Pauline Cafferkey, the nurse being treated for Ebola at the Royal Free Hospital in London is 'no longer in a critical condition,' the hospital has announced.
The hospital announced that Ms Cafferkey, a public health nurse from Glasgow, is 'showing signs of improvement.' However, she will remain in the isolated unit where she is receiving specialist care for the foreseeable future.
Ms Cafferkey was admitted to the isolated unit on 30 December, after showing signs of fever on her return to the UK from Sierra Leone. She was listed as being in a critical condition on 4 January. She had been volunteering in Sierra Leone with the charity Save the Children. The charity has committed to a full investigation into how Ms Cafferkey contracted the disease.
Dr Peter Carter, chief executive of the RCN, said: 'Pauline Cafferkey has shown incredible courage and commitment in volunteering to provide nursing care in Sierra Leone.'
Ms Cafferkey returned to the UK on a flight from Casablanca, Morocco on 28 December. PHE has reported that they have identified all 132 passengers on the flight. Of this number, 117 of these passengers have been contacted and advised by PHE, while international public health authorities have contacted 15 international passengers.
The Ebola outbreak in West Africa has continued to worsen, with the WHO's latest figures reporting that, as of 4 January, the disease has claimed 8235 lives, out of 20,747 confirmed cases.
Dr Carter added: 'The efforts of frontline health care workers like Pauline have been essential for containing the spread of Ebola, even though it means they themselves face considerable risks. Their bravery and their compassion is inspirational.'