Danish nurse put in isolation over Ebola fears
The Local Denmark - [email protected]
Published: 9 Jan, 2015 CET.
Updated: Fri 9 Jan 2015 11:13 CET
A Danish woman who was helping Ebola patients in Sierra Leone was exposed to the virus when her protective glove ripped.
A Danish nurse who was sent by the Danish military to contribute to the nation’s Ebola fighting efforts in Sierra Leone has been sent home due to possible infection with the virus.
According to a statement from the Danish Health and Medicines Authority (Sundhedsstyrelsen), the nurse was treating Ebola patients in Sierra Leone when one of her protective rubber gloves was ripped, possibly exposing her to the virus.
The woman was flown home to Denmark on Tuesday and taken to Aarhus University for observation. On Friday, she was released from the hospital and will spend three weeks quarantined in her own home.
“The nurse has been examined by the Department of Infectious Diseases at Aarhus University Hospital in Skejby and the Danish Health and Medicines Authority has been in close contact with the doctors,” the health authority wrote in a press release.
“After a specific assessment of the the infection risk, the Danish Health and Medicines Authority has decided to recommend three weeks quarantine,” the statement continued.
See also: Danish Ebola vaccine enters human trials
While under quarantine, the woman will be closely monitored and must avoid leaving her home or having contact with other people.
Earlier this week, the World Health Organization said that the death toll from the Ebola virus in west Africa has now topped 8,000.
Despite several close calls and false alarms, there has not been a confirmed case of Ebola in Denmark.
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A Danish nurse who was sent by the Danish military to contribute to the nation’s Ebola fighting efforts in Sierra Leone has been sent home due to possible infection with the virus.
According to a statement from the Danish Health and Medicines Authority (Sundhedsstyrelsen), the nurse was treating Ebola patients in Sierra Leone when one of her protective rubber gloves was ripped, possibly exposing her to the virus.
The woman was flown home to Denmark on Tuesday and taken to Aarhus University for observation. On Friday, she was released from the hospital and will spend three weeks quarantined in her own home.
“The nurse has been examined by the Department of Infectious Diseases at Aarhus University Hospital in Skejby and the Danish Health and Medicines Authority has been in close contact with the doctors,” the health authority wrote in a press release.
“After a specific assessment of the the infection risk, the Danish Health and Medicines Authority has decided to recommend three weeks quarantine,” the statement continued.
See also: Danish Ebola vaccine enters human trials
While under quarantine, the woman will be closely monitored and must avoid leaving her home or having contact with other people.
Earlier this week, the World Health Organization said that the death toll from the Ebola virus in west Africa has now topped 8,000.
Despite several close calls and false alarms, there has not been a confirmed case of Ebola in Denmark.
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