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Written By: Editorial Team | Published : October 10, 2014 5:05 PM IST
Seven more people have been admitted to a Spanish hospital for monitoring for Ebola, including two hairdressers who had contact with a nurse infected with the deadly disease, health officials said. The nurse, Teresa Romero, helped treat two elderly Spanish missionaries who died after returning from west Africa with Ebola.
The 44-year-old tested positive for the disease on Monday, making her the first person known to have caught Ebola outside of Africa. Romero went on leave after the second of her Ebola patients died on September 25 at Madrid's La Paz-Carlos III hospital, which Spain has designated to handle Ebola cases.She started to feel ill on September 29 but was not admitted to hospital until seven days later, creating a large window of time in which other people may have been exposed. (Read: 8 tips to prevent Ebola infection)
Five women and two men were admitted to the hospital for monitoring late yesterday as a precaution, the hospital said in a statement. They included three nurses and two hairdressers who had contact with Romero while she was on leave from her job. Meanwhile one person who had previously been under observation at the hospital has been discharged. In total there are now 14 people isolated at the hospital including Romero who is the only person confirmed to have the disease. (Read: What is the Ebola incubation period?)
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. (Read: Ebola virus causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, prognosis and prevention)
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 PTI
Photo source: Getty images
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