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British Ebola patient discharged British Ebola patient discharged
(about 11 hours later)
The first British person to contract Ebola during the outbreak in West Africa has been discharged from hospital after making a full recovery.The first British person to contract Ebola during the outbreak in West Africa has been discharged from hospital after making a full recovery.
William Pooley, 29, has been treated in a special isolation unit at the Royal Free Hospital in London.William Pooley, 29, has been treated in a special isolation unit at the Royal Free Hospital in London.
Mr Pooley was given the experimental drug ZMapp and has praised the "world class" care at the hospital.Mr Pooley was given the experimental drug ZMapp and has praised the "world class" care at the hospital.
About half of the 3,000 people infected in the outbreak, which started in Guinea, have died.About half of the 3,000 people infected in the outbreak, which started in Guinea, have died.
The pace of the outbreak has been accelerating with more than 40% of cases in the past three weeks.The pace of the outbreak has been accelerating with more than 40% of cases in the past three weeks.
Mr Pooley was working as a volunteer nurse in one of the worst affected countries, Sierra Leone, when he contracted the virus.Mr Pooley was working as a volunteer nurse in one of the worst affected countries, Sierra Leone, when he contracted the virus.
He is unsure when he became infected, but started feeling sick and needed a blood test.He is unsure when he became infected, but started feeling sick and needed a blood test.
He recalled the moment his fears were confirmed: "I was woken early that evening by one of the World Health Organization doctors and immediately I knew it was bad news.He recalled the moment his fears were confirmed: "I was woken early that evening by one of the World Health Organization doctors and immediately I knew it was bad news.
"I was worried that I was going to die, I was worried about my family and I was scared.""I was worried that I was going to die, I was worried about my family and I was scared."
'Very lucky''Very lucky'
He was flown back to the UK by the RAF on Sunday 24 August.He was flown back to the UK by the RAF on Sunday 24 August.
Mr Pooley was in the earlier stages of the disease. He had a high temperature but was not bleeding.Mr Pooley was in the earlier stages of the disease. He had a high temperature but was not bleeding.
He said: "I was very lucky in several ways; firstly in the standard of care I received, which is a world apart from what people are receiving in West Africa at the moment.He said: "I was very lucky in several ways; firstly in the standard of care I received, which is a world apart from what people are receiving in West Africa at the moment.
"And my symptoms never progressed to the worst stage of the disease, I've seen people dying horrible deaths, I had some unpleasant symptoms, but nothing compared to the worst of the disease.""And my symptoms never progressed to the worst stage of the disease, I've seen people dying horrible deaths, I had some unpleasant symptoms, but nothing compared to the worst of the disease."
He was treated with the experimental Ebola drug ZMapp, a 12-hour infusion of antibodies, that has been given to only six other patients.He was treated with the experimental Ebola drug ZMapp, a 12-hour infusion of antibodies, that has been given to only six other patients.
It is not clear if the infusion helped, but levels of the virus in his bloodstream did fall significantly after the treatment.It is not clear if the infusion helped, but levels of the virus in his bloodstream did fall significantly after the treatment.
Dr Michael Jacobs, an infectious diseases consultant at the hospital, said: "He is not infectious to anyone else now. The virus is cleared from the body, and there is no risk to the wider community in any way."Dr Michael Jacobs, an infectious diseases consultant at the hospital, said: "He is not infectious to anyone else now. The virus is cleared from the body, and there is no risk to the wider community in any way."
He said the isolation unit Mr Pooley had been kept in was going through chemical decontamination.He said the isolation unit Mr Pooley had been kept in was going through chemical decontamination.
"This unit is always there, it's business-as-usual for us, we were prepared for this to happen and we're prepared if it happens again.""This unit is always there, it's business-as-usual for us, we were prepared for this to happen and we're prepared if it happens again."
HeroesHeroes
The global response to the disease has been "lethally inadequate", according to the charity Medecins Sans Frontieres.The global response to the disease has been "lethally inadequate", according to the charity Medecins Sans Frontieres.
Estimates suggest up to 20,000 people will be infected during this outbreak.Estimates suggest up to 20,000 people will be infected during this outbreak.
Overall, 51% of those infected have died - ranging from 41% in Sierra Leone to 66% in Guinea.
Mr Pooley praised the efforts of other people working on the ground.Mr Pooley praised the efforts of other people working on the ground.
"It's just heroic what they're doing, they know what might be facing them," he said."It's just heroic what they're doing, they know what might be facing them," he said.
"In the face of quite likely a horrible death, they're continuing to work all day, every day helping sick people, it's amazing.""In the face of quite likely a horrible death, they're continuing to work all day, every day helping sick people, it's amazing."
He said it had felt "natural" to go and help in West Africa, that he had no regrets and was "more committed than ever to nursing".He said it had felt "natural" to go and help in West Africa, that he had no regrets and was "more committed than ever to nursing".
Mr Pooley is heading back to Eyke in Suffolk with his family this afternoon.Mr Pooley is heading back to Eyke in Suffolk with his family this afternoon.
"They incinerated my passport, so my mum will be pleased to know I can't go anywhere," he added."They incinerated my passport, so my mum will be pleased to know I can't go anywhere," he added.
Ebola virus disease (EVD)Ebola virus disease (EVD)