British Ebola patient flown from DR Congo to London for care
The health worker landed at RAF Northolt and was taken to the Royal Free Hospital, as the wider DR Congo outbreak continues to grow.
Key points
- A British health worker infected with Ebola in DR Congo has arrived in the UK for treatment.
- After landing at RAF Northolt, the patient was moved to a unit in London's Royal Free Hospital.
- Reports describe this as the first Ebola infection in the current outbreak involving a British citizen.
- UK officials regard the threat to the public as low.
- The DR Congo outbreak has reportedly caused more than 5,000 deaths.
A British health worker who caught Ebola while in DR Congo has been brought home for treatment, according to BBC News. The patient is a man, and his name has not been released. He touched down at RAF Northolt, a Royal Air Force station, and was then moved to a high-consequence isolation facility at the Royal Free Hospital in London.
The Guardian, citing an official document seen by Reuters, reported that the patient was in a stable condition and was expected to reach Britain on Wednesday or Thursday. The transfer was to be made by specialist ambulance. Reports describe this as the first case of a British citizen catching the virus during the current epidemic.
Government response
A UK government spokesperson said established processes had been triggered for situations of this kind. The spokesperson added that the threat to people in Britain stays at a low level.
The worker travelled to DR Congo through a humanitarian group, which sent them to help with the response to the outbreak. The group has not been named in the reports.
The scale of the outbreak
DR Congo’s health ministry declared the outbreak on 15 May. Figures reported by the Guardian put cases above 10,000 and deaths above 5,000. It is the 17th Ebola outbreak recorded in the country since the virus was first identified, and the strain behind it is Bundibugyo.
Officials describe it as the largest and deadliest outbreak in the country’s history. The BBC reports that it is the second most deadly on record, after the West Africa outbreak of the 2010s.
No approved treatment exists for this strain, and there is no approved vaccine either. The World Health Organization said experts advised adding two new candidates to an ongoing clinical trial.
One candidate was developed by a team at Oxford University working with an Indian manufacturer, the Serum Institute of India. The other comes from Moderna. Both will enter the trial once Congolese health authorities approve them. If this goes ahead, it would be the first time vaccines designed specifically against this virus are tested during an outbreak.
- Early signs include vomiting and diarrhoea, and severe cases may lead to failing organs and internal haemorrhage.
- People can catch the virus from close exposure to fluids leaving an infected person, such as blood or vomit, and from contact with the bodies of those who have died.
Cases beyond Congo
Cases have also been confirmed in Kenya, Uganda and Nigeria. Nigeria reported its case in Abuja last month, in a woman who had travelled from Uganda. She and a close contact were flown to Switzerland for treatment.
Other people have been evacuated for specialist care during this outbreak, including two sent to Germany and one to the Netherlands. A further case was reported in France in July.
UK health authorities say imported cases carry a low risk to the wider public. They add that the NHS has set procedures in place for suspected and confirmed infections.
The UK Health Security Agency counts four confirmed Ebola cases in Britain since 1976. One came from a laboratory accident, and three involved health workers returning from the West Africa response. None of the four proved fatal, and the Royal Free has treated health workers evacuated from West Africa before.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the British Ebola patient being treated?
The patient was taken to a high-consequence unit at the Royal Free Hospital in London after landing at RAF Northolt. The reports say the patient is a health worker and has not been identified.
Is the Ebola risk to the UK public high?
A UK government spokesperson described the risk to the public as low. Officials say established processes exist for handling cases such as this one.
Is there a vaccine for the current Ebola outbreak?
There is no approved vaccine for the Bundibugyo strain driving the outbreak. The WHO said two candidates will be added to an ongoing trial once Congolese authorities give approval.
Sources
- BBC News: British man infected with Ebola in DR Congo arrives in UK for treatment
- The Guardian: British healthcare worker with Ebola evacuated from DR Congo to UK
This article was written with the help of AI from reports by the outlets listed above. See our Editorial Policy. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.
