Spain reported its first Ebola case outside Africa. The country’s health minister confirmed that a nurse in Madrid was tested positive for Ebola virus.
The nurse who contracted the virus was a member of the team who treated an Ebola patient, Spanish priest Manuel Garcia Viejo, who died at the Carlos III de Madrid on September 25. The priest got the Ebola virus in Sierra Leone.
Miguel Pajares, another Spanish priest, died after contracting the Ebola virus in Liberia.
Spain implements emergency protocol
In a news conference, Spain Health Minister Ana Mato said the government already implemented an emergency protocol. Authorities are working to establish the source of the contagion.
The nurse was the first Spanish person infected by Ebola virus outside West Africa. She started to feel sick on September 30. She was admitted to the hospital with a high fever and was isolated in an emergency treatment room.
Spread of Ebolain the U.S, other developed countries unlikely
According to hospital officials, they are also monitoring the people who had contact with the nurse. They have no knowledge of any other case of the disease at present.
Last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also confirmed that first case of Ebola virus was diagnosed in the United States. Thomas Duncan was placed in hospital quarantine. He traveled from Liberia to United States.
The people who had contact with Duncan were placed in home quarantine and were being monitored by health officials. According to health officials, Duncan is in a critical condition.
The spread of Ebola virus in the United States and other developed countries is unlikely, according to health experts.
African countries including Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone have the highest cases of Ebola outbreak. Approximately 7,500 people were confirmed infected with the virus worldwide.
The Ebola virus is spread through body fluids such as blood and saliva. Patients infected with the virus would experience the following symptoms including abdominal pain, fever (greater than 38.6°C or 101.5°F), diarrhea, muscle pain, weakness, vomiting, severe headache and unexplained bruising or bleeding.
