Later today, the National Institutes of Health expects to admit a patient with exposure to the Ebola virus to the NIH Clinical Center’s special clinical studies unit for observation and to enroll in a clinical protocol. The patient is an American nurse who was volunteering services in an Ebola treatment unit in Sierra Leone.
The special clinical studies unit is specifically designed to provide high-level isolation capabilities and is staffed by infectious diseases and critical care specialists. The unit staff is trained in strict infection control practices optimized to prevent spread of potentially transmissible agents such as Ebola. In addition, access to the unit will be strictly controlled.
No additional details about the patient are being shared at this time.
NIH is taking every precaution to ensure the safety of our patients, NIH staff, and the public. This situation presents minimal risk to any of them.
Source: NIH