Scotland Confirms First Case Of Ebola Virus Disease

A health care worker, who just returned from Sierra Leone to Scotland has become the first confirmed case of Ebola Virus Disease (EDV) in Scotland.

In a statement released by Scottish health agency NHS Scotland, the patient is said to have returned from Sierra Leone Sunday night, flying to Morocco, then London’s Heathrow airport, before reaching Glasgow airport.

"The patient was admitted to hospital early in the morning after feeling unwell and was placed into isolation at 7.50 a.m. All possible contacts with the patient are now being investigated and anyone deemed to be at risk will be contacted and closely monitored."

Current First Minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon, while speaking on the Ebola case yesterday,  Dec. 29 affirmed that Scotland is well prepared to fight the disease.

"Scotland has been preparing for this possibility from the beginning of the outbreak in West Africa and I am confident that we are well prepared. 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 minimizing any potential spread of the disease." Nicola said.

"However, having been diagnosed in the very early stages of the illness, the risk to others is considered extremely low. 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,” she added.