspondent |
"We are not being given any more details but earlier this week her family spoke out - they were very unhappy about how last week apparently she had been sent home after going to an out-of-hours GP. | "We are not being given any more details but earlier this week her family spoke out - they were very unhappy about how last week apparently she had been sent home after going to an out-of-hours GP. |
"And of course she's a nurse, and described the symptoms of meningitis. Now that would fit with one of the possible scenarios. | "And of course she's a nurse, and described the symptoms of meningitis. Now that would fit with one of the possible scenarios. |
"What has happened to her is that although she fought off successfully being critically ill once before, somehow the virus stayed lodged in parts of her body. | "What has happened to her is that although she fought off successfully being critically ill once before, somehow the virus stayed lodged in parts of her body. |
"It could well be the spinal cord and if she does have meningitis, that would be inflammation of the spinal cord - and extremely difficult to treat. | "It could well be the spinal cord and if she does have meningitis, that would be inflammation of the spinal cord - and extremely difficult to treat. |
"She has fought this off once before. The same team will be hoping she can fight it off again." | "She has fought this off once before. The same team will be hoping she can fight it off again." |
Ms Cafferkey had initially gone to an out of hours doctor in Glasgow on Monday of last week, but was sent home after being told she probably had a virus. | Ms Cafferkey had initially gone to an out of hours doctor in Glasgow on Monday of last week, but was sent home after being told she probably had a virus. |
Her family has claimed doctors "missed a big opportunity" to spot she had fallen ill again. | Her family has claimed doctors "missed a big opportunity" to spot she had fallen ill again. |
She was admitted to the city's Queen Elizabeth University Hospital the following day after continuing to feel unwell, before being transferred to the Royal Free in a military aircraft on Friday morning. | She was admitted to the city's Queen Elizabeth University Hospital the following day after continuing to feel unwell, before being transferred to the Royal Free in a military aircraft on Friday morning. |
Dr Ben Neuman, a virologist at the University of Reading, told the BBC that the medical team treating Ms Cafferkey was in "completely uncharted territory". | |
He added: "It may be that the virus has gotten into a place where the immune system can't root it out, and that what we are seeing right now is essentially a frustrated immune system overreacting and basically hurting some of the other organs. | |
"We don't know what Ebola looks like the second time around or after a big relapse like this. Right now, she has had this virus about three times as long as the other previous record holder. | |
"It is bad news, but it is not hopeless news. As long as she is still there, and as long as she is still fighting, there is a chance. | |
"And there is a chance that some of the new medicines that we have got against Ebola may be able to help a little bit." | |
Ms Cafferkey had returned to work as a public health nurse at Blantyre Health Centre in South Lanarkshire. | Ms Cafferkey had returned to work as a public health nurse at Blantyre Health Centre in South Lanarkshire. |
She had been well enough last Monday to visit Mossneuk Primary School in East Kilbride to thank children for their fund-raising efforts. | She had been well enough last Monday to visit Mossneuk Primary School in East Kilbride to thank children for their fund-raising efforts. |
And the previous week, she had received a Pride of Britain award in London, which also saw her meet the prime minister's wife, Samantha Cameron, at 10 Downing Street. | And the previous week, she had received a Pride of Britain award in London, which also saw her meet the prime minister's wife, Samantha Cameron, at 10 Downing Street. |
The Ebola outbreak in west Africa has killed 11,312 of the 28,457 people infected since December 2013, according to the latest WHO figures. | The Ebola outbreak in west Africa has killed 11,312 of the 28,457 people infected since December 2013, according to the latest WHO figures. |