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Re: SEVERAL CASES OF FATAL ILLNESS , NOVEL ARENAVIRUS STRAIN? - SOUTH AFRICA ex ZAMBIA
Deadly fever did kill cleaner - report
27 October 2008, 11:04
By Solly Maphumulo and Louise Flanagan
The death of a Morningside Medi-Clinic cleaner has been confirmed as linked to viral haemorrhagic fever.
Maria Mokubung died after she was exposed to the virus at the medi-clinic where she worked.
Mokubung cleaned the ICU where the Cecilia van Deventer lay, the first person to die from the fever now provisionally identified as a rat-borne arena virus.
Van Deventer died in Morningside Medi-Clinic on September 14, two days after she was flown there from Zambia.
Morningside Medi-Clinic spokesperson Melinda Pelser previously denied that Mokubung had died from the virus saying her death was caused by a chronic disease which she was diagnosed with months earlier.
A Workmen's Compensation claim report signed last week by a doctor who treated Mokubung unequivocally links her death to the virus.
The claim report was signed on Thursday by a doctor at Charlotte Maxeke Hospital (formerly Joburg hospital) where Mokubung died on October 6.
"This patient was the cleaner at Morningside Hospital and got exposed to viral hemorrhagic fever," states the report as the full description of the injuries.
It records the way the injury happened as "fluid transfer while cleaning".
On Monday morning the department of health had not responded to requests for comment by the time of going to press.
When The Star asked Pelser this morning (Monday) if the hospital still maintained that Mokubung's death was not related to the virus deaths she said: "We haven't been informed of anything different as yet."
Mokubung's three children, Lebohang, 20, Kutlaono, 12, and Kamohelo, 5, are now left to fend for themselves. Their mother was the sole breadwinner. Now Lebohang who is attending Satlokane Adult Centre cannot afford to pay for her little brother's pre-school fees.
"This is a huge burden. I have to worry about my siblings' well being," Lebohang said.
She said she had filled in compensation forms by her mother's employer. "They promised to pay for their school fees but nothing has been confirmed as yet," she said.
Five people contracted the virus, four of them dying from it.
The first person, believed to have been infected by a rat, was Zambian-based Van Deventer.
The paramedic who treated her on the flight, Hannes Els, died on October 2 in at the clinic.
A Morningside nurse, Gladys Mthembu, died on October 4 at Sir Albert Medical Centre.
Mokubung died on October 6 in Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital.
Mthembu and Mokubung were believed to have had contact with Van Deventer.
Meanwhile, the Joburg nurse battling haemorrhagic fever is getting better.
"She's still serious but she is on the road to recovery. We're positive and hopeful. She's responding well to treatment," Pelser said this morning. (Mon)
The nurse, whose name has not been released and who works at Morningside Medi-Clinic, was admitted on October 10. Three days later the clinic confirmed she had the haemorrhagic fever, provisionally identified as a rat-borne arena virus.
Pelser said the number of people being monitored for the fever due to their contact with others diagnosed with it has dropped from 94 to 31. She said those being monitored were all well.
Earlier this month Sir Albert Medical Centre in Randfontein was monitoring 66 people for the virus.
This morning (Mon) the centre's spokesperson Marian van der Walt said the last six people who were being monitored over the weekend were now clear of any infection.
"All's clear on our side," she said, adding .
She said nobody else had developed the virus.
Deadly fever did kill cleaner - report
27 October 2008, 11:04
By Solly Maphumulo and Louise Flanagan
The death of a Morningside Medi-Clinic cleaner has been confirmed as linked to viral haemorrhagic fever.
Maria Mokubung died after she was exposed to the virus at the medi-clinic where she worked.
Mokubung cleaned the ICU where the Cecilia van Deventer lay, the first person to die from the fever now provisionally identified as a rat-borne arena virus.
Van Deventer died in Morningside Medi-Clinic on September 14, two days after she was flown there from Zambia.
Morningside Medi-Clinic spokesperson Melinda Pelser previously denied that Mokubung had died from the virus saying her death was caused by a chronic disease which she was diagnosed with months earlier.
A Workmen's Compensation claim report signed last week by a doctor who treated Mokubung unequivocally links her death to the virus.
The claim report was signed on Thursday by a doctor at Charlotte Maxeke Hospital (formerly Joburg hospital) where Mokubung died on October 6.
"This patient was the cleaner at Morningside Hospital and got exposed to viral hemorrhagic fever," states the report as the full description of the injuries.
It records the way the injury happened as "fluid transfer while cleaning".
On Monday morning the department of health had not responded to requests for comment by the time of going to press.
When The Star asked Pelser this morning (Monday) if the hospital still maintained that Mokubung's death was not related to the virus deaths she said: "We haven't been informed of anything different as yet."
Mokubung's three children, Lebohang, 20, Kutlaono, 12, and Kamohelo, 5, are now left to fend for themselves. Their mother was the sole breadwinner. Now Lebohang who is attending Satlokane Adult Centre cannot afford to pay for her little brother's pre-school fees.
"This is a huge burden. I have to worry about my siblings' well being," Lebohang said.
She said she had filled in compensation forms by her mother's employer. "They promised to pay for their school fees but nothing has been confirmed as yet," she said.
Five people contracted the virus, four of them dying from it.
The first person, believed to have been infected by a rat, was Zambian-based Van Deventer.
The paramedic who treated her on the flight, Hannes Els, died on October 2 in at the clinic.
A Morningside nurse, Gladys Mthembu, died on October 4 at Sir Albert Medical Centre.
Mokubung died on October 6 in Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital.
Mthembu and Mokubung were believed to have had contact with Van Deventer.
Meanwhile, the Joburg nurse battling haemorrhagic fever is getting better.
"She's still serious but she is on the road to recovery. We're positive and hopeful. She's responding well to treatment," Pelser said this morning. (Mon)
The nurse, whose name has not been released and who works at Morningside Medi-Clinic, was admitted on October 10. Three days later the clinic confirmed she had the haemorrhagic fever, provisionally identified as a rat-borne arena virus.
Pelser said the number of people being monitored for the fever due to their contact with others diagnosed with it has dropped from 94 to 31. She said those being monitored were all well.
Earlier this month Sir Albert Medical Centre in Randfontein was monitoring 66 people for the virus.
This morning (Mon) the centre's spokesperson Marian van der Walt said the last six people who were being monitored over the weekend were now clear of any infection.
"All's clear on our side," she said, adding .
She said nobody else had developed the virus.
r Irene Lai MB BSDeputy Medical DirectorIntl. SOS Online and Corporate Medical R&DInternational SOSLevel 5 Challis House 4 Martin PlaceSydney NSW 2000 Australia<
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