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Written By: Editorial Team | Published : October 17, 2014 3:42 PM IST
After the US and other countries around the world, Madrid is now preparing itself in the fight against Ebola. In a preemptive measure to screen passengers arriving into the country, Madrid has set in place an emergency protocol for dealing with a possible Ebola case was activated at Madrid's Adolfo Suarez-Barajas Airport Thursday afternoon after a passenger on a flight from Paris showed symptoms similar to a possible infection of the virus. The patient, a Nigerian man, arrived in Madrid on an Air France flight from Paris, but was reported to have begun his journey in the Nigerian city of Lagos. The plane crew alerted Spanish authorities after he complained of fever, a headache and sweating, Xinhua reported.
The aircraft, which was carrying 156 passengers and seven crew, was taken to a special area which has been designated at Barajas airport to deal with situations such as this and the man will be taken to the Carlos III Hospital in Madrid, where nursing auxiliary, Teresa Romero, is currently being treated for the virus. The remaining passengers were allowed to disembark from the plane after having their details taken and instructed to get in contact with the hospital should they develop signs of fever. (Read: How the Ebola virus spreads in humans)
Thursday also saw another person, who had contact with Romero before she was admitted to hospital, taken to the Carlos III Hospital after developing a high fever. The patient, who health authorities confirm is not a medical worker, had formed part of a group of over 50 people considered to be 'low risk' of being infected with Ebola. Meanwhile, Romero's state continues to give ground for optimism. (Read: 8 tips to prevent Ebola infection)
'The level of the virus has diminished... Her immune system is being able to control the infection,' Fernando Simon, director of the Centre for Alerts and Sanitary Emergencies, said Thursday. Simon added that Romero's internal organs were 'improving', and said there were 'clear signs for hope', 17 days after first developing symptoms of the disease. (Read: Ebola facts frequently asked questions (FAQ))
What is the Ebola virus disease survival rate?
The Ebola virus disease (EVD) is a severe clinical condition that has threatened the entire world. It is caused by a virus of Filoviridae family. Although 5 types of Ebola virus have been identified, only four have been found to cause the disease in humans. The virus spreads easily through close contact with bodily fluids (like semen, saliva, blood and sweat), skin or objects (like needles or garments) of an infected person.
This disease that is highly infectious kills more than 90% of the individuals being infected with the virus (which means that the mortality rate of the Ebola disease is 90%). Hence only 10% of the individuals being infected with the virus survive i.e., the survival rate of the Ebola infection is only 10%. Read more about What is the Ebola virus disease survival rate?
With inputs from IANS
Photo source: Getty images
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