British Ebola Nurse Now Critically Ill: London's Royal Free Hospital

A British nurse who was successfully treated in January 2015 after contracting Ebola in Sierra Leone is now 'critically ill' due to a resurgence of the Ebola virus, reported the hospital treating her. Pauline Cafferkey, 39, could be only the second recorded case of 'reactivated' Ebola after American doctor Ian Crozier. Cafferkey received a bravery award just two weeks ago. She reportedly visited a primary school the day before being readmitted to hospital on October 6. 2015. The London hospital said, "We are sad to announce that Pauline Cafferkey's condition has deteriorated and she is now critically ill. Pauline is being treated for Ebola in the high-level isolation unit at the Royal Free."

Cafferkey was first diagnosed with Ebola in December 2014 after returning to the Scottish city of Glasgow from Sierra Leone. She then spent almost a month in the isolation unit at the Royal Free Hospital. She was treated with an experimental anti-viral drug and blood from Ebola survivors before being discharged. But last week, Cafferkey fell ill again and was treated in Glasgow before being flown by military aircraft back to the Royal Free Hospital in London.

Her sister Toni has said, "Doctors in Glasgow diagnosed her with a virus on Monday but sent her home. The treatment my sister received was absolutely diabolical." But local health chiefs insist that the decisions taken were entirely appropriate.

Health officials are monitoring 58 people who have been in close contact with the nurse. 40 have had direct contact with her bodily fluids, which is the main mode of Ebola transmission. Of the 40 people, 25 are receiving a vaccine and a further 15 have either declined it or were unable to receive it due to existing medical conditions.

Source-AFP