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Ebola: British man begins treatment in London hospital | Ebola: British man begins treatment in London hospital |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Doctors at a hospital in north-west London have begun treating a Briton who contracted Ebola in Sierra Leone. | Doctors at a hospital in north-west London have begun treating a Briton who contracted Ebola in Sierra Leone. |
The man has been named as William Pooley, a 29-year-old volunteer nurse, by a US scientist who worked with him. | The man has been named as William Pooley, a 29-year-old volunteer nurse, by a US scientist who worked with him. |
Mr Pooley was flown to RAF Northolt in a specially equipped military aircraft on Sunday and taken under police escort to Hampstead's Royal Free Hospital. | |
He volunteered to go to west Africa to care for victims of the Ebola outbreak which has killed almost 1,500 people. | He volunteered to go to west Africa to care for victims of the Ebola outbreak which has killed almost 1,500 people. |
It is the first confirmed case of a Briton contracting the virus during the current outbreak. | It is the first confirmed case of a Briton contracting the virus during the current outbreak. |
'Remarkable man' | 'Remarkable man' |
Mr Pooley, believed to be from Woodbridge in Suffolk, was flown out of Sierra Leone's main airport in Lungi, in a RAF C-17 transport aircraft. | |
He will be treated in a specialist isolation unit for patients with highly infectious disease, the only one of its kind in Europe. | He will be treated in a specialist isolation unit for patients with highly infectious disease, the only one of its kind in Europe. |
A special tent ensures medical staff can interact with the patient but are separated by plastic and rubber. | A special tent ensures medical staff can interact with the patient but are separated by plastic and rubber. |
Mr Pooley was described by a colleague in Kenema district, Robert F Garry, as a "remarkable young man and a natural leader". | Mr Pooley was described by a colleague in Kenema district, Robert F Garry, as a "remarkable young man and a natural leader". |
There is no cure for Ebola but with treatment of the symptoms, and proper hydration, patients have a chance of survival. | There is no cure for Ebola but with treatment of the symptoms, and proper hydration, patients have a chance of survival. |
Prof Jonathan Ball, a virologist at Nottingham University, said there would be immediate testing to ensure all organs were functioning. | Prof Jonathan Ball, a virologist at Nottingham University, said there would be immediate testing to ensure all organs were functioning. |
"He really is in the best place and will have the best possible care," he said. | "He really is in the best place and will have the best possible care," he said. |
At the scene | |
Jon Ironmonger, BBC News | |
Whisked into the Royal Free Hospital late on Sunday night under police escort was a man whose noisy arrival was quickly replaced by the everyday comings and goings of a rainy bank holiday morning. | |
Inside the building a rare drama is unfolding - the meticulous treatment of the first British person infected by the Ebola outbreak. | |
The volunteer nurse is being treated in an isolation unit which is the only one of its kind in Europe, and more sophisticated than any facility in west Africa. | |
Doctors will interact with him behind the plastic of an airtight tent to avoid the risk of contamination. | |
They will attend to his symptoms, particularly dehydration, but Ebola has no proven cure, so the main battle is down to him and his body's ability to fight the virus. | |
Last week, two Americans who had contracted the disease in Liberia made a recovery and were discharged from hospital after being given an experimental drug called ZMapp in the US. | Last week, two Americans who had contracted the disease in Liberia made a recovery and were discharged from hospital after being given an experimental drug called ZMapp in the US. |
Officials in Liberia also said three medical staff have shown signs of improvement after taking the drug. | Officials in Liberia also said three medical staff have shown signs of improvement after taking the drug. |
The US manufacturer of ZMapp has said supplies of the drug are exhausted, but the Department of Health said it was working to source any remaining doses. | The US manufacturer of ZMapp has said supplies of the drug are exhausted, but the Department of Health said it was working to source any remaining doses. |
Department of Health deputy chief medical officer Prof John Watson has said the risk of Ebola to the UK remains "very low". | Department of Health deputy chief medical officer Prof John Watson has said the risk of Ebola to the UK remains "very low". |
The World Health Organization has estimated 2,615 people in west Africa have been infected with Ebola since March. | The World Health Organization has estimated 2,615 people in west Africa have been infected with Ebola since March. |
Health officials have reported the first cases outside west Africa, in the Democratic Republic of Congo. | Health officials have reported the first cases outside west Africa, in the Democratic Republic of Congo. |
The virus is spread between humans through direct contact with infected bodily fluids. It is one of the world's deadliest diseases, potentially with a mortality rate of 90%. However, the current outbreak has a fatality rate of 55%. | The virus is spread between humans through direct contact with infected bodily fluids. It is one of the world's deadliest diseases, potentially with a mortality rate of 90%. However, the current outbreak has a fatality rate of 55%. |
Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) | Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) |
Have you or has someone you know been affected by the current Ebola outbreak? You can email your experiences to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Have you or has someone you know been affected by the current Ebola outbreak? You can email your experiences to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |