On 6 October, Spanish authorities reported a confirmed case of Ebola virus disease (EVD) of a healthcare worker who participated in the treatment of the second Spanish patient with Ebola infection repatriated to Spain. The patient arrived in Spain on 22 September and died on 25 September. The infected healthcare worker represents the first transmission of Ebola infection in the European Union.
The healthcare worker is a woman working in La Paz-Carlos III hospital in Madrid. She reportedly developed fever on 30 September. According to the Spanish Ministry of Health, she participated in the medical care of the repatriated patient and was wearing the appropriate personal protection equipment. She was admitted to La Paz-Carlos III Hospital (Madrid) on 6 October and is under strict isolation.
The Spanish authorities have initiated contact tracing and 22 contacts, mostly medical staff but also family members, are being monitored. The husband of the healthcare worker and three others have been placed in quarantine as a precautionary measure.
The route of transmission of infection is being investigated. Two ECDC experts are being deployed in Spain to assist in the investigation.
