Spanish priest struck with Ebola becomes the first person brought to Europe for treatment

A Spanish priest has become the first person carrying the deadly Ebola virus to be brought back to Europe for treatment.

Missionary Miguel Pajares, 75, was escorted to hospital in Madrid today by a convoy of medics in protective suits after being repatriated on a military plane from Liberia in west Africa this morning.

He was put in quarantine on Saturday after testing positive for the killer disease.

Mr Pajares, who had been treating patients infected with Ebola at a hospital his Catholic humanitarian group runs, was flown back to Spain accompanied by a nun.

Although she was uninfected, she was also quarantined.

The pair were due to be taken to an isolation ward at Madrid's Carlos III hospital after tests at an air force base in Madrid.

'The patients have arrived well, though a little disoriented. They are both now in quarantine,' Madrid health official Javier Rodriguez told a news conference. 

Twelve medical staff working in three shifts will care for them in a building which has been cleared of other patients.

Mr Pajares' condition overnight was said to have deteriorated according to local reports, which claimed he was on a drip and was now unable to walk unaided.

But Rafael Perez-Santamarina, director of Madrid's La Paz hospital, said initial medical checks showed Mr Pajares was in stable condition.

Madrid regional government health chief Francisco Javier Rodriguez said neither was bleeding, which is a symptom of an advanced stage of the illness. 

The priest's brother Emilio said he was 'worried but happy' about the transfer.

 

Protected: The priest was flown to Spain on this adapted Airbus A310 belonging to the Spanish Air Force