NHS Scotland - Confirmed case of Ebola diagnosed in Glasgow - Nurse Pauline Cafferkey treated at Royal Free London hospital - free of the virus - discharged

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Ebola update

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30/12/2014 15:53

A patient being treated for Ebola at Gartnavel hospital in Glasgow has been transferred to Royal Free Hospital in London.

The health care worker, who had been helping combat the disease in west Africa, travelled to London overnight, in line with Scottish and UK protocol.

There are also precautionary steps being taken by NHS Highland and NHS Grampian around a case of a returning healthcare worker in Torridon, which is assessed as ‘low probability’ of Ebola. The patient is being transferred by the Scottish Ambulance Service to the Aberdeen Royal Infirmary and diagnostic tests – including for Ebola - will take place today.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has chaired another meeting of the Scottish Government Resilience Committee (SGoRR) to ensure all necessary steps are being taken. She also took part in the COBR teleconference today and spoke to Prime Minister David Cameron. The Scottish and UK Governments are working closely to ensure a co-ordinated response.
Ms Sturgeon said:
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Our thoughts remain with the patient diagnosed with Ebola and I wish her a speedy and full recovery.

“We have robust measures in place to deal with a situation like this. Scotland’s NHS has proved it is well able to cope with infectious diseases in the past, such as swine flu. In treating the patient effectively, and then ensuring a smooth transfer to the Royal Free London, our NHS has again risen to the considerable challenge. I want to thank all involved in Scotland and England for their considerable efforts so far.
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Health Protection Scotland are continuing to trace and contact people who were on the Heathrow to Glasgow flight on Sunday evening. Many of those people have already been contacted and, while that’s been done very much on a precautionary basis, it is important we ensure we have taken all necessary steps as a result of this confirmed case.
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I am also being kept fully informed about the precautionary steps being taken by NHS Highland and NHS Grampian around a case of a returning healthcare worker who had been visiting Torridon. This patient is a ‘low probability’ case, who returned to the UK separately to the confirmed case and is believed to have had no contact with infected patients.
However we are taking all necessary precautions and following agreed protocols. Over the course of today, the patient will be transferred to the ARI and undergo the appropriate tests – including for Ebola.
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The last 24 hours have been a real reminder of how often and how selflessly health care workers do put themselves at risk to help others and they deserve our gratitude and respect for that. I would also like to thank everyone that is involved in helping throughout Scotland.”

http://news.scotland.gov.uk/News/Ebola-update-141f.aspx

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30 December 2014 Last updated at 11:20 ET t

Ebola nurse Pauline Cafferkey transferred to London unit

A health worker who was diagnosed with Ebola after returning to Scotland from Sierra Leone has arrived at a specialist treatment centre in London.

Pauline Cafferkey, who flew to Glasgow via Casablanca and London Heathrow, was taken to the Royal Free Hospital.

She is understood to have been flown to RAF Northolt in an air force plane after leaving Glasgow in a convoy.
...

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-30629397

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Ebola patient receiving treatment

30 December 2014

Updated: 3.55pm

The Royal Free London can confirm it is treating Pauline Cafferkey, 39, from Glasgow in Scotland for the Ebola virus.

A trained nurse, Ms Cafferkey worked in Sierra Leone as a volunteer before returning to the UK on 28 December 2014.

Ms Cafferkey has asked that her privacy is respected.
...

https://www.royalfree.nhs.uk/news-media/news/ebola-patient-receiving-treatment/

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Ebola case confirmed in Scotland

From: Department of Health, Public Health England and NHS England First published: 29 December 2014 Part of: Ebola virus: UK government response, Public health and Public safety and emergencies

The Scottish government confirms a case of Ebola in an individual who had travelled from Sierra Leone.






The Scottish government has confirmed a case of Ebola in an individual in Scotland, who travelled to Glasgow from Sierra Leone.

The patient will be transferred for treatment in isolation at the Royal Free hospital in London.

The UK has well established and practised infection control procedures for dealing with cases of imported infectious disease. These procedures will be strictly followed while the patient is in transit and when receiving treatment at the Royal Free hospital.

The UK government is working closely with the Scottish government to ensure the patient receives the best possible treatment.

The confirmed case of Ebola in Scotland was a healthcare worker returning from Sierra Leone. They had left Sierra Leone on 28 December and had been a passenger on flight AT596 from Freetown to Casablanca, flight AT0800 from Casablanca to London, and transferred at Heathrow to flight BA1478 for onward travel to Glasgow.

The risk of infection to other passengers on the flights is considered extremely low. However, as a precaution, Public Health England is arranging for all passengers and crew on the flight from Casablanca to Heathrow to be provided with health information and will be contacting and following up those passengers who were sitting near the affected passenger on these flights. Health Protection Scotland is carrying out a similar exercise for the passengers on the Heathrow to Glasgow flight.

Ebola is transmitted by direct contact with the bodily fluids, such as blood, vomit or faeces, of an infected person while they are symptomatic. Therefore, the risk of Ebola being passed from an individual before they developed symptoms is extremely low.

As before, the advice is that if anyone is worried about symptoms (such as fever, chills, muscle aches, headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, sore throat or rash) within 21 days of coming back from Guinea, Liberia or Sierra Leone, they should stay at home and immediately telephone 111 or 999 and explain they believe they have come into contact with someone with Ebola.

Professor Dame Sally Davies, Chief Medical Officer, said: Our thoughts are with this individual who, along with other NHS and public health colleagues, has been doing a fantastic job saving lives.

The English and Scottish governments and health authorities are working together to make sure that this individual receives the best possible care. UK hospitals have a proven track record of dealing with imported infectious diseases.

It is important to be reassured that although a case has been identified, the overall the risk to the public continues to be low.

We have robust, well-developed and well-tested NHS systems for managing unusual infectious diseases when they arise, supported by a wide range of experts. The UK system was prepared, and reacted as planned, when this case of Ebola was identified.

Professor Paul Cosford, Director for Health Protection and Medical Director at PHE, said:

For Ebola to be transmitted from one person to another contact with blood or other body fluids is needed. The individual involved did not experience any symptoms consistent with the transmission of Ebola, and as such, the risk that this infection will have been passed from the affected individual to others is extremely unlikely.

However as a precaution, PHE is following up all those in the vicinity of the passenger on the flight to the UK to ensure anyone who feels unwell undergoes a medical assessment rapidly. Our colleagues at Health Protection Scotland are carrying out a similar exercise for the passengers on the Heathrow to Glasgow flight.

Professor Sir Bruce Keogh, NHS England?s Medical Director, said:

The NHS is prepared. The Royal Free hospital has an international standard infectious diseases team with experience treating dangerous diseases including Ebola. Staff who treat these patients have volunteered in the same way as those working in West Africa ? testament to their dedication and professionalism.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/e...ed-in-scotland

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...
29 December 2014 at 7:57pm

BA names flight to Glasgow Ebola patient travelled on
... We are working closely with the health authorities in England and Scotland and will offer assistance with any information they require. Customers who flew from London Heathrow to Glasgow on BA1478 which departed at 2100 on Sunday December 28 and have concerns should contact the special number 08000 858531 set up by the Scottish Government...

? British Airways


Last updated Mon 29 Dec 2014

http://www.itv.com/news/update/2014-12-29/ba-names-flight-to-glasgow-ebola-patient-travelled-on/

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Ebola case

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29/12/2014 18:35

Confirmed case in Glasgow

A confirmed case of Ebola has been diagnosed in Glasgow.

NHS Scotland infectious diseases procedures have now been put into effect and the patient has been isolated and is receiving treatment in the specialist Brownlee Unit for Infectious Diseases on the Gartnavel Hospital campus.

The patient is a health care worker who was helping to combat the disease in west Africa. They returned to Scotland from Sierra Leone late last night via Casablanca and London Heathrow, arriving into Glasgow Airport on a British Airways flight at around 11.30pm.

The patient was admitted to hospital early in the morning after feeling unwell and was placed into isolation at 7.50am. All possible contacts with the patient are now being investigated and anyone deemed to be at risk will be contacted and closely monitored. However, having been diagnosed in the very early stages of the illness, the risk to others is considered extremely low.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has chaired a meeting of the Scottish Government Resilience Committee (SGoRR) to ensure all necessary steps are being taken, and has also spoken to Prime Minister David Cameron.

According to UK and Scottish protocol for anyone diagnosed with Ebola, the patient will be transferred to the high level isolation unit in the Royal Free hospital, London, as soon as possible. This is where the facilities, staff and systems are in place to ensure the best quality and safest care.

While public health experts have emphasised that the risks are negligible, a telephone helpline has been set up for anyone who was on the Heathrow to Glasgow flight last night.

The number is: 08000 858531

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said:

?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.

?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.

?We have the robust procedures in place to identify cases rapidly. Our health service also has the expertise and facilities to ensure that confirmed Ebola cases such as this are contained and isolated effectively minimising any potential spread of the disease.

?Scotland?s NHS has proved it is well able to cope with infectious diseases in the past, such as swine flu, and I am confident we will be able to respond effectively again.?

Contact: Mark Taylor: 0131 244 3092

http://news.scotland.gov.uk/News/Ebola-case-1414.aspx