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British nurse with Ebola has stabilised but is still in critical condition British nurse with Ebola has stabilised but is still in critical condition
(about 1 hour later)
The British nurse who was diagnosed with Ebola after returning from volunteering in Sierra Leone is still in a critical condition, but has now stabilised, the health secretary, Jeremy Hunt, has said.The British nurse who was diagnosed with Ebola after returning from volunteering in Sierra Leone is still in a critical condition, but has now stabilised, the health secretary, Jeremy Hunt, has said.
In a statement to the Commons, Hunt praised the courage of Pauline Cafferkey, the Scottish nurse who is now seriously ill with the disease following her return to the UK a week ago.In a statement to the Commons, Hunt praised the courage of Pauline Cafferkey, the Scottish nurse who is now seriously ill with the disease following her return to the UK a week ago.
Hunt said her doctors had told him she was still critical, but stable since Sunday. She and her colleagues, who spent their Christmas treating the sick of Sierra Leone, deserved the nation’s thanks, he said. Hunt said her doctors had told him she was still critical, but stable since Sunday. She and her colleagues, 69 of whom spent their Christmas treating the sick of Sierra Leone, deserved the nation’s thanks, he said.
“Pauline’s condition has deteriorated to a critical state although she stabilised yesterday and continues to receive the best possible care,” he said.“Pauline’s condition has deteriorated to a critical state although she stabilised yesterday and continues to receive the best possible care,” he said.
Addressing the House of Commons, Hunt announced that any NHS volunteer returning from Sierra Leone, Liberia or Guinea who feels unwell on their return to the UK would now be referred to a specialist adviser for further assessment, even if they do not have a high temperature. Addressing the House of Commons, Hunt announced that any NHS volunteer returning from Sierra Leone, Liberia or Guinea who said they felt unwell on their return to the UK would be re-assessed by a specialist adviser, even if they do not have a high temperature.
Cafferkey was cleared to fly on from Heathrow to Glasgow after seven separate temperature checks, in accordance with the public health protocols in place on Sunday 28 December – even though she had said she felt she might be developing a slight fever. The clinical advice to the government has always been that there is no risk to the public before symptoms develop. “I am satisfied the right clinical practices were followed,” Hunt said. Cafferkey, a Scottish public health nurse, had volunteered with Save the Children at the Ebola Treatment Centre in Kerry Town, Sierra Leone, before returning to the UK.
She was cleared to fly on from Heathrow to Glasgow after seven separate temperature checks, in accordance with the public health protocols in place on Sunday 28 December – even though she had said she felt she might be developing a slight fever. The clinical advice to the government has always been that there is no risk to the public before symptoms develop. “I am satisfied the right clinical practices were followed,” Hunt said.
Cafferkey only became symptomatic overnight at her home – at which point she called the health authorities, was tested for Ebola and then transferred to the Royal Free hospital in London.Cafferkey only became symptomatic overnight at her home – at which point she called the health authorities, was tested for Ebola and then transferred to the Royal Free hospital in London.
“However, we also recognise that medical understanding of the disease is not complete,” said Hunt. That is why stronger precautions have already been taken than public health experts advise - health workers are instructed to avoid crowded places and long journeys by public transport for 21 days after they return from west Africa. It had always been recognised that airport screening would not pick up people with the virus who are asymptomatic, said Hunt. The main aim was to ensure those who have been at risk know who to contact if they develop a fever, which is the first sign. In Cafferkey’s case, that was exactly what had happened.
On the same precautionary principle, the procedures at airports have now been changed to ensure that any returning health worker who has concerns about their health – as Cafferkey did – will get a further assessment by an infectious diseases specialist before they are given the all-clear to travel home. Hunt said the clinical advice is clear that the general public is not at risk unless they come into contact with somebody who is clearly ill. “You can only contract Ebola by coming into contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person,” he said. That meant blood, vomit or diarrhoea. Since Cafferkey did not have a high temperature at Heathrow, she was not then infectious.
“However, we also recognise that medical understanding of the disease is not complete,” said Hunt. That is why stronger precautions have already been taken than is strictly justified by the current medical evidence - health workers are instructed to avoid crowded places and long journeys by public transport for 21 days after they return from west Africa.
On the same precautionary principle, the procedures at airports have now been changed to ensure that any returning health worker who has concerns about their health – as Cafferkey did – will get a further assessment by an infectious diseases specialist before they are given the all-clear to travel home. If need be, they could be sent to a hospital isolation unit.
The country owed Cafferkey and the other volunteers an enormous debt of gratitude, said Hunt. “I know the whole House will join me in wishing Pauline well and commending her and her NHS colleagues for the exceptional bravery they showed in joining the battle against Ebola in Sierra Leone,” he said.
“She said in Sierra Leone she hoped her loved ones would be proud of her. She should know today that the whole country is proud of her. She stands quite simply for the very best of NHS values.”
Save the Children, the charity that Cafferkey had volunteered with in Sierra Leone, said today that it was urgently reviewing its protocols.
Charity spokesman Rob MacGillivray said they had launched an “extraordinary review” to ensure that they “leave no stone unturned to, as far as possible, identify the source of this infection”.
In a statement released later, Save the Children said its “serious event review” is investigating how Mrs Cafferkey contracted the disease by reviewing training, safety protocols, how protective equipment is used and “working practices”.
The charity stressed that it may not be possible to be “100% sure” how the infection happened.
It said in a statement: “The early findings of the review will be made available by Save the Children as soon as possible. As with other Ebola infections in health facilities, it may never be possible to be 100% sure how the patient was infected.
“The work of these brave health workers is never risk-free, but we are committed to doing everything possible to learn what happened and, if necessary, to make changes to our protocols and practice.
“Staff safety is our number one priority and our thoughts are with Pauline and her family at this very difficult time.”
More than 8,000 people have died of Ebola in the three worst-affected countries of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Monday. Reporting the latest figures in the year-long epidemic, the UN health agency said 8,153 people had died among 20,656 known cases of the haemorrhagic fever in the three countries.