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First case of Ebola confirmed in Italy
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A health care worker returning from Sierra Leone is the first laboratory-confirmed case of Ebola virus disease detected in Italy, according to WHO.
The organization received notification on May 12, following clinical testing by the national reference center of the National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani of Rome earlier that day.
The patient developed symptoms 72 hours after his return to Rome on May 7 and self-isolated at home until transportation to the infectious diseases ward of the Hospital of Sassari, Sardinia, Italy, on May 11, according to WHO. Upon confirmation of Ebola virus infection, the patient was transferred to the national institute via the Italian Air Force.
Health care workers who examined the patient were equipped with personal protective equipment and are under surveillance along with close contacts of the patient. Because of the delayed onset of symptoms, contact tracing of passengers on the flight from Sierra Leone to Rome was considered unnecessary.
As of May 13, there have been 26,759 reported cases of Ebola virus worldwide and 11,080 deaths, according to WHO.