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Scottish Ebola nurse Pauline Cafferkey 'critically ill' Ebola nurse Pauline Cafferkey now 'critically ill'
(about 1 hour later)
Scottish nurse Pauline Cafferkey, who is being treated for complications from Ebola, is now "critically ill", doctors have said. A nurse who contracted Ebola while working in West Africa is now "critically ill" with complications arising from the infection.
Ms Cafferkey, 39, was readmitted to a specialist isolation unit at the Royal Free Hospital in London last week. Pauline Cafferkey 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, 39, from Cambuslang in South Lanarkshire, 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 The BBC's Tulip Mazumdar recalls a recent meeting with Pauline Cafferkey.
"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. I met Pauline Cafferkey two weeks ago just after she'd collected an award at the Pride of Britain awards in London.
"And of course she's a nurse, and described the symptoms of meningitis. Now that would fit with one of the possible scenarios. It was in recognition of her and hundreds of other British health workers and support staff who'd put their lives on the line to help fight Ebola in West Africa.
"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. She was in good spirits, but quite tired from a night of partying the evening before. She'd half jokingly told me that some of the after effects she'd been experiencing - joint pains, thyroid problems- was down to being "a bit older" than the other two British Ebola survivors, who hadn't reported such problems.
"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. But days after our interview she was taken ill in Glasgow and flown down to the isolation unit in London. She took the brave decision to travel to Sierra Leone to help save lives, despite being well aware of the risks, and she continues to pay a heavy price for it.
"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".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.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."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."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.""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.