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Europe Evaluates Ebola Measures as New Cases Are Suspected Europe Evaluates Ebola Measures as Possibility of New Cases Arises in France and Spain
(about 2 hours later)
PARIS — Several new suspected cases of Ebola were reported in Europe on Thursday, amid heightened fears that measures to prevent the virus from spreading here are insufficient and that more people, especially health personnel attending to Ebola patients, are at risk of contamination. PARIS — Several new suspected cases of Ebola were reported in Europe on Thursday, amid heightened fears that measures to prevent the virus from spreading here are insufficient and that more people, especially health personnel attending to Ebola patients, are at risk of contamination.
The French and Spanish authorities would not confirm that any of the four people have tested positive for Ebola. But in each of the cases — one in France, three in Spain — a possible link to sources of contamination has been established. The French and Spanish authorities would not confirm that any of the four people have tested positive for Ebola. But in each of the cases — one in France, three in Spain — a link to possible sources of contamination has been established.
All three of the Spanish patients were taken to the Carlos III hospital in Madrid, which has been serving as an Ebola treatment center since August, when a priest was transported there from West Africa for treatment of the virus. That priest died, as did another one who had also worked in West Africa and was airlifted to Spain in late September.All three of the Spanish patients were taken to the Carlos III hospital in Madrid, which has been serving as an Ebola treatment center since August, when a priest was transported there from West Africa for treatment of the virus. That priest died, as did another one who had also worked in West Africa and was airlifted to Spain in late September.
On Thursday the Spanish health minister, Ana Mato, confirmed that medical personnel were treating a Nigerian passenger who had landed in the morning at Madrid’s Barajas airport on an Air France flight from Paris. She said that airport authorities had put in place an emergency plan after the aircraft’s pilots informed them that the passenger showed signs of fever. On Thursday, the Spanish health minister, Ana Mato, confirmed that medical personnel were treating a Nigerian passenger who had landed in the morning at Madrid’s Barajas airport on an Air France flight from Paris. She said that airport authorities had put in place an emergency plan after the pilots informed them that the passenger showed signs of fever.
The other passengers were evacuated and the plane was grounded in an isolated section of the airport. The ill passenger was then examined on board by a doctor, who ordered his transfer to the Carlos III hospital.The other passengers were evacuated and the plane was grounded in an isolated section of the airport. The ill passenger was then examined on board by a doctor, who ordered his transfer to the Carlos III hospital.
Also on Thursday, a nurse was admitted to Carlos III on suspicion of having Ebola, hospital officials said. The nurse had ridden in an ambulance some time after it had been used to transport María Teresa Romero Ramos to the hospital this month, they said. Ms. Romero, an auxiliary nurse, was the first person to test positive for Ebola in Europe, leading to a health emergency, as well as scrutiny of the Spanish authorities’ handling of the treatment of Ebola patients. Also on Thursday, a nurse considered at risk for Ebola was admitted to Carlos III, hospital officials said. The nurse had ridden in an ambulance after it had been used to transport María Teresa Romero Ramos to the hospital this month, they said. Ms. Romero, an auxiliary nurse, was the first person to test positive for Ebola in Europe, leading to a health emergency, as well as scrutiny of Spain’s handling of the treatment of Ebola patients.
Ms. Romero had tended to the second priest who had been flown back from West Africa for treatment. She remains in serious condition in the Carlos III hospital, although her health has shown some signs of improvement, according to hospital officials. She is now one of 15 people quarantined in the hospital. Ms. Romero had tended the second priest who had been flown back from West Africa for treatment. She remains in serious condition in the Carlos III hospital, although her health has shown some signs of improvement, according to hospital officials. She is now one of 15 people quarantined in the hospital.
Fernando Simón, director of the Ebola crisis unit set up by the authorities, said at a news conference that the nurse admitted on Thursday was “a low-risk” case, and that test results were expected later in the day. Fernando Simón, director of the Ebola crisis unit set up by the authorities, said that the nurse admitted on Thursday was “a low-risk” case, and that test results were expected soon.
A third new case involves a priest who was part of the same religious order as the two others who died of Ebola in the Madrid hospital, according to hospital officials. He had returned to Spain from Liberia on Saturday, according to a Spanish government statement. A third new case involves a priest who was part of the same religious order as the two others who died of Ebola in the Madrid hospital, according to hospital officials. He had returned to Spain from Liberia on Saturday, according to a government statement.
In France, officials would not provide any information about a possible case involving another nurse. If confirmed, it would be the first instance of Ebola infecting someone through transmission in France.In France, officials would not provide any information about a possible case involving another nurse. If confirmed, it would be the first instance of Ebola infecting someone through transmission in France.
According to French news media reports, the nurse was suffering from intense fever and was transported to a military hospital near Paris on Thursday afternoon. According to French news media reports, the nurse was suffering from intense fever and was transported to a military hospital near Paris on Thursday.
The hospital is one of 12 in France where the authorities have set up special units to treat Ebola cases and where a French volunteer for Doctors Without Borders, which has been providing front-line medical assistance in West Africa, was taken last month after being infected by the virus in Liberia. The volunteer recovered after treatment and left the hospital on Oct. 4.The hospital is one of 12 in France where the authorities have set up special units to treat Ebola cases and where a French volunteer for Doctors Without Borders, which has been providing front-line medical assistance in West Africa, was taken last month after being infected by the virus in Liberia. The volunteer recovered after treatment and left the hospital on Oct. 4.
It was unclear if the nurse in the latest case had worked at the Bégin military hospital and, if so, whether she was involved in treating the Doctors Without Borders volunteer.It was unclear if the nurse in the latest case had worked at the Bégin military hospital and, if so, whether she was involved in treating the Doctors Without Borders volunteer.
Health Minister Marisol Touraine told the French radio station RTL on Thursday evening that she would not comment on the suspected case and that she did not want to feed anxiety.Health Minister Marisol Touraine told the French radio station RTL on Thursday evening that she would not comment on the suspected case and that she did not want to feed anxiety.
Later on Thursday, quoting anonymous sources, the French station BFM TV reported that a first series of tests had found the nurse to be negative for Ebola, but that additional testing was necessary. The French Health Ministry would not comment on that report. Later on Thursday, quoting anonymous sources, the French station BFM TV reported that a first series of tests had found the nurse to be negative for Ebola, but that more testing was necessary. The Health Ministry would not comment on that report.
The latest episodes renewed concerns that Ebola cases may increase in Europe. European health officials meeting in Brussels on Thursday called for increased screening for people leaving West Africa but made no concrete decisions to address the health crisis beyond scheduling an Ebola workshop next month to exchange information. The latest episodes renewed concerns that Ebola cases may increase in Europe. European health officials meeting in Brussels on Thursday called for increased screening for people leaving West Africa but made no concrete decisions to address the health crisis beyond scheduling an Ebola workshop next month.
Tonio Borg, the European Union’s health commissioner, said after the meeting that countries had all agreed on the need to improve checks at African airports, but not on whether to impose similar screening on people arriving at Europe’s own airports and ports. That, he said, would be left up to individual countries to decide. Tonio Borg, the European Union’s health commissioner, said after the meeting that countries had all agreed on the need to improve checks at African airports, but not on whether to impose similar screening on arrivals at Europe’s own airports and ports. That, he said, would be left up to individual countries to decide.
Europe has struggled to adopt a common stand in response to Ebola, despite mounting public concern that the lethal virus could spread in Europe. Britain has announced that it will follow the United States in screening passengers upon arrival, while countries with regular flights from West Africa like Belgium have so far imposed no such measures. Mr. Borg also said the European Commission, the bloc’s administrative arm, would sign an agreement with the State Department that would allow infected European doctors and nurses in Africa to make use of American evacuation planes, which are operated by a private company in Georgia called Phoenix Air.
Mr. Borg also indicated that the European countries had again failed to reach an agreement that would allow the establishment of a shared evacuation service for European medical workers in Africa who become infected with the Ebola virus. He said there was “increased interest” in shared European action on evacuations, but gave no indication of any concrete plan for it. At the United Nations, Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said Thursday that the new trust fund for Ebola had received only a fraction of the pledges of money it needed to tackle the outbreak.
Instead, he said the European Commission, the bloc’s administrative arm, would sign an agreement with the State Department that would allow infected European doctors and nurses in Africa to make use of American evacuation planes, which are operated by a private company in Georgia called Phoenix Air.
At the United Nations, Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said Thursday that the new trust fund for Ebola had received a small fraction of the $1 billion that the world body says is needed to tackle the outbreak, and has only $100,000 left in its account.
Speaking to reporters, Mr. Ban urged governments and private donors to to contribute to the trust fund established in mid-September. It has received $20 million in cash, most of which it has spent.
“Our bank account has only $100,000 and this is a very serious problem,” Mr. Ban said.
The number of Ebola cases is expected to exceed 9,000 this week, with a total of 4,500 deaths, the World Health Organization said earlier in the day.
“We need urgent global response,” Mr. Ban said.