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UK Ebola patient cleared to leave Heathrow despite health concerns UK Ebola patient was cleared to leave Heathrow despite health concerns
(35 minutes later)
Health officials are facing serious questions over the UK’s Ebola screening process after it emerged that the Scottish nurse who contracted the virus was cleared to leave Heathrow despite raising concerns about her health. The Scottish nurse who contracted the virus was cleared to leave Heathrow earlier this week despite raising concerns about her own health, prompting questions over the effectiveness of UK’s Ebola screening process.
Public Health England (PHE) revealed that Pauline Cafferkey, 39, told medics she was worried she had Ebola before being given the all-clear to catch a British Airways flight to Glasgow. Pauline Cafferkey, a community nurse in Blantyre in south Lanarkshire, had told medics she was worried she had Ebola but was given the all-clear to catch a British Airways flight to Glasgow on Sunday evening according to Public Health England.
Cafferkey, a community nurse in Blantyre in south Lanarkshire, is the first Ebola patient to be diagnosed on British soil. She was receiving specialist treatment in an isolation unit at London’s Royal Free hospital on Tuesday night. The 39 year old, whose identityl emerged yesterday, was receiving specialist treatment in an isolation unit at London’s Royal Free hospital on Tuesday night having been transferred from Gartnavel hospital in Glasgow.
Dame Sally Davies, the chief medical officer, admitted there were questions over whether officials should have been “more precautionary” about Cafferkey’s concerns, but stressed that the risk to the public was extremely low. Dame Sally Davies, the chief medical officer, conceded there were questions over whether officials should have been “more precautionary” about Cafferkey’s concerns, but stressed that the risk to the public was extremely low.
A nurse for 16 years, Cafferkey was one of 30 NHS volunteers who spent five weeks helping to treat Ebola patients in Sierra Leone withSave the Children. She was described by colleagues as “terribly commited” and prior to flying to the affected region rold BBC’s Good Morning Scotland: “For me, it was kind of a natural thing; I couldn’t think of any reason not to go.” She wrote from Sierra Leone for The Scotsman about the “all consuming” nature of her work with victims there and of witnessing whole familes wiped out by the disease. A nurse for 16 years, Cafferkey was one of 30 NHS volunteers who spent five weeks helping to treat Ebola patients in Sierra Leone with Save the Children. She was described by colleagues as “terribly commited”.
Cafferkey returned on Sunday night on a flight from Freetown to Heathrow via Casablanca. While at Heathrow, Cafferkey was screened alongside the other health workers but asked for a second temperature test because she was worried she had contracted the virus. Prior to flying to the affected region rold BBC’s Good Morning Scotland: “For me, it was kind of a natural thing; I couldn’t think of any reason not to go.” She wrote from Sierra Leone for The Scotsman about the “all consuming” nature of her work with victims there and of the sadness of witnessing whole families who had died from the disease.
Cafferkey had returned on Sunday night on a flight from Freetown to Heathrow via Casablanca. While at Heathrow, she was screened alongside the other health workers but asked for a second temperature test because she was worried she had contracted the virus.
Health officials said she passed six extra checks and was cleared to catch her internal British Airways flight BA 1478 from London to Glasgow.Health officials said she passed six extra checks and was cleared to catch her internal British Airways flight BA 1478 from London to Glasgow.
Asked why Cafferkey was allowed to fly, Davies said: “She was cleared to travel because she did not have a significantly raised temperature. It does raise a question about whether we should be more precautionary.”Asked why Cafferkey was allowed to fly, Davies said: “She was cleared to travel because she did not have a significantly raised temperature. It does raise a question about whether we should be more precautionary.”
The development came after PHE vowed to review its quarantine procedures after they were branded “utterly illogical” by an NHS doctor who returned from Africa with Cafferkey.The development came after PHE vowed to review its quarantine procedures after they were branded “utterly illogical” by an NHS doctor who returned from Africa with Cafferkey.
Dr Martin Deahl, who sat next to Cafferkey on a flight to the UK from Sierra Leone, told the Guardian that public health was being put at risk by “totally inadequate” screening facilities at Heathrow airport.Dr Martin Deahl, who sat next to Cafferkey on a flight to the UK from Sierra Leone, told the Guardian that public health was being put at risk by “totally inadequate” screening facilities at Heathrow airport.
He also criticised PHE guidance that allows health workers who have had direct contact with Ebola victims to travel home on public transport once they arrive at a UK airport, but tells them not to catch buses, trains or planes or enter crowded places once they are at home.He also criticised PHE guidance that allows health workers who have had direct contact with Ebola victims to travel home on public transport once they arrive at a UK airport, but tells them not to catch buses, trains or planes or enter crowded places once they are at home.
In response, PHE confirmed it would review its screening procedures but said they were in line with other organisations that had sent volunteers to tackle the Ebola outbreak in west Africa.In response, PHE confirmed it would review its screening procedures but said they were in line with other organisations that had sent volunteers to tackle the Ebola outbreak in west Africa.
Officials are now urgently trying to trace those who took the same flights from Casablanca to London and from London to Glasgow with Cafferkey. More than 100 passengers have still not been traced.Officials are now urgently trying to trace those who took the same flights from Casablanca to London and from London to Glasgow with Cafferkey. More than 100 passengers have still not been traced.
Davies confirmed that Cafferkey would be offered plasma from European Ebola survivors including the British nurse William Pooley, who recovered from Ebola in September. Davies said the experimental drug ZMapp, which was used to treat Pooley, was not available.Davies confirmed that Cafferkey would be offered plasma from European Ebola survivors including the British nurse William Pooley, who recovered from Ebola in September. Davies said the experimental drug ZMapp, which was used to treat Pooley, was not available.
She stressed that the risk to the general public of contracting Ebola was still extremely low and called for accurate reporting of the ways that Ebola can be spread - through bodily fluids and not merely skin contact.She stressed that the risk to the general public of contracting Ebola was still extremely low and called for accurate reporting of the ways that Ebola can be spread - through bodily fluids and not merely skin contact.
Dr Paul Cosford, PHE’s medical director, acknowledged the authorities had come under criticism, but said the government’s plans for containing Ebola were robust. He said everyone who sat within two rows of Cafferkey on the flight has been advised to take their temperature until 18 January. Dr Paul Cosford, PHE’s medical director, acknowledged the authorities had come under criticism, but said the government’s plans for containing Ebola were robust. He said everyone who sat within two rows of Cafferkey on the flight has been advised to take their temperature regularly until 18 January.
In a statement issued to the Guardian, PHE said: “The Scottish patient was on the returning worker scheme and was screened at Heathrow airport on arrival, in line with standard procedures. At this point they were assessed as per protocol and cleared to travel home. This process was overseen by a medical consultant.In a statement issued to the Guardian, PHE said: “The Scottish patient was on the returning worker scheme and was screened at Heathrow airport on arrival, in line with standard procedures. At this point they were assessed as per protocol and cleared to travel home. This process was overseen by a medical consultant.
“Naturally, we are keen to learn whatever we can from the emerging details of this case and will be reviewing what happened and the screening protocols, to see if anything needs to be changed.”“Naturally, we are keen to learn whatever we can from the emerging details of this case and will be reviewing what happened and the screening protocols, to see if anything needs to be changed.”
At a press conference, Scotland’s first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, said she believed the current rules were robust, but would be kept under continual review. She described the risk to the wider public as “extremely negligible”.At a press conference, Scotland’s first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, said she believed the current rules were robust, but would be kept under continual review. She described the risk to the wider public as “extremely negligible”.
Seperately, it was confirmed that two other people who had been in west Africa were being tested for Ebola, one in Aberdeen and one in Cornwall.Seperately, it was confirmed that two other people who had been in west Africa were being tested for Ebola, one in Aberdeen and one in Cornwall.
The “low risk” Scottish patient is a female healthcare worker who is not thought to have had any direct contact with people infected with Ebola but became unwell following her recent return from a country affected by the outbreak. She had been staying at a youth hostel in the Highlands and was expected to arrive at Aberdeen Royal infirmary for tests.The “low risk” Scottish patient is a female healthcare worker who is not thought to have had any direct contact with people infected with Ebola but became unwell following her recent return from a country affected by the outbreak. She had been staying at a youth hostel in the Highlands and was expected to arrive at Aberdeen Royal infirmary for tests.
The Cornish patient, who also recently returned from a country affected by Ebola, has been placed in isolation at the Royal Cornwall hospital in Treliske, Truro.The Cornish patient, who also recently returned from a country affected by Ebola, has been placed in isolation at the Royal Cornwall hospital in Treliske, Truro.