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| Spanish Nurse Probably Got Ebola From Touching Her Face | |
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| MADRID — Spanish health officials began to explain Wednesday how an auxiliary nurse became the first Ebola case in Western Europe, saying that it was likely she got infected when she touched her face with her gloves on after tending to a Spanish missionary with Ebola at a Madrid hospital. | MADRID — Spanish health officials began to explain Wednesday how an auxiliary nurse became the first Ebola case in Western Europe, saying that it was likely she got infected when she touched her face with her gloves on after tending to a Spanish missionary with Ebola at a Madrid hospital. |
| The explanation came after Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy of Spain defended his government’s handling of the case, telling Parliament on Wednesday that he was confident the country could contain the virus and pledging “total transparency” about how the authorities handled the case, which has alarmed Spaniards who are concerned that the disease had been allowed to reach their shores. | The explanation came after Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy of Spain defended his government’s handling of the case, telling Parliament on Wednesday that he was confident the country could contain the virus and pledging “total transparency” about how the authorities handled the case, which has alarmed Spaniards who are concerned that the disease had been allowed to reach their shores. |
| A Spanish health official said the auxiliary nurse, identified as María Teresa Romero Ramos, who was found to have Ebola on Monday, had told him that she might have touched her face while still wearing her gloves after she removed her protective suit during her first visit to the room of the missionary, Manuel García Vieo, who died on Sept. 25. | A Spanish health official said the auxiliary nurse, identified as María Teresa Romero Ramos, who was found to have Ebola on Monday, had told him that she might have touched her face while still wearing her gloves after she removed her protective suit during her first visit to the room of the missionary, Manuel García Vieo, who died on Sept. 25. |
| Germán Ramírez, an official from the tropical disease unit at La Paz, a Madrid hospital linked to the Carlos III Hospital where the nurse is being treated, told reporters that he spoke to the nurse on three occasions. | Germán Ramírez, an official from the tropical disease unit at La Paz, a Madrid hospital linked to the Carlos III Hospital where the nurse is being treated, told reporters that he spoke to the nurse on three occasions. |
| If her account is correct, the contagion, “may not have been an error, but rather an accident,” Mr. Ramirez said. | If her account is correct, the contagion, “may not have been an error, but rather an accident,” Mr. Ramirez said. |
| The hospital’s deputy director, Yolanda Fuentes, said that it was not uncommon for accidental contact like that to go unnoticed and that Ms. Romero had not mentioned it until she was interviewed again by medical experts on Wednesday. | The hospital’s deputy director, Yolanda Fuentes, said that it was not uncommon for accidental contact like that to go unnoticed and that Ms. Romero had not mentioned it until she was interviewed again by medical experts on Wednesday. |
| “I think the error was the removal of the suit,” Ms. Romero told El País, a Spanish newspaper, by telephone from her isolation unit of Carlos III Hospital, where the missionary was treated. “I can see the moment it may have happened, but I’m not sure about it.” | “I think the error was the removal of the suit,” Ms. Romero told El País, a Spanish newspaper, by telephone from her isolation unit of Carlos III Hospital, where the missionary was treated. “I can see the moment it may have happened, but I’m not sure about it.” |
| The government is facing criticism not only over the events that led to the auxiliary nurse’s infection but also over why, after she informed a medical center on Sept. 30 that she felt feverish, it then took nearly a week for her to be tested for Ebola. | The government is facing criticism not only over the events that led to the auxiliary nurse’s infection but also over why, after she informed a medical center on Sept. 30 that she felt feverish, it then took nearly a week for her to be tested for Ebola. |
| “What I am asking is that we let the professionals work,” Mr. Rajoy said. “What we have to do is be vigilant but stay calm.” | “What I am asking is that we let the professionals work,” Mr. Rajoy said. “What we have to do is be vigilant but stay calm.” |
| Ms. Romero said she felt “a little better” since being hospitalized on Monday. She has been a health care worker for 15 years, according to Spanish news reports, which variously gave her age as 40 or 44. | Ms. Romero said she felt “a little better” since being hospitalized on Monday. She has been a health care worker for 15 years, according to Spanish news reports, which variously gave her age as 40 or 44. |
| Her husband separately told the Spanish newspaper El Mundo that his wife had mostly stayed at home after going on vacation the day after Mr. Viejo, the missionary, died. During that vacation period, however, the nurse also sat for a public exam to improve her qualifications, alongside many other candidates. Her husband has shown no signs of having the disease but has also been kept in quarantine as a precaution. | Her husband separately told the Spanish newspaper El Mundo that his wife had mostly stayed at home after going on vacation the day after Mr. Viejo, the missionary, died. During that vacation period, however, the nurse also sat for a public exam to improve her qualifications, alongside many other candidates. Her husband has shown no signs of having the disease but has also been kept in quarantine as a precaution. |
| The couple’s dog, Excalibur, was euthanized on Wednesday as a precautionary measure even as animal rights activists against the move surrounded the couple’s home. A social media campaign had sprung up urging that Excalibur be spared until it could be determined whether he had Ebola. One of the top hashtags on Twitter worldwide on Wednesday morning was #SalvemosaExcalibur. | The couple’s dog, Excalibur, was euthanized on Wednesday as a precautionary measure even as animal rights activists against the move surrounded the couple’s home. A social media campaign had sprung up urging that Excalibur be spared until it could be determined whether he had Ebola. One of the top hashtags on Twitter worldwide on Wednesday morning was #SalvemosaExcalibur. |
| The dog’s death was confirmed to reporters by Javier Rodríguez, an official with Madrid’s regional government, and the body was transferred by van to the veterinary division of a Madrid university, where it was expected to be moved again to another facility to be incinerated. | The dog’s death was confirmed to reporters by Javier Rodríguez, an official with Madrid’s regional government, and the body was transferred by van to the veterinary division of a Madrid university, where it was expected to be moved again to another facility to be incinerated. |
| Mr. Rajoy said that Spain had “one of the best” health care systems in the world and that any criticism of the handling of the case should not spiral into a broader political crisis. Some opposition lawmakers have been calling since Monday for Health Minister Ana Mato to resign. | Mr. Rajoy said that Spain had “one of the best” health care systems in the world and that any criticism of the handling of the case should not spiral into a broader political crisis. Some opposition lawmakers have been calling since Monday for Health Minister Ana Mato to resign. |
| Pedro Sánchez, leader of the Socialists, the main opposition party, told Mr. Rajoy that his government “should not cover up information.” Concerning Ms. Mato’s response, Mr. Sánchez said that “it’s more than clear that your health minister, when she has spoken, has triggered more uncertainty and more anguish among public opinion.” | Pedro Sánchez, leader of the Socialists, the main opposition party, told Mr. Rajoy that his government “should not cover up information.” Concerning Ms. Mato’s response, Mr. Sánchez said that “it’s more than clear that your health minister, when she has spoken, has triggered more uncertainty and more anguish among public opinion.” |
| On Wednesday, the Spanish authorities continued their efforts to draw up a full list of people who might have had contact with the nurse. So far, about 50 people are being monitored for possible symptoms of Ebola. They include several staff members at a hospital in Alcorcón, on the outskirts of Madrid, where the nurse lives and where she was initially treated on Monday before she tested positive for Ebola and was transferred to Carlos III Hospital. Spain’s government has chosen Carlos III Hospital to handle Ebola patients. | On Wednesday, the Spanish authorities continued their efforts to draw up a full list of people who might have had contact with the nurse. So far, about 50 people are being monitored for possible symptoms of Ebola. They include several staff members at a hospital in Alcorcón, on the outskirts of Madrid, where the nurse lives and where she was initially treated on Monday before she tested positive for Ebola and was transferred to Carlos III Hospital. Spain’s government has chosen Carlos III Hospital to handle Ebola patients. |
| The case is worrisome because Spain is expected to have the rigorous infection controls needed to fight the spread of Ebola. | The case is worrisome because Spain is expected to have the rigorous infection controls needed to fight the spread of Ebola. |