'Significant improvement' in condition of Ebola-stricken nurse Pauline Cafferkey

A nurse who is being treated for a late complication of an Ebola infection has "made a significant improvement", doctors have said.

Pauline Cafferkey, 39, was admitted to the isolation unit at the Royal Free Hospital in north west London earlier this month after becoming unwell in Glasgow.

Ms Cafferkey was previously described as being "critically ill" and fighting for her life, months after it was believed she had seen off the infection. Her condition was later updated as "serious but stable" as doctors battled to reduce the risk to life.

Today, Dr Michael Jacobs, infectious diseases consultant at the Royal Free said Ms Cafferkey became unwell with meningitis caused by Ebola.

He said staff were pleased with their patient's progress but said she would remain in hospital for some time.

Speaking at a press conference at the hospital, Dr Jacobs said: "I'm very pleased today to have the opportunity to update you about Pauline's condition and explain a little about her current illness.

"The last few days she has made a significant improvement.

"She is inside the isolation unit ... But she's talking freely with the staff, using the iPad, beginning to eat a little.

"I think she has a long recovery ahead of her and will be with us for quite a while still."

He described the situation as "unprecedented" and said it was a "completely different" type of Ebola than had been seen by medical staff previously.

Ms Cafferkey was flown from Glasgow in a military aircraft in the early hours of October 9.

She had become unwell earlier in the week and was treated at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow before being transferred.

The nurse was treated for Ebola in the Hampstead hospital's high level isolation unit.