Monday, September 08, 2014

WHO Doctor Infected With Ebola, To Be Evacuated From Sierra Leone

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Credit CDC PHIL

 

# 9054

 

We’ve a brief emailed statement from the World Health Organization announcing that one of their doctors has become infected with the Ebola virus, and will be evacuated shortly.

 

WHO doctor to be evacuated after testing positive for Ebola in Sierra Leone


FREETOWN, Sierra Leone ¦ 8 September 2014 – A WHO doctor working in an Ebola treatment centre in Sierra Leone has tested positive for the disease. To ensure the safety of all, WHO will recommend that new admissions be limited while an investigation is launched. The doctor is currently in stable condition in Freetown, and will be evacuated shortly.


The Ebola treatment centre is located in the Kenema Government Hospital, which is run by the Sierra Leone Ministry of Health and Sanitation. WHO’s initial role in the facility was to offer guidance on setting up an Ebola treatment centre, and to provide mentorship and direction to national staff until they could manage the facilities with local capacity.


Health-care workers are the backbone of the Ebola outbreak response and ensuring their safety is critical. While an urgent, thorough, on-site assessment has been initiated by WHO, three doctors will be moved to the clinic to continue oversight of patient care.