UK Nurse Pauline Cafferkey's Condition Improves After Being Critically Ill With Ebola
The Royal Free Hospital in London announced that U.K. Nurse Pauline Cafferkey is no longer critically ill due to Ebola.
The hospital released an official statement about Cafferkey's condition. The nurse showed signs of improvement but has remained in the isolation room for further treatment.
Unviersity of Nottingham Molecular Virology professor Jonathan Ball said that the nurse's improvement is good news and the hospital staff did a great job. The professor added that although there is no information yet if Cafferkey's improvement was due the experimental drugs and "convalescent plasmas," her current condition emphasizes what health care interventions can do to patients infected with the Ebola virus.
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Ball observed that even though Ebola cases in the west are only few, the survival rate is high compared to those people residing in West Africa. The availability of health care resources and vaccines plays a big role to the survival of the patients.
The professor further commented that he hopes Cafferkey will recover fully but she will remain in isolation unless her Ebola test comes out negative.
Cafferkey was diagnosed with Ebola when she returned from Sierra Leone on December. The nurse volunteered for Save the Children in West Africa. Cafferkey went back to her hometown in Scotland and travelled from Casablanca, Morocco and Heathrow airport in London.
At the airport, she received an initial screening but her temperature turned out normal. Cafferkey complained that she was not feeling well so her temperature was taken six times in a matter of 30 minutes. All tests showed normal results and officials gave her the permission to go home to Scotland.
At home, Cafferkey had a fever and she was taken into the isolation room at Gartnavel Hospital in Glasgow. On Dec. 30, Cafferkey was transported to the Royal Free Hospital via the Royal Air Force Hercules plane. On Jan. 4, health workers revealed that she is critically ill.
Due to Cafferkey's case, Public Health England and Health Protection Scotland officials have reviewed the screening process for Ebola in the U.K.
Meanwhile, the World Health Organization revealed that there are over 20,000 cases of Ebola infection in Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea.
