An American doctor infected with the Ebola virus is being treated in a specialized high-level isolation unit at Berlin's Charité university hospital. The patient contracted the disease in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

US authorities requested assistance from Germany due to the shorter flight distance to Europe compared to North America. Several family members were also flown to Germany and are considered close contacts.

Experts note that evacuating an Ebola patient requires a short flight route and a center with high medical standards. In Germany, Ebola patients are treated exclusively in high-level isolation units.

The Charité isolation unit is the largest in Germany, combining infectious disease treatment with intensive care. It can isolate up to 20 patients without disrupting hospital operations.

Safety measures are extensive: outgoing air is filtered, wastewater is collected and neutralized, contaminated materials are disposed of separately. Staff wear protective suits with independent air supply.

The current outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo virus, for which no approved vaccine exists. The WHO is evaluating experimental vaccines, but availability may take months.

Experts point out that high-level isolation units are concentrated only in the Global North, and similar infrastructure should be built in the Global South.

Source: www.dw.com