Almost two months after Germany treated its first US Ebola patient from the Democratic Republic of Congo, a second patient has now been admitted to Frankfurt University Hospital, which has already treated two severe Ebola cases before. He is being kept in complete isolation, and the Health Ministry insists there is no danger whatsoever to the public or other patients there.
According to the Federal Ministry of Health, the patient was admitted to the University Hospital in Frankfurt am Main on Monday. He is being treated there "completely isolated" on the hospital's special isolation ward. As a result, the ministry said, there is "no danger whatsoever" to the public or to other patients being cared for at the hospital.
The Health Ministry also pointed out that Frankfurt has already treated two severely ill Ebola patients in the past. Germany has seven special isolation wards nationwide, with facilities in Berlin, Hamburg and Munich in addition to Frankfurt.
A first US Ebola patient was brought to Germany in May and treated at Berlin's Charité hospital. His wife and four children were later also brought to Berlin from Congo. The man was discharged in good health in early June.
The Democratic Republic of Congo is the epicentre of the current Ebola epidemic. According to the United Nations, more than 600 people have died from the highly contagious disease there since mid-May.
The Ebola virus is transmitted through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected people. The bodies of the deceased are also highly contagious, which is why the virus is often transmitted at funerals. The current epidemic is caused by the rare Bundibugyo strain of the virus, first identified in 2007. There is currently no vaccine and no targeted therapy against it.
From breaking news to thought-provoking opinion pieces, our newsletter keeps you informed & engaged.
By subscribing, you agree to our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
