Ebola patient is flown to Hamburg

Infected WHO employee is flown in with special jet from West Africa

08/27/2014

Today, a man from West Africa who is infected with Ebola is expected in Hamburg. As the spokesman for the Hamburg Health Authority, Rico Schmidt, told the news agency „dpa“ reported, the employee of the World Health Organization in the University Hospital in Hamburg-Eppendorf will be treated.

Patient should be treated at the University Hospital
A staff member of the World Health Organization (WHO) suffering from Ebola is expected this Wednesday with a special jet from West Africa in Hamburg. As the Hamburg health authority to the „dpa“ The man should then be treated at the University Hospital in Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE). For this purpose "all necessary precautions are taken, the appropriate places are prepared", so the speaker of the authority, Rico Schmidt. As previously reported the Bild newspaper, "the patient will be transferred after arrival at Hamburg airport directly into an insulated rescue vehicle of the fire department and then transported to the hospital." This had already been asked by the World Health Organization at the end of July, if it was possible to look after an employee. However, the infected doctor had died before the transfer to Germany could take place.

More than 240 helpers and physicians infected so far
The example of the late medical doctor illustrates the dramatic development of the Ebola epidemic in West Africa, which is increasingly affecting doctors and helpers. According to the WHO, more than 240 health care workers in Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone have been infected so far, more than 120 have died of the disease. After a WHO employee was infected with the virus, he withdrew The organization is now facing massive consequences, recalling its other staff from the laboratory in Kailahun, eastern Sierra Leone.

Doctors work beyond their physical limits
According to the WHO, there are several reasons for the high rate of infection among doctors and assistants. In many cases, for example, there would not be enough protective equipment or it would be used improperly. „In addition, the personal protective equipment is hot and cumbersome, especially in a tropical climate, which in turn limits the time that doctors and nurses can work in an isolation ward“, so the organization continues. In addition, there would not be enough staff for such a big outbreak, which would mean that the helpers would work far more hours in the isolation stations than is recommended in terms of safety. As a result, employees are often over-tired and overwhelmed, which, according to the WHO, could lead to serious consequences: „Some doctors work beyond their physical limits, trying to save lives in 12-hour shifts, every day of the week. Employees who are exhausted are more prone to mistakes.“ (No)