An airborne isolation ward
The Federal Government has inaugurated the world’s first evacuation aircraft to transport Ebola patients.
It is a new flagship project by leading German researchers. In November 2014 the world’s very first evac aircraft was ready to transport people suffering from Ebola. The flying Robert Koch isolation ward was developed by the German Federal Government, the Robert Koch Institute and Deutsche Lufthansa. The cabin, galleys and luggage spaces have been converted into an isolation ward. It has its own ventilation system and can only be entered by passing through an air- and gas-lock. Despite the high infection risk, international aid workers who have been infected by the virus can now be transported safely and receive intensive care in the process. On board there is also a dedicated area for doctors, escorts from the Robert Koch Institute, technicians and Lufthansa engineers.
The converted Airbus A340 is part of the raft of measures the Federal Government has initiated in the battle against Ebola and also enables other EU member states to evacuate infected aid workers.
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