Ebola fear patients released

FIVE people kept in isolation after being in contact with a nurse who contracted Ebola have left hospital yesterday (Thursday, October 23) after being given the all clear.

They had all stayed in quarantine for 21 days after nurse Teresa Romero had been diagnosed with the disease she caught while treating a patient who later died from the virus.

The five patients released were a doctor from a medical centre who had treated Teresa before she was diagnosed, two beauty salon workers, a cleaner and one of Teresa’s friends.

Her husband, Javier Limon remains in isolation. Teresa, who was the first person to contract the disease outside Africa, was declared clear of the virus on Tuesday (October 21).

Two tests found that her body had fought off the disease, although she remains in hospital for treatment.

Teresa was a member of the nursing staff at Carlos III hospital in Madrid that treated two Spanish missionaries who had been flown back to Spain after catching Ebola in Africa. They both died.

Spanish health authorities and the government have since reviewed protocols for treating the disease after coming in for heavy criticism over existing procedures, especially after Teresa caught the disease.