This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-31845947

The article has changed 14 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 12 Version 13
Ebola: British patient and four colleagues in UK hospitals Ebola: British patient and five colleagues flown home
(about 5 hours later)
Two more British military healthcare workers have been flown to the UK from Sierra Leone for Ebola monitoring. A sixth British healthcare worker has been flown home to the UK after suspected contact with the Ebola virus.
Yesterday, a confirmed case and two members of the armed forces who came into close contact with her were flown home. It happened after an accidental "needle-stick injury" at a treatment centre in Sierra Leone.
They are being cared for at the Royal Free Hospital in London. Three other people have been discharged after coming into "close contact" with a confirmed British Ebola case.
The latest pair to be flown home, who have not been diagnosed with Ebola, will be assessed at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle. The female British patient with Ebola is being cared for at the Royal Free Hospital in London. One other person is still being tested.
Meanwhile the death-toll from the current Ebola outbreak has passed 10,000. Meanwhile, the death-toll from the current Ebola outbreak has passed 10,000.
'Courage'
Between 600 and 700 UK defence personnel are based in Sierra Leone as part of efforts to tackle the largest ever outbreak of Ebola.
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said there were stringent procedures in place, but there was "always a level of risk".
Mark Francois, the minister for the Armed Forces, praised the "courage and dedication" of those working in Sierra Leone.
He added: "The wellbeing of our service personnel remains our overriding priority.
"This includes the individual directly affected and their four colleagues, for whom precautionary measures are now being taken.
"We are very proud of what our servicemen and women are doing and our thoughts are with their five colleagues and their families at this time."
'Close contact''Close contact'
Contact tracing identified the four cases of "recent close contact" with the diagnosed woman, Public Health England said. Between 600 and 700 UK defence personnel are based in Sierra Leone as part of efforts to tackle the largest ever outbreak of Ebola.
The three flown to the UK have been taken to Royal Free Hospital in London. The infected patient will stay on the hospital's special isolation unit. The suspected pair will be monitored for signs of the infection. One British military healthcare worker was diagnosed in Sierra Leone and was flown back to the UK on an RAF plane on Thursday.
It is where two British nurses infected with Ebola - William Pooley and Pauline Cafferkey - were successfully treated. She was then taken to the special isolation unit at the Royal Free, where two British nurses infected with Ebola - William Pooley and Pauline Cafferkey - were successfully treated.
Two other healthcare workers arrived back in the UK on Friday. They will be taken to the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle. Also on board the RAF flight were two colleagues who had also come into "recent close contact" with the diagnosed woman.
A spokesperson for the hospital said: "This is a precautionary measure. They have now been discharged as there was no sign of the virus in their bodies.
"Neither of these individuals has been diagnosed with Ebola and they are not showing any symptoms of the disease." A further two close contacts were flown to Newcastle Royal Infirmary on Friday. One has been discharged, while the other is still being tested.
In a separate incident, the sixth person - a healthcare worker - was pricked with a needle while caring for a patient. It is one of the most dangerous ways of being exposed to the virus because there is direct access to the bloodstream.
This individual has also been taken to the Royal Free Hospital.
Dr Jenny Harries, from Public Health England, said: "All appropriate support has, and will continue to be offered, to these six individuals. Our thoughts are with all the healthcare workers, and their families, affected at this time.
"The UK has robust, well-developed and well-tested systems for managing Ebola. All appropriate infection control procedures continue to be followed to minimise any risk of transmission. There remains no risk to the general public's health and the overall risk to the UK continues to be very low."
'Robust'
Prof Dame Sally Davies, Chief Medical Officer, said: "The UK has robust, well-developed and well-tested systems for managing Ebola virus disease.Prof Dame Sally Davies, Chief Medical Officer, said: "The UK has robust, well-developed and well-tested systems for managing Ebola virus disease.
"All appropriate infection control procedures have, and will continue to be, strictly followed to minimise any risk of transmission.""All appropriate infection control procedures have, and will continue to be, strictly followed to minimise any risk of transmission."
Dr Jenny Harries, from Public Health England, added: "There is no risk to the general public's health and the overall risk to the UK continues to be very low."
There have been more than 24,000 cases of Ebola since the outbreak started more than a year ago. More than 10,000 people have died.
Dr Ben Neuman, a virologist at the University of Reading, said flying the patient back to the UK offered the best chance of recovery.Dr Ben Neuman, a virologist at the University of Reading, said flying the patient back to the UK offered the best chance of recovery.
"The Royal Free Hospital has a 100% record in treating Ebola cases so far, let's hope that doesn't change."The Royal Free Hospital has a 100% record in treating Ebola cases so far, let's hope that doesn't change.
"While the new batch of ZMapp is not yet available, she could be treated with favipiravir, which has shown some early promising results in West African Ebola clinics."While the new batch of ZMapp is not yet available, she could be treated with favipiravir, which has shown some early promising results in West African Ebola clinics.
"She may also be given antibody-rich serum from Ebola survivors to knock down the amount of virus in her blood while her immune system is learning to fight Ebola.""She may also be given antibody-rich serum from Ebola survivors to knock down the amount of virus in her blood while her immune system is learning to fight Ebola."