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Written By: Editorial Team | Published : October 16, 2014 11:18 AM IST
Teresa Romero, the Spanish nurse who is the first person to catch Ebola outside of Africa, continued to make slow recovery. The 44-year-old is now past the 15-day threshold and her body is now getting able to produce antibodies to combat the illness and the quantity of virus in her bloodstream has reduced in the first days of this week, Xinhua reported.
On Tuesday night, she was able to drink liquid for the first time since being admitted to the Carlos III Hospital on Oct 6. She was able to hold a 10-minute phone conversation with her husband Javier Limon on Wednesday. Limon is currently under observation at the Carlos III due to his possible exposure to the virus. Earlier in the day, Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said the Ebola crisis in the country was 'under control'. (Read: What is the Ebola incubation period?)
'We have to keep on working to keep it that way and supporting the professionals, but it is under control,' Rajoy added. Meanwhile, Health Secretary Ana Mato told Congress Wednesday that Romero had received training before attending to the missionary Manuel Garcia Viejo, who was brought to Spain after contracting Ebola in September. Romero was infected with Ebola while caring for a infected patient. 'At this moment, all of the lines of investigation are open over all of the possibilities which could have happened,' Mato said. (Read: How the Ebola virus spreads in humans)
Why Ebola virus is mutating rapidly?
A recent research related to the Ebola virus disease (EVD) states that the Ebola virus is rapidly mutating, making it difficult to diagnose and treat. A study conducted on the initial patients being infected with the virus in Sierra Leone revealed more than 400 genetic modifications of the Ebola virus, which might prove detrimental for the ongoing treatment measures but also to the vaccines that are under clinical trials for future treatment of the Ebola virus.
The Researchers at the Broad Institute in Massachusetts and Harvard University warn that the Ebola virus is constantly undergoing mutation. The findings show that the future treatment options including vaccines as well as diagnosing of the disease will be very difficult and less effective as mutations will continue. As of now, the researchers have analysed around 99 Ebola viral genomes. Since the Ebola outbreak in West Africa in March, more than 1550 people have died of the Ebola virus disease. Earlier in August (24th), a new viral strain of the Ebola virus different from the one being observed in West Africa was detected in those from Democratic Republic of Congo, posing threat to million of lives all over the world. Read more about Ebola virus is mutating rapidly say scientists
With inputs from IANS
Photo source: Getty images
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