Treyfish
Moderator
Re: UNDIAGNOSED FATALITIES - SOUTH AFRICA ex ZAMBIA: REQUEST FOR INFORMATION [ProMedMail.org]
Re: UNDIAGNOSED FATALITIES - SOUTH AFRICA ex ZAMBIA: REQUEST FOR INFORMATION [ProMedMail.org]
Virus outbreak: 11 quarantined
7 October 2008, 15:14
Eleven people are in isolation and are being closely monitored for flu-like symptoms as Gauteng health authorities work to stop the possible spread of a virus that has led to the deaths of at least three people.
One woman has been quarantined at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital since being admitted last night. She is the supervisor of the cleaner who possibly died of the mystery virus.{released{
Two relatives who had contact with the nurse who died after contact with the original patient are being held at the Morningside Medi-Clinic and another eight clinical staff members are confined at the Sir Albert Robinson Hospital on the West Rand.
All of the patients are being held in isolation and, although none of them are presenting worrying symptoms of the unidentified disease, their conditions are being monitored.
Strict infection controls have been put in place - those treating the patients have to wear protective gear, gloves and masks.
South African tourism manager Cecilia van Deventer, 36, was flown to the Morningside Medi-Clinic from Zambia on September 12 and died two days later.
Hannes Els, 33, the paramedic who attended her, died of the same disease on October 2, while nursing sister Gladys Mthembu died on October 4.
Maria Mokubung, a cleaner at the Morningside Medi-Clinic, died yesterday after having been treated at three hospitals. But Medi-Clinic spokeswoman Melinda Pelser said today that Mokubung's death was no longer believed to be linked to the others.
"We know that she never even went into the cubicle where the patient who died was lying, and her cause of death has been confirmed as a neurological disease."
This morning the 11 isolated patients remained in quarantine as technicians here and at the US Centre for Disease Control in Atlanta battled to identify the viral strain.
Pelser said the three deaths were caused by a viral haemorrhagic fever as all the victims presented with the same symptoms: high fever, body aches, diarrhoea, vomiting and skin rash or bleeding. But tests for known strains such as Ebola, Congo and Marburg had all come back negative.
Dr Lucille Blumberg of the National Institute for Communicable Diseases confirmed that the virus under investigation "looks and behaves exactly like viral haemorrhagic fever".
She said her colleague, Professor Robert Swanepoel, a "world-famous virus hunter", was in Zambia tracing the steps of Van Deventer, the first known patient to die of the disease.
"From what he has determined from the hospitals there, there have been no other cases in Zambia so people don't need to panic and stop travelling. If they take the normal precautions for malaria, they will not be at risk," said Blumberg.
Pelser said two family members who had been in close contact with Mthembu, a woman in her 20s and an 11-year-old boy, had no access to other patients and that the isolation area even had its own separate entrance.
Gauteng Health Department spokesperson Zanele Mngadi said this morning Mokubung's supervisor was admitted to Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital last night with flu-like symptoms.
Maria Stuurman of Orange Farm was being held in isolation at the hospital as a precautionary measure. Her condition was no longer considered serious.
Mngadi was unable to confirm or deny whether Mokubung's death was linked to the other three.
Marion van der Walt, spokesperson for the Sir Albert Robinson Hospital, said the eight Morningside Medi-Clinic staff members who had been in contact with Mthembu were being held in isolation for observation.:tiphat:
http://www.thestar.co.za/?fSectionId=&fArticleId=vn20081007145051874C315614
Re: UNDIAGNOSED FATALITIES - SOUTH AFRICA ex ZAMBIA: REQUEST FOR INFORMATION [ProMedMail.org]
Virus outbreak: 11 quarantined
7 October 2008, 15:14
Eleven people are in isolation and are being closely monitored for flu-like symptoms as Gauteng health authorities work to stop the possible spread of a virus that has led to the deaths of at least three people.
One woman has been quarantined at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital since being admitted last night. She is the supervisor of the cleaner who possibly died of the mystery virus.{released{
Two relatives who had contact with the nurse who died after contact with the original patient are being held at the Morningside Medi-Clinic and another eight clinical staff members are confined at the Sir Albert Robinson Hospital on the West Rand.
All of the patients are being held in isolation and, although none of them are presenting worrying symptoms of the unidentified disease, their conditions are being monitored.
Strict infection controls have been put in place - those treating the patients have to wear protective gear, gloves and masks.
South African tourism manager Cecilia van Deventer, 36, was flown to the Morningside Medi-Clinic from Zambia on September 12 and died two days later.
Hannes Els, 33, the paramedic who attended her, died of the same disease on October 2, while nursing sister Gladys Mthembu died on October 4.
Maria Mokubung, a cleaner at the Morningside Medi-Clinic, died yesterday after having been treated at three hospitals. But Medi-Clinic spokeswoman Melinda Pelser said today that Mokubung's death was no longer believed to be linked to the others.
"We know that she never even went into the cubicle where the patient who died was lying, and her cause of death has been confirmed as a neurological disease."
This morning the 11 isolated patients remained in quarantine as technicians here and at the US Centre for Disease Control in Atlanta battled to identify the viral strain.
Pelser said the three deaths were caused by a viral haemorrhagic fever as all the victims presented with the same symptoms: high fever, body aches, diarrhoea, vomiting and skin rash or bleeding. But tests for known strains such as Ebola, Congo and Marburg had all come back negative.
Dr Lucille Blumberg of the National Institute for Communicable Diseases confirmed that the virus under investigation "looks and behaves exactly like viral haemorrhagic fever".
She said her colleague, Professor Robert Swanepoel, a "world-famous virus hunter", was in Zambia tracing the steps of Van Deventer, the first known patient to die of the disease.
"From what he has determined from the hospitals there, there have been no other cases in Zambia so people don't need to panic and stop travelling. If they take the normal precautions for malaria, they will not be at risk," said Blumberg.
Pelser said two family members who had been in close contact with Mthembu, a woman in her 20s and an 11-year-old boy, had no access to other patients and that the isolation area even had its own separate entrance.
Gauteng Health Department spokesperson Zanele Mngadi said this morning Mokubung's supervisor was admitted to Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital last night with flu-like symptoms.
Maria Stuurman of Orange Farm was being held in isolation at the hospital as a precautionary measure. Her condition was no longer considered serious.
Mngadi was unable to confirm or deny whether Mokubung's death was linked to the other three.
Marion van der Walt, spokesperson for the Sir Albert Robinson Hospital, said the eight Morningside Medi-Clinic staff members who had been in contact with Mthembu were being held in isolation for observation.:tiphat:
http://www.thestar.co.za/?fSectionId=&fArticleId=vn20081007145051874C315614
The Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the World Health Organisation and the U.S. Centre for Disease Control, is carrying out necessary investigations. (Tuesday 7 October - 13:59)
<!--par0-->
Print'); </SCRIPT>javascript: var printFriendlyWin=wi...00,width=635,innerHeight=630,innerWidth=600')</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE><TBODY><TR><TD class=RelatedLinksTitle style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"></TD></TR><TR><TD><SCRIPT src="http://s7.addthis.com/js/152/addthis_widget.js" type=text/javascript></SCRIPT><SCRIPT type=text/javascript> addthis_pub = 'lindazinhle'; addthis_logo = 'http://www.addthis.com/images/yourlogo.png'; addthis_logo_background = 'EFEFFF'; addthis_logo_color = '666699'; addthis_brand = 'Your Site'; addthis_options = 'stumbleupon, favorites, digg, delicious, newsvine, facebook, google, live,'; </SCRIPT>