It was among the first to take a step forward. wore 14 years dealing with viruses and bacteria and had always been victorious . But what he now proposed to his boss was much more dangerous -e uncertain- the bacillus of tuberculosis, malaria and AIDS. Teresa, organized and brave, would face the Ebola , no less, a virus of the Galician health knowledge was barely microscope photographs and reading the occasional disclosure. Not only did not panic but volunteered. It would be in the front line against Ebola. And yours would be the dirty work. As assistant, his mission was to keep clean missionary Manuel García Viejo, 69, in room-bubble sixth floor of the hospital Carlos III. Neither imagined that before long she would go there as a patient, the same place where Garcia Viejo dying. Teresa picked vomiting, diarrhea your, changing her diapers, sheets, as was done before with Father Miguel Pajares-. What do nurses or doctors. was the risk that ran to enter the room by having to work directly with the main sources of infection: vomit, feces, urine … I had to the sick and well groomed, especially given hurry and do not make mistakes. Risked his life. In 20 or 30 minutes at most-they were the orders-, had to leave the room. Then he went straight to the lock, a small adjoining cabin, where he removed his protective suit.
His latest foray , the fateful, the missionary killed and the body present, you are out of hand . To prepare the transfer of the deceased and clean them, Teresa exceeded 30 minutes long stay. According to reliable sources, the assistant walked in the room 50 minutes followed Ebola . Too bad. And without knowing that his breeches were not waterproof, as the unit has now rendered bacteriological threat of Samur. Even before his gloves could touch his face undressing, the fate of the brave Galician was lying …
1 (THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 25)
Between 13:00 and 17:00 hours counseling-the Health of the Community of Madrid has declined to specify the time exactly, Manuel García Viejo dies . And once again, the auxiliary Teresa Romero yellow protective suit standing and enters his room before the corpse to be cremated with. Stay within 50 minutes. “That’s tempting much luck,” says this supplement a knowledgeable medical source case.
“You sweat a lot, you’re more exhausted and nervous. You are exposed to more mistakes. No the suit is less effective, but you’re making more errors “, explains Dr. Marta Side, coruñesa 35, that-just seven months from the time that Ebola roams Africa trains health of Connaught hospital in Sierra Leone. There were insists: “Never more than 30 minutes in a room with sick”
“Teresa may have suffered and all that water stress” tercia a toilet. “You can you lose up to two liters of water with sweat in 50 minutes. Just to give you a faint and lose your balance so that the risk rises to infinity. If the mask or goggles are dislodged or loosened closing a glove, for example, are lost … The virus enters and infects the body “.
So bad things will now change protocols, such as length of stay in the room did. “It was what each aguantáramos and has now been reduced to 20 minutes, and the stifling heat produced by the suit,” says one of the nurses to THE WORLD.
Teresa should be guarded by two teammates on the other side of the room by CCTV cameras. But no, apparently warned Assistant while carrying. “It makes it so if a mishap comes and you have to go quickly to assist the health or patient,” a school nurse. “Or not watching anyone then or cameras, as now officials say all this, not recorded. A folly, let …”.
The most critical time, it is after death, when the body has increased viral load . And Teresa, that Thursday afternoon I was there. What explains Professor of Clinical Microbiology Valencia, Juan García de Lomas: “The rate of virus at the moment is huge, and have multiplied so much, the blood vessels rupture, liver mush becomes, through no bleeding even skin … That body is a biological pump. ” [As she cleaned the room Viejo Garcia, sister Patience had just arrived in Madrid with the aim of your blood, a patient who defeated Ebola, could save the religious. Late. Who would say that Teresa would be she who would use the plasma.]
2 (FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 26)
A 48 kilometers Collado Villalba, where the body of Manuel García Viejo inside a sealed coffin and zinc coverage incinerated, Teresa begins her first day of the 15 having holiday immersed in the final review of the agenda of the opposition of the nursing assistant presented that morning and spent two years waiting: 28,000 candidates for 1,300 seats on offer. Spend much time in the 6th A -Avenida del Pilar, 35, Alcorcón, Madrid and do not have the slightest evidence that the Ebola virus, far from being annihilated in the incinerator, inoculated and in your body . Among the matters which examines some apparently simple points for it, which is probably the best known of all applicants. At least in practice, because how many opponents have treated patients with Ebola? Item 16: “Procedure for isolation and prevention of communicable diseases.” Topic 26: “Accidents Biohazard: Measures of prevention.” The temperature is taken twice a day as you have indicated. All in order.
3 (SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 27)
Before 10.30 am, Teresa enters the Faculty of Political Science and Sociology at the Complutense, Campus de Somosaguas, and goes to the third floor, searching the classroom where 315 have called with 83 other opponents . All like her last name Romero. 110 minutes to answer 100 multiple choice questions. Some are related to your last day of work, when he came to clean the room of the deceased Garcia Viejo: Question 8: “The post mortem care is made …”. 48: “What kind of waste materials are impregnated fabric body fluids?”. 55: “When the disinfectant eliminates vegetative forms of bacteria, fungi and some viruses are said to be disinfected …”. 30 “What is the decree regulating the activities of production and management of biohazardous waste and cytotoxic Madrid?”. At 12:20 o’clock the test finishes and heads home. Now he is on vacation.
4 (SUNDAY 28 SEPTEMBER)
Three days after exposure, measurements of body temperature did not show any abnormality and Teresa makes normal life . Born in Madrid’s Carabanchel on February 16, 1970, is the larger of the two children of a marriage of Galician emigrants. The father, a carpenter, died a decade ago; Jesusa, housewife, now spends long periods in their land, Becerreá (Lugo). More than three decades ago that left Carabanchel Teresa when she married Javier Limón, welder, who turned 44 last Thursday, in full cuarentena-, and moved with him to a housing estate in Alcorcón. The couple has no children, but a dog, Excalibur, age 12, who are particularly close . He was rescued from abandonment and raised him with skill trainer. Teresa Simply snap my fingers and give a command – “sit down!” – For Excalibur obey. The auxiliary paseándolo spends time in the open front of his estate, and was even seen carrying the dog run trot belt. Teresa usually get plenty of exercise.
5 (MONDAY SEPTEMBER 29)
The thermometer reads few tenths of foot . They could be caused by anything else, but the tragic reality is that the virus is already active. Neither she herself watched, but has just become the first person in the world who have been infected with Ebola outside of Africa . Of the five existing strains, which affects you, Ebola-Zaire, is considered the most aggressive. The first infected with this strain, oddly enough, was the same age: Mabalo Lokela, 44, formerly Zaire teacher, died on September 8, 1976, 14 days after symptoms manifest. The average incubation period of the virus is of eight days, but in the case of Teresa has become visible in only five. The assistant does not report fever but suspends who had organized the trip to visit his mother, Jesusa in Becerreá, where he was to spend a week.
6 (TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 30)
In the waiting room of your doctor’s bedside, in the Health Center Pedro Lain Entralgo 400 meters walk from home, there are five other people when Teresa sits waiting their turn. [Six days later he was finally diagnosed with Ebola, and everyone in the room will enter the group at risk of contagion. They are asked to be sentenced to terms their homes and subjected to closely monitor the evolution of their body temperatures].
This morning has dawned Teresa again with fever which has been in contact with your hospital, Carlos III, where he has worked on an interim basis the past 16 years, usually on the third floor, You on infectious and tropical diseases, to decommissioning in December 2012 are used to managing people with HIV, hepatitis, malaria … “I have 38″ , tells the Risk Prevention Service Labor. “There is no reason to alert the 38.6. Visit your health center” , they tell their peers with the protocol in cases of Ebola in hand. Teresa continues indication
Dr. header that the listener attends the symptoms reported by the patient of medium build, short hair, somewhat emaciated. “I have a fever, muscle aches, I’m tired …”. The auscultation and checks your throat. Teresa does not mention that has been in contact with the two missionaries killed by Ebola and, since the clinical picture fits perfectly with the flu, given a prescription for paracetamol and gives way to the next patient routinely.
This doctor, mother of three, is now voluntarily entered the fifth floor of Carlos III, one below Teresa under close surveillance. On the same floor, the fifth, and by his request, two estheticians are admitted, they must still wonder why Teresa decided to just shave that morning despite having fever. “The virus”, then you will know by the media, “is transmitted through blood, saliva, feces, vomit, sweat …” . What if we have caught?
7 (WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 1)
is no longer just the fever. Ebola continues the development described in all the manuals : sore throat and headache, weakness, increased muscle and joint pain … There is no evidence that this day does any movement Teresa Romero communicating their status to any health center, but seems prepared to cordon to Ebola, a preventive measure, just in case. Begins to use a different bathroom her husband, too besides eating it and even sleep in separate beds . No back out to the street, it has emerged, although one of its neighbors, perhaps confused by the fear of infection after learning that the feared Ebola has been in and out of your site for several days now believed remember that in this period alleged detention coincided with Teresa in the elevator. In 35 of Avenida del Pinar later scenes will be rolling up ladies dress to cover her hand before calling the elevator, neighbors packing up and leaving out a few days and parents to ensure that classmates their children are at school to avoid missing match children urbanization Ebola .
The anguish of the population will grow in the next few days, becoming in some cases at levels of psychosis. Last Friday, the company STS, based in Madrid, one of the makers of the now famous protective suits, telling Chronicle that his phones were collapsed and were overwhelmed to take calls from individuals requesting costumes and demonstrations on how correctly don. The day before, several Spanish hospitals were directed to the company TYCHEM C., based in Tarragona and distributor of personal protective equipment made in Germany, to order of 2300 costumes of level 3 . Of these, 1,000 will target the Doce de Octubre Hospital in Madrid.
8 (THURSDAY, OCTOBER 2)
A week after exposure, auxiliary dials the phone of Carlos III following the instructions given by the specialist of occupational hazards and reports your thermometer reads 38 degrees. Get the same answer as in your previous call: while not exceeding 38.6 there is nothing to fear says the protocol. From this moment, from the hospital contacted her twice a day to give part of its temperature always below 38.6 protocolled. Is masked by royal fever acetaminophen prescription? Teresa still stuck at home, sick, making life separated from her husband.
9 (VIERNES3 OCTOBER)
The assistant receives the call on her mobile of Carlos III specialists who monitor your state. She tells them, according to information from the hospital, which has 36 degrees of temperature, which is not taking fever medication and also suffering fatigue and back pain. Do not recall any incident with protective clothing or contact with infected fluids missionaries.
Those who know her describe his character as “very Gallego” in the sense that Teresa is especially serious and reserved, and thus shown in the first days of infection. Only medical staff that speaks, her husband and her mother know of your situation . Only they used the word “Ebola”. “My daughter attended the priest who died of a high fever Ebola” refers Jesusa Ramos, very concerned, their neighbors Becerreá.
10 (SATURDAY OCTOBER 4)
Ramon Romero, 40, has known his sister Teresa is sick, I told his mother, and called in the morning to worry about their status. “I’ve been told that I have a gripazo,” she replied in a tone of voice weak. Then the brother jokes about the possibility that what you have is Ebola-how could imagine-and announces that will visit the next day. “is not you dare stop by” , Teresa prohibited. “I think I had the fly behind the ear”, has now thought Ramon.
This Saturday auxiliary stops eating. That means the distress call her husband, Javier Limón, held on 6 to 112 for an ambulance, “My wife takes two days without eating, has fever, is personal risk …”.
11 (SUNDAY OCTOBER 5)
For days I do not see Teresa in the neighborhood and now Javier who always pulls Excalibur. Concern for the dog days take the welder out of anonymity and issue a statement from his imprisonment in the Carlos III. It is the person who has come closest to the auxiliary this time: “Hello, my name is Javier Limón Romero, I am the husband of Teresa Romero Ramos, auxiliary infected by Ebola for trying voluntarily to the two infected patients who were repatriated to Spain. Wants to publicly denounce such a Zarco, I think it is health officer of the Community of Madrid, told me they have to sacrifice my dog just like that. I asked my consent to which I denied. He says he then asked a court order to forcibly enter my home and sacrifice … “. The next day, Wednesday, October 8, Excalibur was sedated, euthanized and incinerated .
12 (MONDAY OCTOBER 6)
Conversation maintained by whatsapp among nurses Alcorcón Hospital where Teresa Romero has entered at 7:00 am.
‘The idea is to move it to eight.
The girl started with diarrhea tb.
-Girls confirmed.
I shit on the bitch.
Towards the Carlos Tercero.
I have the knuckle.
It’s positive.
Poor girl, poor staff that is taking today and shit on tó.
(…)
-Workers we fear
-. speak pit negative pressure and that’s a lie. They talk about how there is a room to undress and lie.
That I’m black.
“Be careful, I can have Ebola, beware.” Teresa Romero entered at seven o’clock in the box that the hospital has arranged to Alcorcón infectious-contagious cases warning his colleagues of the danger they are exposed to even have not done any testing to demonstrate the positive . Her husband called the emergency at 04:00 am, has gone to her home unit medical home care and new protocol has prevailed: “It has 37.2, the alert is from 38, 6 “. At seven o’clock he sent a second ambulance. The driver and orderly receive a disconcerting warning: “Feverish Ebola is discarded.”. They go to the home without any protection, mask and gown while they use their own initiative. Both seven people and moved within hours in the same ambulance are on track.
What happened in the 16 long hours that Teresa stays at the Hospital de Alcorcón have been mostly a testament to weight: Juan Manuel Parra, the emergency room physician who treated her almost all the time. The patient, recounts, comes with English and trunk rash, myalgia, and low voltages. Asks to do the test Ebola . “Since starting the patient still does not have diarrhea, cough with some expectoration only, continue with first class suit giving orders on my part to change the mask [...] On the 11:. 00-11: 30 Announcement It worsening state of the patient with the presence of diarrhea and most affected, causing new entries in box insulation help and clinical support to the patient and the need for immediate action [...] I am informed of the possibility positivity at 17:00 so we proceed to use of higher level 2nd suit provided by this hospital (short sleeves fit me at all times) … “.
Teresa health status has declined enormously in the hours leading into the hospital and will worsen even more coming to vomit blood. At 19:00 double positive for Ebola and Dr. Parra asked for his transfer to Carlos III is confirmed. “The ambulance takes from the call until arrival at 00:00 where I continue with my work with the patient (over 12 times going to the room if you count from my first attention at 08:00 am) to and his final move, helping in the same “. Dr. Parra voluntarily entered the Carlos III last Wednesday.
13 (7 OCT)
Ramón contemplates on television as his sister, the first Ebola infected in Europe, is transferred surrounded by lights and sirens. The entering of the six rooms with locks that comprise the Carlos III in his sixth floor. Teresa focus it tucked into a kind of shrine surrounded by companions . All are wearing the suit that she did not help him.
Talk Patience missionary, the donor plasma
“In Liberia, the nursing assistants are the most die, fall like flies “. The words are spoken by Patience Melgar, African missionary who overcame Ebola while strolling with the reporter on a street in Madrid. The hyperimmune plasma from your blood has been injected twice in the body of the auxiliary Teresa Romero. “Friday or Saturday’ll donate” he says. “The girl is now in the peak of the disease, I suffered, but has to endure as that what comes next is the path to salvation,” encourages Patience, friend of Miguel Pajares, which Spain would not bring the priest when was repatriated. As it arrived on September 25 to try, with its plasma, save the second missionary, Manuel García Viejo. “I felt a great pain for not arriving on time,” she drops, “and now I want to help Teresa “. Not only Galician. Some of the blood of Patience, which you have already removed one liter twice, has also flown these days for a sick French Ebola. Have you had any kind of diet hospital doctors Carlos III? “No, like everything, and I do, my stomach missionary” he laughs. Are you surprised that in a hospital in a sanitary Europe is infected? “This is the most treacherous beast, always looking for a hole to enter the body and kill you.” We asked what you think the dog have been slaughtered by the auxiliary have been in contact with her. “In Liberia dogs eat the bodies of Ebola that are on the roads. And do not die. Neither is known to transmit the virus. Both WHO and NGOs would have noticed” . Before we parted Patience becomes interested in Teresa. I inform him that his condition critical. It was 20:07 on Thursday. “I will pray for her tonight,” replied the missionary tuck the way home.
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