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Ebola nurse "let down", family believe
Ebola
"We think there have been major failings and we just want her to pull through."

Pauline Cafferkey falls ill for the second time

A nurse who contracted Ebola last year has been readmitted to hospital after falling ill for the second time.

Speaking to the Sunday Mail, nurse Pauline Cafferkey's family criticised the hospital that initially failed to diagnose her second outbreak of the virus.

Ms Cafferkey is said to have visited an out-of-hours GP clinic at the Victoria Hospital in Glasgow last Monday night (5 October). But the GP that assessed her diagnosed a virus and sent her home.

Speaking to the Sunday Mail, Ms Cafferkey's family said they believe the hospital "missed a big opportunity to give the right diagnosis".

Her sister Toni said: "We think there have been major failings and we just want her to pull through."

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) confirmed that Ms Cafferkey attended the out-of-hours GP service on Monday. A spokesperson is quoted by the BBC as saying: "Her management and the clinical decision taken based on the symptoms she was displaying at the time were entirely appropriate.

"All appropriate infection control procedures were carried out as part of this episode of care."

Ms Cafferky was admitted to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Glasgow on Tuesday, 6 October, before being transferred to the Royal Free Hospital in London in the early hours of Friday morning (9 October).

Dr Emilia Crighton, NHSGGC director of public health, said: "Pauline's condition is a complication of previous infection with the Ebola virus.

"The risk to the public is very low. 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."

Image (c) CDC Global/Wikimedia Commons CC BY 2.0

 

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Birmingham Dogs Home makes urgent appeal

News Story 1
 Birmingham Dogs Home has issued an urgent winter appeal as it faces more challenges over the Christmas period.

The rescue centre has seen a dramatic increase in dogs coming into its care, and is currently caring for over 200 dogs. With rising costs and dropping temperatures, the charity is calling for urgent support.

It costs the charity £6,000 per day to continue its work.

Fi Harrison, head of fundraising and communications, said: "It's heart-breaking for our team to see the conditions some dogs arrive in. We really are their last chance and hope of survival."

More information about the appeal can be found here

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Avian flu confirmed at premises in Cornwall

A case of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 has been detected in commercial poultry at a premises near Rosudgeon, Cornwall.

All poultry on the infected site will be humanely culled, and a 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone have been put in place. Poultry and other captive birds in the 3km protection zone must be housed.

The case is the second avian flu case confirmed in commercial poultry this month. The H5N5 strain was detected in a premises near Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire, in early November. Before then, the disease had not been confirmed in captive birds in England since February.

The UK chief veterinary officer has urged bird keepers to remain alert and practise robust biosecurity.

A map of the disease control zones can be found here.