A unit within Glasgow's Queen Elizabeth University Hospital was reportedly sealed off on Tuesday, June 30, after a patient suspected of having the Ebola virus was admitted. The individual presented at the Acute Receiving Unit around 6am and was quickly isolated from the public, according to the Glasgow Times.
Patient History and Symptoms
The patient had recently returned to Glasgow from a country affected by Ebola and developed worrying symptoms before seeking medical attention. Hospital sources confirmed that emergency measures were implemented immediately to protect staff and the public. The Acute Receiving Unit, typically used for patients referred by GPs or NHS 101, was shut down and sealed off from the rest of the hospital.
Testing and Quarantine
It is understood that test results for Ebola may take several days. The patient is also being tested for other diseases. A hospital source told the Glasgow Times: “Obviously Ebola is a deadly and contagious illness, and emergency measures had to be put in place immediately to protect both staff and any members of the public. The person came to the Acute Receiving Unit... This was quickly shut down and sealed off from the rest of the hospital. The person was assessed there and then taken elsewhere in the hospital. I believe they were put into confinement while the tests to establish if they have Ebola or something else are carried out.”
Official Response
A spokesperson for Public Health Scotland stated: “PHS is working closely with the UK Health Security Agency to assess routes by which travellers may enter the UK from affected countries. The risk from people arriving in the UK from affected areas is low and the NHS has safe procedures in place for detecting and managing any such cases. PHS and boards across Scotland have well established protocols for assessing and testing travellers arriving in the UK from areas affected by Ebola where necessary. Where required, contact tracing will occur and contacts may undergo clinical assessment and precautionary testing.” The spokesperson added: “There are currently no confirmed cases of Ebola in Scotland and the risk to the general public remains low.”
Background
Glasgow has not recorded a confirmed Ebola case in over a decade. The last major Ebola outbreak in West Africa from 2014-2016 resulted in over 11,000 deaths, but the UK has maintained robust screening and response protocols. The Queen Elizabeth University Hospital is one of Scotland's largest hospitals and has experience handling infectious disease cases.
