A British doctor who tested positive for Ebola has arrived in the UK and is now being treated in a highly specialised isolation unit at the Royal Free Hospital in London.
The man, who has not been identified, was flown back from the Democratic Republic of Congo to RAF Northolt before being transported to the north London hospital. This is the first confirmed case of a UK national contracting Ebola in the most recent outbreak of the virus in the DR Congo.
Risk to the public assessed as low
Dr Renu Bindra, deputy director of the All Hazards Public Health Response team at the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), said the risk to the public is low. She reassured that they have 'well-established procedures for dealing with cases like this'.
The infected doctor was brought to the hospital in a joint effort by the UK and the DR Congo, according to the Department of Health. Three police vans supported a convoy of emergency vehicles, stopping traffic and holding back the public once they arrived at the hospital.
Previous Ebola cases in the UK
Previously, the Royal Free Hospital has successfully treated three health workers who were evacuated during the 2014-2015 West African Ebola outbreak. Only four cases of Ebola have been confirmed in the UK, including these three workers and a laboratory worker due to an incident in 1976. All survived.
The most recent outbreak in DR Congo has seen over 10,000 confirmed cases since May, the highest rate of infection after the 2010s outbreak. So far, the deadly illness has led to over 5,000 deaths in the African country, with symptoms including nausea, muscle pain, and bleeding from your ears, nose, mouth, and eyes.
Outbreak impact and treatment options
The country reported a fatality rate of 48.6% at the end of last month. Ebola spreads from contact with infected bodily fluids, such as vomit or blood, and can cause organ failure if left untreated.
Currently, there is no approved vaccine for the virus, although the World Health Organisation said two new candidate drugs are in an ongoing clinical trial. Since the beginning of the outbreak, cases have also been confirmed in Kenya, Nigeria, and Uganda.
