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Infected nurse airlifted from Ebola zone speaks of joy at seeing patients recover Infected nurse airlifted from Ebola zone speaks of joy at seeing patients recover
(7 months later)
Will Pooley, the British nurse flown back to London after contracting Ebola, spoke of his joy at seeing patients recover from the deadly virus after treatment at the hospital in Sierra Leone where he was volunteering, just days before he fell ill himself.Will Pooley, the British nurse flown back to London after contracting Ebola, spoke of his joy at seeing patients recover from the deadly virus after treatment at the hospital in Sierra Leone where he was volunteering, just days before he fell ill himself.
The 29-year-old, from the village of Eyke in Suffolk, was said on Monday by his family to be receiving "excellent care" at a specialist unit at the Royal Free hospital in Hampstead, north London, after being evacuated on an RAF plane on Sunday. The 29-year-old, from the village of Eyke in Suffolk, was said on Monday by his family to be receiving "excellent care" at a specialist unit at the Royal Free hospital in Hampstead, north London, after being evacuated on an RAF plane on Sunday.
In a poignant interview with the Guardian at the Kenema government hospital 10 days ago, a smiling Pooley said: "It's great seeing them [the patients] walk away after some of them have been in a terrible state and seeing them on the wards."In a poignant interview with the Guardian at the Kenema government hospital 10 days ago, a smiling Pooley said: "It's great seeing them [the patients] walk away after some of them have been in a terrible state and seeing them on the wards."
Pooley, who registered as a nurse in February last year after completing his training, spent five weeks working at the Ebola centre before falling ill. Despite the lack of resources at the hospital, and some staff having fled for fear of contracting Ebola themselves, Pooley and others managed to help a growing number of people recover from the virus, for which there is no proven cure.Pooley, who registered as a nurse in February last year after completing his training, spent five weeks working at the Ebola centre before falling ill. Despite the lack of resources at the hospital, and some staff having fled for fear of contracting Ebola themselves, Pooley and others managed to help a growing number of people recover from the virus, for which there is no proven cure.
The Royal Free provided no update on Pooley's condition , having said that it would only do so in the event of a significant change. The Department of Health said on Sunday that he was "not currently seriously unwell".The Royal Free provided no update on Pooley's condition , having said that it would only do so in the event of a significant change. The Department of Health said on Sunday that he was "not currently seriously unwell".
In a statement, Pooley's family said: "We would like to express our thanks to all involved in bringing our son back to the UK. We have been astounded by the speed and way in which the various international and UK government agencies have worked together to get Will home.In a statement, Pooley's family said: "We would like to express our thanks to all involved in bringing our son back to the UK. We have been astounded by the speed and way in which the various international and UK government agencies have worked together to get Will home.
"Will is receiving excellent care at the Royal Free Hospital and we could not ask for him to be in a better place.""Will is receiving excellent care at the Royal Free Hospital and we could not ask for him to be in a better place."
They thanked people for their good wishes and asked them "to remember those in other parts of the world suffering with Ebola who do not have access to the same healthcare facilities as Will".They thanked people for their good wishes and asked them "to remember those in other parts of the world suffering with Ebola who do not have access to the same healthcare facilities as Will".
As Pooley was being treated with intravenous fluids and body salts in a specially designed tent with a controlled ventilation system on Monday, colleagues who worked alongside him in Sierra Leone praised his selflessness and determination to make a difference despite the risks.As Pooley was being treated with intravenous fluids and body salts in a specially designed tent with a controlled ventilation system on Monday, colleagues who worked alongside him in Sierra Leone praised his selflessness and determination to make a difference despite the risks.
He flew out to Sierra Leone earlier this year, initially intending to volunteer for six months at a hospice mainly providing care for people with cancer or Aids in the capital, Freetown. During his time at the Shepherd's hospice he wrote emails back to his mother, Jackie, in which he told of the poverty he had encountered and of learning about the horrors of the country's civil war from the people there, who he found "friendly, funny and hospitable". Describing the local environment, he wrote: "The houses are all mud-sand and palm thatch, the water is from one communal well and, of course, there is no electricity."He flew out to Sierra Leone earlier this year, initially intending to volunteer for six months at a hospice mainly providing care for people with cancer or Aids in the capital, Freetown. During his time at the Shepherd's hospice he wrote emails back to his mother, Jackie, in which he told of the poverty he had encountered and of learning about the horrors of the country's civil war from the people there, who he found "friendly, funny and hospitable". Describing the local environment, he wrote: "The houses are all mud-sand and palm thatch, the water is from one communal well and, of course, there is no electricity."
He left the hospice to help people with Ebola in Kenema, the centre of the outbreak, having become concerned that other healthcare workers were abandoning them. Gabriel Madiye, the hospice's executive director, told the BBC: "We consider him a hero," and described him as "somebody who is sacrificing to provide care in very difficult circumstances – when our own health workers are running away".He left the hospice to help people with Ebola in Kenema, the centre of the outbreak, having become concerned that other healthcare workers were abandoning them. Gabriel Madiye, the hospice's executive director, told the BBC: "We consider him a hero," and described him as "somebody who is sacrificing to provide care in very difficult circumstances – when our own health workers are running away".
Dr Oliver Johnson, who has been treating patients in Freetown, said his friend Pooley was a professional and dedicated nurse who "absolutely understood that there were risks involved".Dr Oliver Johnson, who has been treating patients in Freetown, said his friend Pooley was a professional and dedicated nurse who "absolutely understood that there were risks involved".
He told BBC Radio 4's World at One: "Will's a pretty extraordinary guy. Even for those of us working with Ebola patients in Sierra Leone, he stood out as being particularly brave and really from the beginning he was determined to help in any way he could – not just help patients, but I think he had enormous loyalty towards the other staff at Kenema."He told BBC Radio 4's World at One: "Will's a pretty extraordinary guy. Even for those of us working with Ebola patients in Sierra Leone, he stood out as being particularly brave and really from the beginning he was determined to help in any way he could – not just help patients, but I think he had enormous loyalty towards the other staff at Kenema."
Ebola has killed more than 1,400 people, many of them healthcare workers who have treated patients with the virus, which has spread from Guinea, where it originated in March, to Sierra Leone, Liberia and Nigeria.Ebola has killed more than 1,400 people, many of them healthcare workers who have treated patients with the virus, which has spread from Guinea, where it originated in March, to Sierra Leone, Liberia and Nigeria.
With treatment of the symptoms, which can take weeks or even months, survival is possible. While being treated, Pooley, who was taken under police escort to the Royal Free on Sunday, will be separated from medical staff by plastic and rubber sheets that ensure the virus, which is spread through sweat, blood and vomit but is not airborne, does not spread.With treatment of the symptoms, which can take weeks or even months, survival is possible. While being treated, Pooley, who was taken under police escort to the Royal Free on Sunday, will be separated from medical staff by plastic and rubber sheets that ensure the virus, which is spread through sweat, blood and vomit but is not airborne, does not spread.
The Department of Health has stressed that the overall risk to the public in the UK remains very low. Professor David Heymann, the director of the Chatham House Centre on Global Health Security, said Pooley's chances of survival depended on a range of factors including his fitness and how well his body produces antibodies.The Department of Health has stressed that the overall risk to the public in the UK remains very low. Professor David Heymann, the director of the Chatham House Centre on Global Health Security, said Pooley's chances of survival depended on a range of factors including his fitness and how well his body produces antibodies.
It is unknown whether he will be given the experimental drug ZMapp, which was used to treat two US aid workers who subsequently recovered. The Department of Health is believed to be trying to obtain supplies of the drug, but the manufacturers have said their stocks have been exhausted because of the high demand. Despite its apparently working on the US aid workers, its use has not been a complete success. It emerged on Monday that a Liberian doctor who received ZMapp died on Sunday. A Spanish missionary priest infected with Ebola also received the treatment and died.It is unknown whether he will be given the experimental drug ZMapp, which was used to treat two US aid workers who subsequently recovered. The Department of Health is believed to be trying to obtain supplies of the drug, but the manufacturers have said their stocks have been exhausted because of the high demand. Despite its apparently working on the US aid workers, its use has not been a complete success. It emerged on Monday that a Liberian doctor who received ZMapp died on Sunday. A Spanish missionary priest infected with Ebola also received the treatment and died.
Chris Mutten, a member of Eyke parish council, where Pooley's mother is a clerk, said everyone in the local community was hoping he would fight off the disease. "He is a good lad," he said. "He has been doing a lot of good work, his heart is in the right place. His family are very proud of him." Chris Mutten, a member of Eyke parish council, where Pooley's mother is a clerk, said everyone in the local community was hoping he would fight off the disease. "He is a good lad," he said. "He has been doing a lot of good work, his heart is in the right place. His family are very proud of him."