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Ebola nurse Pauline Cafferkey shows 'significant improvement' Ebola nurse Pauline Cafferkey shows 'significant improvement'
(about 1 hour later)
British nurse Pauline McCafferkey has shown significant improvement after suffering meningitis brought on by a reemergence of the Ebola infection she sustained nine months ago, according to doctors treating her at the Royal Free hospital in north London. British nurse Pauline Cafferkey has shown significant improvement after suffering meningitis brought on by a re-emergence of the Ebola infection she contracted nine months ago, doctors treating her have said.
Pauline Cafferkey, who contracted Ebola in December while volunteering in Sierra Leone, was readmitted to hospital to a specialist isolation unit at the Royal Free earlier this month after suffering unusual complications linked to the original infection. The medical team also confirmed she had come close to death. “It is really important to understand the word critical. It means someone is at imminent risk of dying, we were all extremely concerned about Pauline’s condition a week ago,” said Dr Michael Jacobs, the infectious diseases consultant at the Royal Free hospital in north London who was overseeing her care.
But Dr Michael Jacobs, infectious diseases consultant at the Royal Free in London, said: “She is much better now,” after suffering neurological complications caused by the meningitis. He said she was still in bed inside the isolation unit at the hospital but was talking to staff, using an iPad and even eating a little. But he cautioned: “I think she has a long recovery ahead of her.” His words came as the hospital confirmed her condition had improved from “critically ill” to “serious but stable”.
On Monday, the Royal Free said Cafferkey’s condition had improved from critically ill to “serious but stable”. Cafferkey, who contracted Ebola in December while volunteering in Sierra Leone, was readmitted to a specialist isolation unit at the Royal Free earlier this month after suffering unusual complications linked to the original infection.
She was admitted to the Royal Free two weeks ago after suffering complications from the Ebola infection she contracted while volunteering at a hospital in west Africa. Related: British Ebola nurse readmitted to hospital in 'serious condition'
Her condition deteriorated and last Wednesday the hospital announced that she was critically ill. Cafferkey was flown to the hospital from her Glasgow home on 9 October after falling ill. But Jacobs said “she is much better now” after suffering neurological complications caused by the meningitis. He said she was still in bed inside the isolation unit but was talking to staff, using an iPad and even eating a little. But he cautioned: “I think she has a long recovery ahead of her.”
A day before she was admitted to hospital, Cafferkey, 39, was well enough to visit Mossneuk primary school in East Kilbride, where she gave a presentation to thank children for their fundraising efforts. There was no suggestion that she appeared unwell while she was there. He revealed that she had tested positive for the Ebola virus when she went to hospital in Glasgow before her transfer to London.
“She became unwell with meningitis caused by the Ebola virus. She had not been reinfected with Ebola,” he said. “It was inside the brain replicating at a very low level probably.”
Jacobs revealed Cafferkey had been treated with an experimental drug, GS5734, which is being tested on humans. “We hope in time the virus will be completely eradicated,” he added.
Cafferkey was admitted to the Royal Free two weeks ago. Her condition deteriorated and last Wednesday the hospital announced that she was critically ill. Cafferkey was flown to the hospital from her Glasgow home on 9 October after falling ill.
A day before she was admitted, the 39-year-old was well enough to visit Mossneuk primary school in East Kilbride, where she gave a presentation to thank children for their fundraising efforts. There was no suggestion that she appeared unwell while she was there.
According to the BBC, relatives said when she first felt ill and saw her GP she described symptoms similar to those of meningitis.According to the BBC, relatives said when she first felt ill and saw her GP she described symptoms similar to those of meningitis.
Related: Ebola study finds women in Guinea who appear immune to the virusRelated: Ebola study finds women in Guinea who appear immune to the virus
NEW FROM HERE Little is known about the long-term side effects of Ebola, but it is now known that the virus lingers on in areas the immune defence system cannot reach including the testicles, the central nervous system and eyes.
Little is known about the long term side effects of Ebola but it is now known that the virus lingers on in areas which the immune defence system cannot reach including the testes, the central nervous system and eyes.
It is believed that the virus continues to leach out of these “immune privileged” sites but that the immune response to the first infection remains at a heightened level for at least a year and instantly kills off the remaining virus as it enters the blood stream.It is believed that the virus continues to leach out of these “immune privileged” sites but that the immune response to the first infection remains at a heightened level for at least a year and instantly kills off the remaining virus as it enters the blood stream.
Dr Daniel Bausch, technical lead on the clinical management team for pandemic and epidemic diseases at the World Health Organisation said: “She was being treated for complications after tests showed the infection was still present in her system. Dr Daniel Bausch, technical lead on the clinical management team for pandemic and epidemic diseases at the World Health Organisation, said: “She was being treated for complications after tests showed the infection was still present in her system.”
END NEW
Cafferkey was first diagnosed with Ebola after spending four weeks working in Sierra Leone, mostly with Save the Children at its Ebola treatment centre outside the capital, Freetown. She began to feel ill when she arrived back at Heathrow airport on 28 December last year. At that point, Cafferkey informed staff from Public Health England, who were assessing returnees, but she was cleared to fly on to Glasgow.Cafferkey was first diagnosed with Ebola after spending four weeks working in Sierra Leone, mostly with Save the Children at its Ebola treatment centre outside the capital, Freetown. She began to feel ill when she arrived back at Heathrow airport on 28 December last year. At that point, Cafferkey informed staff from Public Health England, who were assessing returnees, but she was cleared to fly on to Glasgow.
The following day, she was admitted to the infectious diseases unit of Gartnavel General hospital in Glasgow and was transferred by RAF aircraft to the Royal Free on 30 December. The following day, she was admitted to the infectious diseases unit of Gartnavel general hospital in Glasgow and was transferred by RAF aircraft to the Royal Free on 30 December.
On 3 January, the hospital issued a statement saying Cafferkey was in a critical condition, but her immune system rallied, with the help of intensive medical support. On 24 January she was discharged, saying she was “happy to be alive”. On 3 January, the hospital issued a statement saying Cafferkey was in a critical condition, but her immune system rallied with the help of intensive medical support. On 24 January she was discharged, saying she was “happy to be alive”.