Europe Recorded [first Case Of Ebola Virus Infection]

2023 Author: Abraham Higgins | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-11-27 23:16

Europe recorded [first case of Ebola virus infection]

The first case of Ebola infection has been recorded in Europe, Reuters reports. The causative agent of hemorrhagic fever was found in a nurse who was caring for a priest who contracted the Ebola virus in Sierra Leone and who died in a hospital on September 25. Prior to that, on August 12, another priest died in the same hospital after contracting the infection in Liberia.

Medics in protective suits transport a priest with Ebola to a hospital. Photo from atresplayer.com. /

The first case of Ebola infection has been recorded in Europe, Reuters reports. The causative agent of hemorrhagic fever was discovered in Spain from a nurse who looked after priest Manuel García Viejo, who contracted the Ebola virus in Sierra Leone and died in hospital on September 25. Prior to that, on August 12, another priest, Miguel Pajares, died in the same hospital, having contracted the Ebola virus in Liberia; he was looked after by the same nurse.

According to the latest data, about 21 employees of the Alcorcona hospital, as well as her husband, were in contact with the patient. They are currently being examined. At a press conference the previous day, Spanish Health Minister Ana Mato said that it remains to be seen how the nurse became infected, given that the patients were isolated and the medical staff who had access to them strictly followed the protocol. According to her, in order to avoid new cases of infection "all precautions are being taken."

Meanwhile, Thomas Duncan - the first patient to be diagnosed with Ebola in the United States - began receiving a new experimental drug, originally developed to treat other viral infections. The vaccine, created by the American company Chimerix for the treatment of adenovirus and herpes infections, has received preliminary approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Long-term studies of the drug brincidofovir have shown its effectiveness against five different families of viruses, including variola virus, adenovirus and herpes viruses, which include cytomegalovirus. Clinical studies conducted with the participation of 900 people have not found any harmful side effects on the condition of the kidneys and bones in the drug, and Brincidofovir is currently in the final third phase of clinical trials.

Now the developers of brincidofovir have proposed it as a potential drug for the treatment of Ebola. In vitro studies (in vitro) have shown that the drug's activity against the causative agent of Ebola is similar to the effect of the drug against viruses such as adenovirus and smallpox virus.

No research has yet been carried out on brincidofovir in animals infected with the Ebola virus, and many more trials are needed to verify the safety and efficacy of the drug, but in emergencies it can already be used to treat humans, the company said.