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British Ebola Nurse Released from Isolation Ward in London's Royal Free Hospital

by Dr. Trupti Shirole on Nov 13 2015 12:28 AM

 British Ebola Nurse Released from Isolation Ward in London
British nurse, Pauline Cafferkey, who suffered a relapse after contracting Ebola in Sierra Leone has been released from isolation after being treated for meningitis caused by the virus. Cafferkey had been kept in isolation at London's Royal Free Hospital since October 9, 2015, and became 'critically ill' shortly afterwards. However, the nurse is no longer infectious and has been now transferred to a hospital in the city of Glasgow in Scotland, where she is from.
A spokeswoman for the Royal Free Hospital said, "We are delighted that Pauline has made a full recovery from Ebola and is now well enough to return to Scotland. We would like to wish her well for the future."

Cafferkey initially contracted Ebola while working as a nurse at a treatment center in Kerry Town in Sierra Leone run by charity 'Save the Children'. She was diagnosed with the disease in December 2014 on her return to Glasgow and spent almost a month in isolation in the Royal Free Hospital, which has Britain's only isolation ward for the lethal disease, before being released in January 2015. But in October 2015, Cafferkey was re-admitted to hospital, suffering from rare late complications due to the virus.

Royal Free infectious diseases consultant Michael Jacobs said, "At the time that the original Ebola virus had been inside her brain replicating at a low level, and had re-emerged to cause meningitis. This is an unprecedented situation."

40 people in contact with Cafferkey were offered vaccinations following her relapse, while she was treated with experimental drug GS5734 while in isolation. Upon her release from hospital Wednesday, November 11, 2015, Cafferkey thanked the staff of the hospital for their 'amazing care'.

Cafferkey said, "For a second time, staff across many departments of the hospital have worked incredibly hard to help me recover and I will always be grateful to them and the NHS. I am looking forward to returning to Scotland and to seeing my family and friends again."

Source-AFP


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