The Spanish nursing assistant infected with the Ebola virus was conscious Saturday and able to speak with the medical team caring for her at Carlos III Hospital in Madrid, medical sources said.
The team attending Teresa Romero, 44, is composed of 10 people, including three doctors, Spanish news agency Efe reported citing sources.
Romero has been hospitalised since Monday when her infection from the Ebola virus was confirmed, and which she had contracted while working with the team attending missionary Manuel Garcia Viejo, who died Sep 25 at the same Madrid medical center.
Also hospitalised at the same institution besides Teresa Romero are 16 other people, including three women -- a hairdresser, a nurse and a cleaning lady -- who were admitted Friday after coming into contact with the nursing assistant.
None of those admitted have shown symptoms of infection from the virus.
Besides the confirmed case of Teresa Romero, another case is under investigation -- a nurse with the team that attended Garcia Viejo and who tested negative in her first polymerase chain reaction (PCR) diagnostic exam.
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The woman currently awaits the results of the second test which, after 72 hours, could be available later Saturday.
Friday saw the Spanish government announce the creation of a "crisis cabinet" which includes the ministers of health, defence, the interior, presidency, economy and justice, as well as representatives of regional health authorities and the Carlos III Hospital, with other experts who can be called on when needed, according to a Xinhua report. This cabinet will be presided over by Deputy Prime Minister Soraya Saenz de Santamaria.
Meanwhile Spain's autonomous communities have agreed to modify their protocols for dealing with Ebola.