WATCH: Scottish authorities confirm the first case of Ebola in the UK.
TORONTO – A confirmed case of Ebola has been diagnosed in Glasgow, according to a release on the Scottish government’s website.
The government said the patient is a health care worker who returned to Scotland from Sierra Leone late Sunday night through Casablanca and London Heathrow airports. The patient arrived at Glasgow Airport on a British Airways flight that landed around 11:30 p.m. local time.
“All possible contacts with the patient are now being investigated and anyone deemed to be at risk will be contacted and closely monitored. However, having been diagnosed in the very early stages of the illness, the risk to others is considered extremely low,” said the release.
Despite what public health experts call the “low risk,” a helpline has been created for anyone on Sunday night’s Heathrow to Glasgow flight at 08000 858531.
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The patient has been isolated since 7:50 a.m. after “feeling unwell,” said the release. Infectious disease procedures are in effect in a special unit on the Gartnavel Hopsital campus.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon wished the patient a speedy recovery in a statement, and said she’s confident NHS Scotland—the country’s publicly funded health care system—is well-prepared to deal with an Ebola case.
“We have the robust procedures in place to identify cases rapidly. Our health service also has the expertise and facilities to ensure that confirmed Ebola cases such as this are contained and isolated effectively minimising any potential spread of the disease,” said Sturgeon in the release.
“Scotland’s NHS has proved it is well able to cope with infectious diseases in the past, such as swine flu, and I am confident we will be able to respond effectively again.”
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