Two military medics back in UK for Ebola monitoring

Date: Feb-03-2015 Two UK military medics have been transported back to England after likely

exposure to Ebola from needle-stick injuries that occurred as they were treating

patients infected with the deadly virus in Sierra Leone.

A needle-stick injury - where a needle used to treat a patient accidentally pierces the skin of a health worker - is a potentially serious source of infection.

The English authorities say the health care workers have been admitted for

assessment to the Royal Free Hospital in London. The hospital says they are "likely

to have been exposed" to the virus but have not been diagnosed with Ebola and do

not have symptoms.

According to Public Health England (PHE), the first individual arrived in

England on January 31st and the second on February 2nd.

They will be monitored for a total of 21 days of incubation period, in line with

PHE procedures for returning health care workers.

Both individuals were exposed to the virus in a frontline care setting in Sierra Leone, via needle-stick injuries that occurred while treating patients diagnosed with Ebola.

PHE say decisions on the immediate and ongoing care of the individuals will be made by the

clinical team at the Royal Free Hospital and ask that their "confidentiality is respected at this time."

The two Ebola needle-stick incidents "appear to be unrelated"

Professor Paul Cosford, Director for Health Protection and Medical Director at

PHE, says strict protocols were followed on bringing the individuals back to

England, and:

"We would like to emphasize that there is no risk to the general public's

health. Our thoughts are with both of the health care workers, and their families,

affected at this time."

Mark Francois, Minister of State for the Armed Forces, says the two incidents -

although similar and occurring within a short space of time - appear to be

unrelated, and notes:

"Our personnel receive the highest standard of training and briefing

prior to deployment, including on the use of the specialized personal protective

equipment."

He says on a recent visit he witnessed "first-hand the bravery and commitment of

the personnel who are doing such a fantastic job in Sierra Leone. Their efforts are

deserving of the highest praise and we wish all the best for their 2 colleagues who

are now in the UK."

Needle-stick injuries are a potentially serious source of infection

Needle-stick injuries are accidental wounds caused by needles puncturing the

skin. They can occur at any time when health care workers are treating patients with

hypodermic syringes or when they take the needles apart or dispose of them.

Injuries caused by "sharps" such as needles, blades and scalpels are a

potentially serious source of infection because there is a high risk of a blood-borne virus entering directly into the bloodstream.

The Ebola epidemic in West Africa is the largest since the virus was first

discovered in 1976. The countries worst affected are Guinea, Liberia and Sierra

Leone.

There have been over 22,000 probable and suspected cases of Ebola virus disease

and over 8,700 deaths since cases were first notified to WHO in March 2014. Among

these, 816 health workers have become infected and 488 have died.

Meanwhile, Medical News Today recently learned that the latest WHO

situation report says the number of new cases in a week in West Africa has

fallen below 100, the focus of the response to Ebola

is now shifting from slowing transmission to ending the epidemic.

Written by Catharine Paddock PhD

Courtesy: Medical News Today Note: Any medical information available in this news section is not intended as a substitute for informed medical advice and you should not take any action before consulting with a health care professional.