The Scottish Nurse Who Contracted Ebola Is Now “Critically Ill”

Scottish nurse Pauline Cafferkey, who is being treated for complications from Ebola, is now “critically ill”, doctors have said.

Cafferkey, 39, was admitted to hospital in Glasgow last week after feeling unwell and was flown to London’s Royal Free Hospital, where she is being treated in Britain’s only isolation ward for the lethal disease.

“We are sad to announce that Pauline Cafferkey’s condition has deteriorated and she is now critically ill”, said a statement.

Ms Cafferkey, from Cambuslang in South Lanarkshire, spent nearly a month in isolation at the beginning of the year after contracting the virus in December 2014.

Friends close to Ebola nurse Pauline Cafferkey are being monitored by health chiefs.

The Evening Times put all of the claims made by laboratory staff at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital to a spokeswoman for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. “In line with normal procedures in cases such as this, we have identified a small number of close contacts of Pauline’s that we will be following up as a precaution”.

Of the 40, 25 are receiving a vaccine and a further 15 have either declined it or were unable to receive it due to existing medical conditions.

Her sister Toni has said doctors diagnosed her with a virus on Monday but had sent her home, missing an opportunity to act quickly.

“I think it is absolutely diabolical the way she has been treated”.

Scientists agree the virus can stay in an ebola victims’ body for months after they have recovered. They have not released further details of her illness.

The NHS said it was important to stress once again that there is no risk to the general public.

She met the Prime Minister’s wife Samantha Cameron the following day at Downing Street, alongside other winners.