Main PageFirst Ebola diagnosis in Britain
Glasgow - A healthcare worker recently back from
Sierra Leone was diagnosed with Ebola on Monday
by doctors in Scotland's largest city, the first
diagnosis of the deadly virus in Britain during the
current outbreak.
Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon confirmed
that the patient was a female health worker who had
been working on the "front-line" with Ebola patients,
and was currently in a stable condition in hospital.
The patient returned to Scotland late Sunday via
Casablanca and London Heathrow, arriving at
Glasgow Airport at around 23:30, according to a
Scottish government press release.
She was admitted to Gartnavel Hospital campus on
Monday after feeling unwell and placed in isolation
at 07:50.
"All possible contacts with the patient are now being
investigated and anyone deemed to be at risk will be
contacted and closely monitored," said the
government.
"However, having been diagnosed in the very early
stages of the illness, the risk to others is considered
extremely low."
No great concern
Alastair McConchie from the Scottish health service
explained that the patient had been transferred
using a specialist ambulance service and was "not
showing any great clinical concern."
The patient was being treated in the hospital's
Brownlee Unit for Infectious Diseases but a transfer
was being arranged to move her to the high level
isolation unit in London's Royal Free hospital "as
soon as possible", according to protocol laid down
by the government in London.
British Prime Minister David Cameron later said that
"all measures would be taken to protect public
health".
The Scottish government is currently contacting the
71 other people onboard the British Airways flight
from London to Glasgow, but stressed there was
"negligible risk" as the patient "displayed no
symptoms" of the type that could cause
transmission.
"Our first thoughts at this time must be with the
patient diagnosed with Ebola and their friends and
family. I wish them a speedy recovery," said
Sturgeon at a press conference.
"Scotland has been preparing for this possibility
from the beginning of the outbreak in West Africa
and I am confident that we are well prepared."
Patient screened at Heathrow
Sturgeon confirmed that she had earlier chaired a
meeting of the Scottish government's "resilience
committee" and that she was working closely with
Cameron.
British Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt was also to
chair a meeting of the Cobra emergency committee
late on Monday.
Scotland remains part of the UK following
September's referendum, but has autonomy over its
health service.
However, it has agreed to send any Ebola patients to
the highly-specialised London unit.
Will Pooley, a British nurse, was treated there using
the experimental ZMapp drug earlier this year after
being diagnosed with Ebola in Sierra Leone.
He recovered and has since returned to the country
to help fight the disease.
Sturgeon revealed that the patient had been
screened when leaving Sierra Leone and also when
transferring at Heathrow, but had shown no signs of
infection.
"It would appear she has been diagnosed at a very
early stage before symptoms were manifesting
themselves," said the first minister.
Previous diagnosis
The last Ebola patient in Europe was a Nigerian UN
peacekeeper who was cured after being brought to
the Netherlands for treatment.
He was flown to there at the request of the World
Health Organization in a specially equipped plane
and treated at the university hospital in the central
city of Utrecht.
Spanish nurse Teresa Romero in October became
the first person to be diagnosed with the disease
within the European Union.
The death toll from the Ebola outbreak in West
Africa has risen to 7 842 out of 20 081 cases
recorded, the World Health Organization said on
Monday.
Sierra Leone was diagnosed with Ebola on Monday
by doctors in Scotland's largest city, the first
diagnosis of the deadly virus in Britain during the
current outbreak.
Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon confirmed
that the patient was a female health worker who had
been working on the "front-line" with Ebola patients,
and was currently in a stable condition in hospital.
The patient returned to Scotland late Sunday via
Casablanca and London Heathrow, arriving at
Glasgow Airport at around 23:30, according to a
Scottish government press release.
She was admitted to Gartnavel Hospital campus on
Monday after feeling unwell and placed in isolation
at 07:50.
"All possible contacts with the patient are now being
investigated and anyone deemed to be at risk will be
contacted and closely monitored," said the
government.
"However, having been diagnosed in the very early
stages of the illness, the risk to others is considered
extremely low."
No great concern
Alastair McConchie from the Scottish health service
explained that the patient had been transferred
using a specialist ambulance service and was "not
showing any great clinical concern."
The patient was being treated in the hospital's
Brownlee Unit for Infectious Diseases but a transfer
was being arranged to move her to the high level
isolation unit in London's Royal Free hospital "as
soon as possible", according to protocol laid down
by the government in London.
British Prime Minister David Cameron later said that
"all measures would be taken to protect public
health".
The Scottish government is currently contacting the
71 other people onboard the British Airways flight
from London to Glasgow, but stressed there was
"negligible risk" as the patient "displayed no
symptoms" of the type that could cause
transmission.
"Our first thoughts at this time must be with the
patient diagnosed with Ebola and their friends and
family. I wish them a speedy recovery," said
Sturgeon at a press conference.
"Scotland has been preparing for this possibility
from the beginning of the outbreak in West Africa
and I am confident that we are well prepared."
Patient screened at Heathrow
Sturgeon confirmed that she had earlier chaired a
meeting of the Scottish government's "resilience
committee" and that she was working closely with
Cameron.
British Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt was also to
chair a meeting of the Cobra emergency committee
late on Monday.
Scotland remains part of the UK following
September's referendum, but has autonomy over its
health service.
However, it has agreed to send any Ebola patients to
the highly-specialised London unit.
Will Pooley, a British nurse, was treated there using
the experimental ZMapp drug earlier this year after
being diagnosed with Ebola in Sierra Leone.
He recovered and has since returned to the country
to help fight the disease.
Sturgeon revealed that the patient had been
screened when leaving Sierra Leone and also when
transferring at Heathrow, but had shown no signs of
infection.
"It would appear she has been diagnosed at a very
early stage before symptoms were manifesting
themselves," said the first minister.
Previous diagnosis
The last Ebola patient in Europe was a Nigerian UN
peacekeeper who was cured after being brought to
the Netherlands for treatment.
He was flown to there at the request of the World
Health Organization in a specially equipped plane
and treated at the university hospital in the central
city of Utrecht.
Spanish nurse Teresa Romero in October became
the first person to be diagnosed with the disease
within the European Union.
The death toll from the Ebola outbreak in West
Africa has risen to 7 842 out of 20 081 cases
recorded, the World Health Organization said on
Monday.
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