ECDC to reassess Ebola transmission risk in Europe: director
Xinhua, October 10, 2014 Adjust font size:
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) will reassess the transmission risk of Ebola to the Europe Union (EU) after the first confirmed case was found in Spain, the organization said Thursday.
ECDC Director Marc Sprenger said in a statement that infection control protocols in Europe are of high standard and remain appropriate if strictly adhered to, but "there is no such thing as a zero percent risk of infection."
"It is important to understand that the risk of Ebola to Europe can only be eliminated by stopping the outbreak in West Africa," he said.
A Spanish nursing auxiliary, part of the team that treated Spanish missionary Manuel Garcia Viejo who died on Sept. 25 in the Carlos III hospital in north Madrid, was tested positive for the virus herself, Spanish Health Authorities confirmed on Monday.
This infected nurse represents the first transmission of Ebola infection in the EU, according to the statement.
Two ECDC experts are currently in Madrid to support local authorities in their investigation to the mechanism through which the nurse was infected.
ECDC stressed in the statement that it will consider the possible implications on the transmission risk to Europe in its updated risk assessment once this information is available.
