Ebola nurse Pauline Cafferkey makes full recovery from deadly virus for second time

A British nurse who at one stage was critically ill in hospital after being diagnosed with Ebola for a second time has once again made a full recovery and been discharged. Pauline Cafferkey, 39, was readmitted to London's Royal Free Hospital after "unusual late" complications to the Ebola virus on 9 October.

She was first diagnosed with the potential deadly virus in December 2014 after returning to the UK after volunteering at the Save the Children treatment centre in Kerry Town, Sierra Leone.

Cafferkey spent further time in isolation this year when the virus returned. Scientists say Ebola can return to previously infected person's as body tissues can harbour the infection for months after an individual appears to have recovered.

The Royal Free Hospital have now confirmed Cafferkey has made a full recovery and is now well enough to return to Scotland as she is no longer infectious.

Following her discharge, Cafferkey said she is "forever thankful for the amazing care" she received at the hospital. She added: "For a second time staff across many departments of the hospital have worked incredibly hard to help me recover and I will always be grateful to them and the NHS. I am looking forward to returning to Scotland and to seeing my family and friends again."

More than 11,000 people died during the Ebola epidemic which struck parts of west Africa towards the end of 2014.