Health worker monitored for Ebola in London hospital after working in DRC
A UK resident who treated Ebola patients in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has been evacuated to a specialist London hospital for observation. The individual shows no symptoms, and the risk to the public is low.
A humanitarian worker is being monitored in isolation at a specialist hospital in London after potential exposure to the Ebola virus while working in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said the worker was medically evacuated as a "highly precautionary measure." The individual is not currently displaying any symptoms and remains well, and was evacuated on a chartered flight. Infectious disease specialists are now assessing and monitoring them in isolation.
The incubation period for Ebola ranges from two to 21 days, and the worker will be closely monitored and must isolate throughout this period. There are no confirmed cases of Ebola in the UK, and the risk to the general public remains low.
Richard Pebody, director of epidemic and emerging infections at UKHSA, said the worker was transferred out of an abundance of caution and that the agency is pleased they remain well.
Last month, a patient suspected of having Ebola at a Glasgow hospital tested negative. In May, the World Health Organization declared an outbreak of the disease in the DRC and Uganda a public health emergency of international concern.
Ebola is transmitted to people from wild animals and then spreads through direct contact with blood, secretions, or other bodily fluids of infected people, as well as contaminated surfaces. Symptoms include fever, fatigue, muscle pain, headache, and sore throat, followed by vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, rash, and impaired kidney and liver function.
