Physical Wellness

British Nurse Pauline Cafferkey Hospitalized Again After Recovering From Ebola

By Jenn Loro | Update Date: Feb 24, 2016 11:16 AM EST

The Scottish-born nurse Pauline Cafferkey has been hospitalized for a third time since recovering from Ebola hemorrhagic fever last year. However, doctors found persisting traces of the virus in her brain causing her to suffer from life-threatening complications.

"We can confirm that Pauline Cafferkey is being transferred to the Royal Free Hospital due to a late complication from her previous infection by the Ebola virus. She will now be treated by the hospital's infectious diseases team under nationally agreed guidelines," said the hospital in an official statement as quoted by Reuters.

The 39-year-old nurse contracted the virus while being deployed in Sierra Leone to help the victims back in December 2014. She was admitted to Royal Free's isolation unit but was finally allowed to go home in January 2015. While in hospital, Cafferkey was treated with survivor's plasma and a new antiviral drug known as GS5734.

However, the virus re-appeared causing an unprecedented brain meningitis in October last year- the first documented case of Ebola linked to life-threatening complications months after initial recovery as reported by The Guardian.

Ebola Quick Facts

In a BBC News report, Ebola is a viral disease that infects humans through close contact with infected animals or other humans either alive or deceased. Its signs and symptoms include high and sudden hemorrhagic fever, muscle pain, intense body weakness, and sore throat.

In 2014, a big outbreak (the deadliest so far since the 1976 discovery of the illness) occurred in West Africa but has since spread into Central Africa as well especially in places close to tropical rain forests.

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