HEALTH-EBOLA/SPAIN-NURSE HUSBAND Spanish Ebola nurse 'clear' of virus, husband calls handling of crisis 'lousy'
Record ID:
565605
HEALTH-EBOLA/SPAIN-NURSE HUSBAND Spanish Ebola nurse 'clear' of virus, husband calls handling of crisis 'lousy'
- Title: HEALTH-EBOLA/SPAIN-NURSE HUSBAND Spanish Ebola nurse 'clear' of virus, husband calls handling of crisis 'lousy'
- Date: 19th October 2014
- Summary: MADRID, SPAIN (OCTOBER 19, 2014) (REUTERS) VARIOUS EXTERIORS OF HOSPITAL BUILDING SIGN VARIOUS EXTERIORS OF HOSPITAL JOURNALISTS OUTSIDE HOSPITAL
- Embargoed: 3rd November 2014 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Spain
- Country: Spain
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVA92YSWBL0954ZCL2GCOADJWH7T
- Story Text: Tests showed on Sunday (October 19) that Teresa Romero, the Spanish nurse who contracted Ebola after caring for two priests who had contracted the disease in Africa and were then repatriated to Spain, was clear of traces of the virus, according to government sources.
A blood test revealed that the nurse's immune system had eliminated the virus, though she needs a second test for total confirmation, the Spanish government said in a statement released late on Sunday.
"Today I can say I feel very happy because we can say Teresa has overcome the illness. I know a lot of people is watching out for her especially and whatever happens to us in this difficult time, and some might be expecting a reaction on my side," her husband Javier Limon, who has been hospitalized as well under precautionary isolation, said in a filmed statement released by the family's spokesperson.
"I have chosen to spend all these days alone focusing on her recovery, but now I can say from here that I am going to fight until the last drop of my blood to defend her honour and her dignity and I am going to prove at court how lousy the handling of the Ebola crisis has been in Spain. Thank you," he stated.
Limon is isolated as well as other 15 people under observation, but so far they show no symptoms of the deadly disease.
Spain has been on high alert for Ebola after Romero became the first person outside Africa to become infected in the current outbreak.
The 44 year old nurse remained undiagnosed for days despite reporting she had a fever, one symptom of Ebola, and her case prompted recriminations over how prepared the country was to deal with the disease.
Amid disquiet in Spain over how the virus could have spread, some government officials initially deflected blame to the nurse, Romero, seizing on her admission that she may have touched her face with the gloves of her protective suit.
Unions and the public have also laid into the government for its sluggish response.
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